惰化是防止爆炸的一种措施。通过将惰性气体送入要防止爆炸的系统中，氧含量降低到一定浓度以下，直到不会发生爆炸。添加足够的惰性气体以使任何混合物与空气混合时不易燃（绝对惰性）仅在少数情况下才需要。将讨论对绝对惰性化的要求。惰化也可用于影响爆炸性气体的点火和爆炸特性。 关于惰化的指导也适用于防止火灾时爆炸。 准则未涵盖以下情况: - 将惰性粉尘与可燃粉尘混合; - 通过金属丝网阻火器在容器和罐的敞开空间中消除易燃环境; - 消防; - 通过超过易燃物质的爆炸极限来避免爆炸性气体。 足以防止爆炸的惰化不是防止火灾，自燃，放热反应或灰尘层和沉积物爆燃的保护措施

Inerting is a measure to prevent explosions. By feeding inert gas into a system which is to be protected against an explosion, the oxygen content is reduced below a certain concentration until no explosion can occur. The addition of sufficient inert gas to make any mixture non-flammable when mixed with air (absolute inerting) is only required in rare occasions. The requirements for absolute inerting will be discussed. Inerting may also be used to influence the ignition and explosion characteristics of an explosive atmosphere. The guidance given on inerting is also applicable to prevent an explosion in case of a fire. The following cases are not covered by the guideline: - admixture of an inert dust to a combustible dust; - inerting of flammable atmospheres by wire mesh flame traps in open spaces of vessels and tanks; - fire fighting; - avoiding an explosive atmosphere by exceeding the upper explosion limit of a flammable substance. Inerting which is sufficient to prevent an explosion is not a protective measure to prevent fires, self-ignition, exothermic reactions or a deflagration of dust layers and deposits.