Capsaicin, the ingredient that makes hot peppers and pepper spray hot, can itself be ignited but it has a very high ignition temperature by itself and isn’t considered to be the culprit responsible for making pepper spray flammable. Take this, and then add into the fact there was a lot more oxygen present due to the nature of the spray and the stage is set for easy ignition.Ĭompared to foam- or gel-type units, mist and aerosol will always be a lot more flammable but if the formula you’re using is inherently nonflammable it shouldn’t make much difference. This is because the tiny individual droplets that make up the mist have far less surface area compared to the volume that they contain. Aerosol or Mist Sprays are More Flammable than Foam or Gel as a Rule of ThumbĪnother thing to keep in mind, no matter what kind of spray you are using, is it the overall flammability of a spray is increased if it is an aerosol or mist-type dispenser. That means the interior of your car is right out, and think twice before storing it in an environment that typically gets hot like your garage or a shed. This is why you never want to keep pepper spray in a place that is subjected to temperature extremes, and heat in particular. The vast majority of pepper spray formulations on the market, defined as OC or oleoresin capsicum, or made with compounds that can degrade and lose potency or even effectiveness if they are kept too hot. Does Pepper Spray React with High Temperature?Īssuming that your pepper spray is not overtly flammable as described above, it generally won’t react hazardously with high temperatures.Ī non-flammable formula doesn’t suddenly become flammable even if it is exposed to sustained, high temps. Yes, pepper spray can and will ignite at a relatively low temperature if it uses flammable propellant, alcohol or other combustible materials in the formulation.Īlthough less and less common these days after some highly publicized accidents, there are still some manufacturers out there that make these sprays, and even a single spark, say from a taser or cigarette, might be enough to ignite the solution. Same thing goes if the formula uses alcohol as the solvent.Ĭonversely, inert gasses like nitrogen absolutely will not catch fire so long as all of the other ingredients in the formula are likewise non-flammable.ĭoes Pepper Spray Ignite at Any Temperature? If any kind of pepper spray or other defensive spray uses a flammable propellant like butane as opposed to an inert gas like nitrogen, it will easily ignite if exposed to sparks, open flames or any extremely hot surface. That’s because there have been some serious mishaps in the past using the stuff as I described above!īroadly, the major culprit when it comes to the flammability of pepper spray is the propellant, or sometimes the solvent part of the solution. The Flammability of Pepper Spray Depends on the Propellantįirst things first, you should know that most types of pepper spray today are not considered to be flammable, and are indeed very difficult to ignite. ![]() Regardless, you need to know exactly what you’re dealing with when it comes to pepper spray in order to be better prepared and to stay on the right side of the law when it comes to use of force. This wasn’t a freak thing, and is entirely predictable if you understand the variables at play. If you’ve been paying any attention in the police or self-defense spheres online, you’ve probably heard of a few highly publicized cases where police officers accidentally lit a suspect on fire after pepper spraying and then subsequently tasing them. Aerosol-types tend to be more flammable than gels or foams. Pepper spray is typically not flammable these days, but any formulation made with flammable propellant or an alcohol-based solution can catch fire when exposed to an ignition source. Pepper spray is one of the single best defensive tools that anyone can carry, but is it a fire hazard? Is pepper spray flammable? SABRE Pepper Spray, with 100MPH Tape Securing the Trigger Mechanismīut sometimes it’s the things you least expect that could turn out to be really dangerous when it comes to fire hazard. ![]() Most preppers know to take great care when storing liquid fuels and when cooking in the kitchen. There are lots of things to be aware of when it comes to fire safety.
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