[b][/b]Get informed

CELLPHONE FIRES - FACT OR FALACY
A friend told me yesterday of a gas explosion that happened in osun state yesterday, and I later read of the same here on nairaland. Responses to the topic made me go on a 'search and report' mission to confirm or refute my initial believe as to the possibility of cell phones resulting in fire explosions.

so, can cellphones generate enough spark to blow up a gas station? Simplest answer is a big NO. It's just as ambiguous as claiming to drown in a cup of water. There has been no recorded CONFIRMED fire accident as a result of call reception via cell phones. Infact, scientists tried to start a fire under controlled conditions using a cellphone numerously-without success.

Reason for this is that phones operate with waves that are within the radio waves frequencies, and energy released when making a call is way below the spark point of virtually all flammable substances. Unfortunately, the urban rumour of igniting phones was started by phone manufacturers because then, there were no extra efforts to make phones intrinsically safe from fire hazards and they had to prevent messy lawsuits. It was this that led filling stations to put out no cellphones signage - if the manufacturers don't trust their phones, why should others. However, by the time manufacturers upped their games, the rumour was already out and they had to fall back a subtle message that their phone users should comply by regulations about phone wherever it exists.

What then is responsible for sudden fire outbursts especially in recent times. Again a simple answer from high school physics - electrostatic charge. Remember back then, during the harmattan season, when you'd rub a 'biro' case through your hair and then use it to attract pieces of paper? That's electrostatic charge at play. How can that cause a fire u may ask. You should know that it's also static charge at play when you see lightening which contain thousands of volts, enough energy for a power grid if it were possible to safely capture it.

Some nerd talk...
Static electricity is simply electric charge stored within a body because it doesn't have a conductive (Nb: not conducive) avenue to flow. The opposite is current electricity which is what powers our grid. It's worthy of note that while only 240volts runs through our electric appliances, our body can play host to about 35000volts of static charge, the reason why this is safe is because there's no current flow. However it might not be all too safe around LPG areas ( liquefied Petroleum Gas) because sudden contact with a conductive surface while carrying such enormous amount of charge sends all the energy rushing out in fractions of a second. You ever felt a very slight shock upon alighting from a car, especially after traveling a very long distance in it? That's electric charge rushing out. Unfortunately, around gas or petroleum air mixtures, the spark generated might be enough to light up an explosion.

How does static charges get on our body?
Most common during the dry season because the air lacks moisture and is therefore a lot less conductive, objects (atoms and molecules) with loosely bonded outer electrons loose some of them, and they become positively charged. Other objects too with there outer electron-ic configuration not filled up accepts this free electrons and take on a negative charge. That's why there could be attraction between small versions of the two bodies, like between the pen n little paper pieces in my previous example. Our body, depending on conditions and object position on the tribo-electric series ( has nothing to do with your tribe) can act as donors or receptors of electrons, and the amount of electron transferred relates directly to the potential difference in volts. The charge stays in our body until it has an avenue to slide out into the ground through a conductor out directly through our feet.

So the culprit for gas fires especially in the harmattan season is not cellphones, but static charge, with up to 350 documented cases in recent times. This brings us to the solution. How do we limit static charge especially when around combustible substances.
1. Earth. This is the most important. Keep containers like kegs or gas cylinders on the ground before filling. This makes sure residual charges are earthed as soon as they develop.

2. Touch a metal surface before coming in close contact with LPG. Better to experience that minute shock alone than let the spark light up your world. No need to redefine Christmas light.

3. Ventilate. The reason for ventilating in a gas filling shop goes beyond allowing spilled gas to escape. Enough air fills the atmosphere with conductive particles that take away the free electrons before can do any harm

4. If you are staying in your car during fueling, biko stay and don't come out. If u are getting out, then wait patiently for the fueling to be completed begot getting back in.

5. This one is for the fuel attendants. Do not pull out the nozzle from the car in case of a flash fire. Fuel spilling on the ground when there's a fire is adding Cameroon pepper mixed with aboniki to a wound inside the eyes. Khapish?

To conclude, cell phones have little part to play in a flash fire. Rather distractions because of them could make someone not totally aware of his environment , which is a risk on its own. So should you take a call in a filling station? If u can manage the insults, abuses and curses that will trail you, then it's absolutely safe.
There is an active campaign against static charges in LPG areas. Be a part.


References
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity

https://canadasafetycouncil.org/safety-canada-online/article/cell-phones-risks-and-rumour

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=127836&page=1
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-not-safe-to-use-cell-phones-in-lpg-area
I my part in ensuring that you [b][/b]GET INFORMEDps: this is my first post on nairaland. lalasticlala mynd44 seun, lets get nairalanders informed.

ok

Thanks 4 d info

If village people mean u, even air from your mouth go ignite things...

Good work op

uzo4real:
If village people mean u, even air from your mouth go ignite things...

Perhaps that'll be a post for another day. The likelihood of some village people somewhere to control situations or our own myth of avoiding responsibilities.