A boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE, / ˈ b l ɛ v iː / BLEV-ee) is an explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing a pressurized liquid that is or has reached a temperature sufficiently higher than its boiling point at atmospheric pressure.

May 21, 2022 · BLEVE is short for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, an explosion that’s caused when a vessel with pressurized liquid surpasses the boiling point. BLEVE fire situations may crop up occasionally, so a firefighter must be knowledgeable about these dangerous fires.

Feb 3, 2025 · A boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, known as a BLEVE, occurs when the pressurized liquid inside a vessel, such as a propane tank, reaches temperatures higher than that liquid’s...

A BLEVE has been defined as ‘an explosion resulting from the failure of a vessel containing a liquid at a temperature significantly above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure’, CCPS 1994.

Oct 5, 2017 · A BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion) is a hazardous phenomenon that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid fails, leading to very rapid vapourization of the liquid in the vessel with a large blast effect.

Jan 11, 2020 · A BLEVE is an explosion caused by a liquid which is boiling and continuing to produce a flammable vapor. BLEVE incidents are classified into explosions, damage (derailment), overfilling, fires, collisions, runaways, overpressure, overheating, and corrosion.

Jul 1, 2023 · The term BLEVE was first used by Smith, Marsh, and Walls of Factory Mutual Research Corp. (USA) in 1957 when analyzing the rupture of a vessel containing a superheated mixture of formalin and phenol. They suggested that the vessel underwent a “boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion” (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2008).

A BLEVE is defined as an explosion caused by the rapid expansion of a vapor when a container of liquid is heated and the liquid inside turns into a vapor. The term was first coined by engineers at Factory Mutual in the 1950s to describe a specific type of industrial accident.

Nov 1, 2014 · Later Walls, 1978, Walls, 1979 defined a BLEVE as ‘a failure of a major liquid-filled container into two or more pieces at a moment when the temperature of the contained liquid is well above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure’.

Aug 23, 2021 · Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE) is a unique phenomenon that takes place especially on gas carrier ships or ships having tanks with highly pressurized liquid cargo. BLEVE is a dangerous condition on board ships which should be avoided at any cost.