Hair Spray Explosion & Airline Safety

Car Safety

Hair spray, lubricants, flat tire repair, window cleaners, and other aerosols are often kept in vehicles year round. These pressurized containers are often temperature sensitive and classified as either flammable or combustible. Yet they are so commonly used, we forget the hazards that are associated with them. For example, most aerosols state on the label of the container to not store them in temperatures greater than 120 degrees F. During summer months in most places around the United States, outside air temperatures will exceed 90 degrees F while the temperatures inside a vehicle or a toolbox on a vehicle can exceed 130 degrees F. Without additional ventilation or temperature relief, these containers can become explosive.

Airlines Safety

"During the fiscal year, the FAA ordered the retrofit of approximately 3,000 airliners in the U.S. fleet with cargo compartment fire-detection and suppression systems because of demonstrated hazards of aerosol cans in passenger luggage during a cargo fire and the effectiveness of halon extinguishing agent in preventing aerosol can explosions"