LEL
Government & Politics abbreviation · Emergency Services
| Stands for | Lower explosive limit |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
LEL stands for Lower explosive limit, an emergency services abbreviation.
Lowest concentration of a flammable gas or vapor in air that can ignite; below it the mixture is too lean to burn. For methane, the LEL is about 5 percent, and the upper explosive limit (UEL) about 15 percent.
Example: The meter read 20 percent of the LEL near the leak, so everyone backed out and ventilated.
Usage notes
Gas detectors often show readings as a percentage of LEL, so 100 percent LEL means the mixture has reached its lower flammable limit. Also called lower flammability limit (LFL). Responders typically withdraw at 10 percent LEL in many protocols.
Related abbreviations
More emergency services abbreviations
- ICS – Incident Command System
- IDLH – Immediately dangerous to life or health
- IMT – Incident management team
- IPAWS – Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
- JIC – Joint information center
- LAFD – Los Angeles Fire Department
- LFB – London Fire Brigade
- LMR – Land mobile radio
- LODD – Line-of-duty death
- LZ – Landing zone
- MCI – Mass-casualty incident
- NENA – National Emergency Number Association