Several methods proposed for calculating the value of the superheat limit temperature were analysed. The results obtained indicate that the procedures based on the thermodynamic stability approach introduce a significant uncertainty into the final values, depending on which equation of state is used. We propose a new approach based on the energy balance in the initial liquid mass just before the explosion. The temperature obtained using this method, T(sl-E), corresponds to the situation in which the energy transferred adiabatically between the cooling liquid and the vaporising liquid fractions is at its maximum. This leads to a minimum content of energy in the remaining liquid. Although these two approaches are equivalent-the procedures based on the thermodynamic stability approach use also the minimum energy state as a criterion-the new proposed method only uses the properties of the substance to obtain T(sl-E). Thus, T(sl-E) represents the behaviour of each substance as a function of its molecular structure, while this influence is lost if a simple equation of state is used. Finally, some considerations are made on the limitations of the superheat limit temperature as a criterion for establishing whether an explosion is or is not a BLEVE. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.