Can cellphones provoke an explosion when exposed to flammable gases?

Question

I heard that a gas tank exploded when the driver turned on his cellphone because it had a leak and the power of the cellphone's signal was enough to make the gas unstable

Answer 1

Yes and no. What happens at a gas station is that the car builds up a static electric charge and holds it. When the gas nozzle touches the gas filler neck the charge jumps to the nozzle as it tries to discharge. A spark in the presence of flammable gas in the correct concentration will cause a fire.

Almost every one has experience this when they've touched a metal door knob, or anything metal in the winter after they've built up a charge. You know what kind of shock you get.

Now on the 2d part of my answer. Hazardous area are defined by Class and Division depending on how much of a danger is posed. Any electrical product (cell phones included) are to be "intrinsically safe" in the class & division to be used. If you were to have any electrical item in an area with the correct gas/air concentration AND a spark generated internally to the cell phone, it is possible to ignite the gas.

In the normal use, there is no problem using it at a gas pump. The door switches in the car frame create a bigger spark when you open and close the door.

Answer 2

"Myth Busters" did an episode on this subject. They proved that cell phones DO NOT cause gasoline explosions when filling your gas tank. They found that the explosions were caused by people getting back into and out of their cars. The static build up on their clothing discharged and caused the sparks that start fires.