[QUOTE=Beechkid;10187837]
BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion) or implosion. Bleve occurs when the liquid is converted to vapor and the psi exceeds the tanks design causing a breach; An imposion occurs when the product inside the tank has in essence boiled off and the atmospheric pressure inside the tank is less than the regaular atmosphere, the tank actually again tears apart but collapsing upon itself.

CORRECTION A BLEVE occurs when the tank surface is weakened by direct flame impingement and the tank itself fails at that point due to pressure in the tank there have been numerous times where a tank has been involved in a fire and not bleve'd because A there was not direct flame inpingement or B the first responders have keep the tank surface cool with hose spray. The relief valves in the tank are designed to release pressure at 250psi for a standard domestic tank and 312 psi for most over the road motorfuel tanks, the safety margin on a asme domestic tank is 4 to 1 or 1000psi. DOT tanks are similar. I have never in 35 years seen a lp tank implode.

Regards