Under the powerful magnification of the SEM it was / is immediately apparent that at least one of the aerosol products tested Even though it is not always possible for the naked eye to see this type of damage (and may even be unknown to the manufacturer of the aerosol) it can affect the long-term durability and structural reliability of the detector.
Environmental & Health and Safety Issues International differences Users of pressurised aerosol products must be confident that safety considerations have been fully reviewed and met. Worryingly, what is suitable for one country or trading bloc may prove unsuitable / unacceptable or in contravention of norms and standards for / in another. SOLO products have been developed and certified with regard to appropriate regulations for flammability, product labelling, packaging, pressure and transportation across the world.
Environment & Flammability Historically, manufacturers of aerosol smoke testers used CFC’s in their products up until (and for a while after) 1987 when their use in such manufacture was outlawed under the Montreal Protocol. Since then, the choice of chemical propellants has been between: 1) HFC’s – expensive but non-flammable, and 2) hydrocarbons such as propane or butane - cheap but flammable. Smoke detector test aerosols filled with flammable propellants present a greater hazard than non-flammable ones. Spraying flammable contents at sources of ignition (such as live electrical circuits found in detectors) can be exceedingly dangerous (as controlled tests at No Climb have shown). In the event of a fire or explosion, flammable aerosols constitute a considerably greater risk to safety. Non- flammable, environmentally friendly propellants are more expensive than flammable alternatives but many of us in the life safety / fire detection industry feel it is better to use a non-flammable product, even if more expensive, than a cheap flammable alternative.
Pressure The internal pressure of an aerosol product and its suitability for its canister are key issues in a good and safe product. The pressure depends not just on the propellant and the other ingredients but also outside influences such as ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Internal pressure can change very significantly when any of these influences changes. The ability for the finished product to safely withstand pressure changes depends wholly on the components used in manufacture and their relative ratings. Two canisters may look identical but use very different pressure rating capacities. At elevated temperatures one could fail. Users should satisfy themselves that the aerosol product they elect to use day-in day-out meets national guidelines such as the EEC Council directives and BAMA guidelines in the UK. Not all products available in today's UK and European market meet such requirements.