T E C H N I C A L

B U L L E T I N

TB 2004-01

Aerosol Flammability & Low Current Electrical Discharge Weapons
In 1991, Defense Technology/Federal Laboratories® received a patent on First
Defense® Pepper Spray, a non-flammable aerosol comprised of all food-grade
ingredients. At that time, First Defense® was guaranteed to be non-flammable.
Due to the growing popularity of low current electrical discharge weapons, there
is a renewed interest in the flammability of aerosol defense sprays. Examples of
these weapons include but are not limited to the Taser® M26, Taser® X26, and
various models of stun guns and control shields.
Flammability can be defined in multiple ways. Previously, the non-flammable
guarantee of DT/FL aerosol sprays like First Defense® was based upon
government standards set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
16 CFR 1500.45: Method for determining extremely flammable and
flammable contents of self-pressurized containers.
In this bulletin, DT/FL expands the definition of flammability to include: The
ability of a low current electrical discharge weapon to ignite vapors or
residue from an aerosol defense weapon manufactured by Defense
Technology/Federal Laboratories®. As new force applications have emerged,
Defense Technology/Federal Laboratories® has conducted safety tests on its
aerosol formulations. The following information is a chart identifying the Defense
Technology/Federal Laboratories® formulations we have tested. Based upon the
stated definitions of flammability and the foreseeable circumstances when these
devices will be used, we have ruled out possibility of flammability for the following
formulations:
Formulation
First Defense®
Pepper-10TM
5.5 Pepper Mace®
Pepper Foam
Guardian® LE-10®
Guardian® LE-10®
Guardian® LE-10®
BodyGuard®

Type
OC
OC
OC
OC
OC
OC
OC
OC

Delivery System
Nitrogen Propelled Stream
Nitrogen Propelled Stream
Nitrogen Propelled Stream
HFC134a Propelled Foam
HFC134a Propelled Stream
HFC134a Propelled Foam
HFC134a Propelled Fog
HFC134a Propelled Fog/Cone

Flammability
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO