Fire point

A focal point of a substance, the temperature is referred to, in which the steam pressure is so high that the resulting gas / air mixture can be ignited with an ignition source, and the combustion progresses, if the ignition source is removed. Most of the time to ignition material is already available as a liquid.

Has the combustible liquid at a temperature that is lower than the flash point, the liquid can not be ignited with an ignition source. Only when the temperature of the flash point is reached, the liquid forms in sufficient quantity combustible vapors, which can then ignite. However, the inflowing amount of steam is not sufficiently large to allow a permanent combustion when the ignition source is removed. Until reaching the most only a few degrees higher flash point, the amount of steam produced is sufficient to allow permanent combustion.

The flash point has a far greater significance, since even at the lower temperature of the flash point an inflammation of explosive gas / air mixtures is possible with respect to the focal point of a security perspective. The resulting combustion heat is not sufficient to heat the liquid until it reaches the focal point.