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SprayApril13

vs. When the domestic aerosol industry started 20 Spray April 2013 up in 1947, the major products were insecticides and air fresheners. They were formulated with about 90% of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants. Since the major CFC (CFC-11) has a density of about 1.5 g/mL, the standard 12 Av. oz. fill (by weight) actually had a volume of only about 245 mL—equal to`8.3 fluid ounces. Marketers found that it was much more palatable to label their aerosols as “Net Weight 12 oz.” The preference for labeling by weight continued until about 1954, when the Gulf Oil Co. developed their crawling insect spray. The original formula was an 80% petroleum distillate solution, pressurized with 20% CFC-12. For economic reasons, the propellant was soon changed to 2.85% carbon dioxide, producing a composition with a density of only 0.760 g/mL. The usual 211x413 three-piece tinplate and Crown “Spratainer” aerosol cans could safely hold 12.0 fluid ounces (355 mL), but that much of the bug killer only weighed 270 grams, or about 9.1 Av. oz. Gulf Oil and several other marketers countered the “low number” weight problem by labeling their bug killer aerosols as “Net Contents: 12 fl. oz.” Some competitors objected to what they called a “fortuitous double standard.” The apparent disconnect was brought to the attention of State Weights & Measures (W&M) officials and formally addressed when they met the following July in Washington, D.C. The practical impossibility of accurately confirming the bug killer product volume was discussed. Ultimately, the officials voted to require that all aerosols be labeled only by weight. A few labeling problems remained. A large hair spray marketer obtained a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) document permitting his products to be volumetrically labeled. The Administrator of the U.S. Bureau of Standards (Malcolm Jensen) felt that propellants added nothing but pressure and should not be counted in net weights. A hair spray marketer was able to adjust the density of his formula to 0.958 g/mL and labeled his aerosol products as “Contains 10 oz.”—since the weight and volume figures were then identical. All these challenges to weight labeling were ephemeral. The only sustained modification to the depiction of net weight was the conversion to “delivered net weight,” which is still with us today for all U.S. aerosols. Modern Concepts During 2011, a few marketing firms questioned the By MONTFORT A. JOHNSEN, Technical Editor The Battle of Weight Volume... term “aerosol,” the use of net weight labeling, and even the need for a hot water bath in the case of “Bag-on-Valve” (BOV) products. They favored net contents (volumetric) labeling, to be consistent with the labeling of similar, often competitive, non-aerosol products. They cited that nitrogen or compressed air (CAIR) was generally used as the pressurizing agent in the exo-space (around the bag), and thus these BOVs only increased in pressure by around 10 psi. (0.7 bar), when the dispenser was passed through the hot water bath. Quite recently, a diverse aerosol industry group concluded that BOVs that have no propellant in the product itself could be labeled by both net weight and net contents, provided regulatory approval was granted. The decision poses some interesting aspects. As to labeling, if the declaration of net weight (U.S. and metric numbers) and net contents (U.S. and metric numbers) were to be grouped together, consumers would be faced with the somewhat confusing panorama of four different numbers during the typical second or two when they try to make a “buy or no-buy” decision. Household products under the auspices of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) would be required to place the net weight declaration, in alpha-numerics of appropriate size, only on the front panel. While a net contents (volumetric) statement is permitted, it would have to be in smaller print. For U.S.FDA products, the placement is not specified, but if the net contents were to appear boldly on the front panel, and the net weight (in smaller letters) on a side or back panel, then the agency might have to consider the issue. Such other agencies as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Federal trade Commission (FTC) might also render rule-making opinions. The state weights and measures officials, who typically collect products from retail stores for net weight or net volume assays, would have to decide which they would test for label compliance. Perhaps they would try to test both declarations. There are a number of possible pit-falls in the testing of aerosol fill volumes. While the filler has the option of equilibrating the product batch to (typically 60°F 15.5°C), then determining the density by using a hydrometer, pychnometer or even, less accurately, an etched graduate, the state examiner does not have this luxury. The self-pressurized product may have a very small amount of air mixed in, it will normally be at a temperature higher than the standard 60°F, and it may incorporate more air from being expelled from EcoSMART Bed Bug Killer for Mattresses & Carpets is labeled “Net Contents.” Understanding the difference between Net Weight and Fluid Ounces.


SprayApril13
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