The mathematical model proposed earlier, to simulate the thin layer boilover, has been modified to represent boilover phenomenon in general. In this modified form of the model, the convection current velocity through the fuel layer is considered as a time varying parameter. The model predictions agreed well with the experimental data of this work as well as of other authors. The initial value of the convection current velocity was calculated through the model for different fuels and found to be increasing by the increasing initial fuel layer thickness. The results showed that a fuel with a higher Prandtl number requires a longer time to start boilover and a lower Fourier number represents a higher risk to produce it. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.