Why is smoking forbidden in gas stations?

the combustion of an object must meet three conditions at the same time: combustible, combustion-supporting material and ignition energy (also known as fire source). Combustible refers to all combustible substances, such as wood, coal, oil, liquefied petroleum gas, etc. Combustion improvers are substances that can help and support combustion, usually oxygen, air, potassium permanganate, etc. Ignition energy is all thermal energy sources that can cause combustible substances to burn, such as open flame, friction, impact, high temperature, spark, chemical energy and so on.

In a gas station, oil is a combustible substance that can be ignited, and oxygen in the air is the main combustion-supporting substance, while open flame or electrostatic discharge that may occur in a gas station may become a fire source. The first two conditions are substances that exist at any time in the gas station and cannot be removed. Therefore, the prevention of the third condition-fire source has become the focus of ensuring the safety of gas stations.

according to the research, the lowest detonation energy of gasoline is only .2 millijoule, which is equivalent to the energy generated by a pin falling from a height of 1 meter to the concrete floor. Such a tiny detonation energy can be achieved by any tiny spark or static electricity invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of gas stations, all fire sources must be avoided in gas stations, and open flames and smoking are prohibited.