Mixtures of dispersed combustible materials and oxygen in the air will burn only if the fuel concentration lies within well-defined lower and upper bounds determined experimentally, referred to as flammability limits or explosive limits. Combustion can range in violence from deflagration through detonation.

What is meant by flammability limits?

Flammability limits or explosive range: The entire range of concentrations of a mixture of flammable vapor or gas in air (expressed as volume percent) over which a flash will occur or a flame will travel if the mixture is ignited.

What is high flammable limit?

The highest concentration of a vapor or gas (the highest percentage of the substance in air) that will produce a flash of fire when an ignition source (heat, arc, or flame) is present. See also Lower Flammable Limit. At concentrations higher than the UFL, the mixture is too rich to burn.