3.5.4 Vapor Density
Vapor density is a measure of the relative weight of vapor compared to the weight of air. Published data on the characteristics of petroleum products usually include the vapor density. The value of unity has been arbitrarily assigned as the weight of air. Hence any vapor that is reported to have a density of greater than 1 is heavier than air, and any vapor with a density of less than 1 is lighter than air. Vapors weighing more than 1 will usually flow like water, and those weighing less will drift readily off into the surrounding atmosphere. Even heavier-than-air flammable petroleum-liquid vapor can be carried along with very slight air currents. It may spread long distances before becoming so diluted with enough air as to place it below the lower explosive limit (LEL), at which time it would become incapable of being ignited. There are catastrophic incidences that have occurred whereby ignitable air-vapor mixtures have been detected as far as one-half mile from the vapor source. For this reason, while responding to a spill or leak, we must consider environmental and topographical features of the surroundings, such as wind direction, the slope of the ground, any natural or artificial barriers that may channel the liquid or vapors. It is critical in a non-fire incident such as a spill or leak to determine the type of petroleum liquid present and its source. Information about the material’s vapor density enables us to make reasonable predictions as to the possible ...
