The Problem

Every day burn units across the country treat injuries from unprotected flammable liquids.

Please help us stop these vapor explosions and catastrophic burn injuries. We are calling for improved safety measures. We want the same solution that workers and trained professionals are given. It's called a Flame Arrester. We are working on legislation to require manufacturers to provide flame arresters and protect the public.

Unprotected flammable liquids near a flame or ignition source can cause vapor explosions or flash fires. Vapors become an "invisible wick" that leads flames back to open, unprotected containers causing them to ignite and shoot flames. Bystanders in the flow path are severely burned or injured. The result is similar to a blow torch. Burn Units and ERs across the country treat these injuries daily. This can happen to anyone, at anytime!

Common flammable liquids are:

• Gasoline (aged gas is more volatile because the flashpoint is lower)
• Liquor (Rum, Whiskey, Vodka)
• Ethanol
• Denatured Alcohol
• Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol)
• Methanol
• Charcoal Lighter Fluid
• Acetone (Nail polish remover)

Who is Affected?

First Responders encounter line of duty injuries.

• Firefighters, police, and Emergency medical personnel are in danger too
• They can get caught in the flow path
• They can get injured while protecting us
• Flammable liquids burn hotter than their protective gear

On behalf of all Burn Survivors, we are grateful to each first responder! 

Commercial and Industrial products are protected while Academic and Residential products are unprotected.

• Commercial and Industrial products
  • OSHA regulations require flame arrestors
  • Standard safety barrier protection in the workplace
• Academic and Residential products
  • No barrier protection
  • These products don't require a barrier at the open neck of a container for untrained public
  • Trained professionals get hurt because of the undisclosed risks

Science teachers, University professors, and other educators have been charged, criminally. Is the information being communicated effectively for safety and learning?

Some schools have banned open flame experiments after these injuries occurred, due to safety concerns. Students need safe demonstrations and experiments to learn complex material. These are academically focused kids in advanced science classes. Math and Science kids need knowledge on safety, in order to be prepared for academic challenges. Let's stop the reaction, and quench the flames with barrier protection.

These accidents keep happening, the safety measures need to be improved. Let's direct our efforts at prevention with barrier protection.

The Common Denominator

No barrier protection on open throat containers: plastic, metal, or glass. This allows vapor-air mixtures to ignite, flash, burst, detonate, explode, or jet flames.

• Residential: Fireplace (outdoor and indoor), barbecue, tiki torch, fire pit, campfire, bonfire, and pellet stove

• Educational: Science class, museums, and exhibits

• Laboratories: Amateur, home, academic, and professional

• Commercial: OSHA regulations require a Flame Arrester be used in restaurants, bars, hotels, and catering

• Industrial (Our Benchmark): In OSHA regulations, flame arresters are standard to prevent combustion and for the safety of trained professionals and employees

The Solution

A Flame Arrester is a protective filter such as a small plastic or metal screen that allows liquid to flow, but safely stops vapors from reaching ignition temperatures and "detonating" like a blow torch. A 5¢ Flame Arrester quenches the flame outside the container.

A Flame Arrestor prevents detonation by blocking the flames from entering the container.

It works by absorbing the heat from a flame front, so that the temperature of the burning mixture falls below its auto-ignition temperature; consequently, the flame doesn’t survive. 

The Benchmark: Industrial Regulations

Flame Arrester regulations already exist in industrial and commercial uses. This safety feature is not currently offered on most residential or educational products. We want to work with agencies, manufacturers, and organizations that will offer this barrier protection on common household flammable liquids.

Flame Arresters currently being used: