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Moreover, these requirements were derived in an effort to assure each container is robust. The time frame and breadth of testing is rigorous. Of course, each manufacturer or marketer must review the most current regulations managing products placed into the marketplace in order to retain the high standards of products in the marketplace today. Manufacture & Storage of a Plastic Aerosol Container Just because one arm of the regulatory process moves its position doesn’t assure that coordination across regulating bodies can be anticipated. The PHMSA modifications were a boost to the distribution of plastic aerosol containers. However, as important as this move was to the industry, it wasn’t all-inclusive. The PHSMA provided direction toward distribution, but codes for the manufacture and storage retained earlier limitations. Realizing the inconsistency in code modifications, industry engaged to assist in development of data that would help direct the code-setting bodies for manufacturing and storage codes. To this end, the Plastic Aerosol Research Group, LLC, (PARG) was formed through the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) Product Ingredient Review (PIR) program. PARG was chartered to engage with industry experts at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and United Laboratories (UL), among others, to determine what would be needed to support code change. PARG constructed and executed a testing plan to assure good science was employed in the determination of what product/package combinations could be managed by the majority of fire safety systems currently in place for aerosol product storage facilities. In this initial testing scheme, an array of products were fire tested in plastic containers. The products ranged across heats of combustion and propellant concentrations with and without bag-on-valve (BOV) options inside the test variables. The results of these fire tests and other large volume fire tests shared with PARG were compiled and shared with the CSPA. Data from the PARG testing showed the ability to manage a set of product package formulations. With this data in hand, PARG showed that products with a low order of flammability could safely move to the marketplace. With the advocacy of CSPA, the industry proposed amendments to NFPA 30B and the International Code Council (ICC) through the International Fire Code Council (IFC) authorities. Paramount across code authorities were concerns around the product formulations within a plastic aerosol container and potential for management of a fire event. A white paper was developed showing the results of the fire testing performed and this data was shared with NFPA and IFC/ICC code officials. At this time the PARG requested code modifications have received initial concurrence across NFPA and ICC/IFC. Principle criteria for storage are based upon a reduction in flammability and specifically need to meet these requirements. Aerosol products in plastic containers larger than 118 ml (4 fl. oz.) shall be considered to be equivalent to Class Continued from page 16 III commodities, as defined in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, where any of the following conditions are met: (a) Base product has no fire point when tested in accordance with ASTM D 92, Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester, and nonflammable propellant. (b) Base product has no sustained combustion as tested in accordance with “Method of Testing for Sustained Combustibility”, Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 173, Appendix H and nonflammable propellant. (c) Base product contains up to 20% by volume (15.8% by weight) of ethanol and/or isopropyl alcohol in an aqueous mix and nonflammable propellant. (d) Base product contains 4% by weight or less of an emulsified flammable liquefied gas propellant within an aqueous base. The propellant shall remain emulsified for the life of the product. Where such propellant is not permanently emulsified then the propellant shall be nonflammable. Now we have a set of requirements in place for manufacture, storage and distribution of plastic aerosol containers. PARG will continue to develop data supporting new products as the industry innovates with the plastic package. North American Industry Opportunity At this point in the process, we have a path to production, distribution and storage of an aerosol product utilizing a plastic container. Products are on the shelf today in a very limited capacity. As the code modifications progress, we can anticipate more suppliers and marketers on the shelf. This is especially true in the North American (NA) marketplace. Evidence of plastic aerosol containers in North America can be traced back to the 1950s, but few have secured a long-term presence (see SPRAY, April 2009). One example of a plastic aerosol container is Procter & Gamble’s Oral-B Brand dental professional fluoride aerosol mousse product. The plastic container utilizes a standard outside crimp valve with a mousse spout. Shipped via professional channels, the product shows long term stability and market success. A few other plastic aerosol bottles can be found in the U.S. marketplace, although we should anticipate more products in the near future. So how will the new products show up? We should anticipate bottles utilizing standard valve systems, as well as bottles incorporating the BOV system. These packaging options would be consistent with the current metal container options. Plastic aerosol containers also have a piston option for the marketplace. Airopack (see following page) has introduced a plastic aerosol innovation that separates the product and propellant in a piston system. The key to this technology is the incorporation of a patented valving system that manages the pressure between the product cavity and the propellant container. This valve permits a more consistent pressure delivery during the life of the unit. The pressurecontaining vessel is at several bar but the valve manages the product-containing area to a desired functioning pressure. Pressure is the primary variable to manage across this package, as is the case in most aerosol systems. Where aerosol products dictate a specific container style in metal, 36 Spray December 2013


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