Which method is used to control fumes or vapors that can lead to ignition?

Vapor suppression is the method employed to control fumes or vapors that have the potential to ignite. This technique works by minimizing the concentration of flammable vapors in the air, thereby reducing the risk of ignition. Suppression can involve the use of chemical agents that either absorb or neutralize vapor emissions or techniques that utilize cooling agents or moistening agents to lower the vapor concentration.

In hazardous materials handling and emergency response situations, vapor suppression is crucial because it directly addresses the flammability hazards posed by airborne vapors. This helps to create a safer environment for both personnel and nearby communities.

Other methods mentioned, like vapor absorption or dispersion, serve different purposes. Absorption often focuses on capturing and removing vapors from surfaces or specific areas, while dispersion aims to spread vapors in the air to reduce concentrations. However, these methods do not inherently reduce the danger of ignition as effectively as vapor suppression does. Vapor treatment generally refers to processes that might change the chemical makeup of the vapors, which also does not directly control ignition risk in the same immediate way that suppression does.