What is the fire point of a liquid?

The fire point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which the vapors produced by the liquid can continuously ignite and sustain combustion. This means that while the flash point is the temperature at which enough vapor is released to form an ignitable mixture with air, the fire point is higher and signifies that there is enough vapor to both ignite and burn steadily. This distinction reflects the liquid’s capability to maintain combustion once it has ignited.

Understanding the fire point is crucial for safety protocols in handling flammable liquids, particularly in maritime operations, where storage and transportation of such materials are common. The fire point is an important factor in assessing the risks associated with a substance and determining appropriate fire suppression measures.