1. Preventing slick fires

1.1 Slick fire reminder

Slick fire is a self-sustaining combustion phenomenon. In fact, combustion does not apply to the liquid itself, but involves the vapors emitted by the product. For a fuel to burn, it must emit flammable vapors. In the case of liquid fuels, flammable vapours are released by evaporation of the liquid phase. In the case of solids, a more complex process involving decomposition, fusion or pyrolysis is required to produce flammable gases or distillates.

Thus, combustion takes place in the gas phase, where flames develop. The exothermicity of the combustion reaction releases energy, part of which is transferred to the fuel, thereby sustaining the emission of flammable gases. Consequently, to prevent the outbreak of a slick fire, limit the size...