The Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009

[F1 Test procedure E+W+S

6.3.1.3.2.— (a) a minimum of 3 full aerosol dispensers per product shall be conditioned to 20°C ± 1 °C with at least 95 % of the dispenser immersed in the water for at least 30 minutes before each test (if the aerosol is fully immersed, 30 minutes conditioning is sufficient);

(b) comply with general requirements; record the temperature and relative humidity of the environment;

(c) weigh an aerosol dispenser and note its mass;

(d) determine the internal pressure and initial discharge rate at 20°C ± 1°C (to eliminate faulty or partly filled aerosol dispensers);

(e) support the gas burner on a flat horizontal surface or fix the burner to a support by means of a clamp;

(f) ignite the gas burner; the flame shall be non-luminous and approximately 4-5cm high;

(g) place the actuator's exit orifice at the required distance from the flame; the aerosol shall be tested in the position it is designed to be used, e.g. upright or inverted;

(h) level the actuator's orifice and burner flame, ensuring that the orifice is properly directed towards and aligned with the flame (see Figure below); the spray shall be expelled through the top half of the flame;

(i) comply with the general requirements regarding shaking of the dispenser;

(j) actuate the valve of the aerosol dispenser, to discharge its contents for five seconds, unless ignition occurs; if ignition occurs, continue discharging and time the duration of the flame for five seconds, from the start of ignition;

(k) note the ignition results for the distance between the gas burner and the aerosol dispenser in the table provided;

(l) if no ignition occurs during step (j), the aerosol shall be tested in alternative orientations, e.g. inverted for upright use products, to check if ignition is obtained;

(m) repeat steps (g) to (l) twice more (a total of 3) for the same can at the same distance between the gas burner and the aerosol actuator;

(n) repeat the test procedure for another two aerosol cans of the same product at the same distance between gas burner and aerosol actuator;

(o) repeat steps (g) to (n) of the test procedure at a distance between 15 and 90 cm between the actuator of the aerosol can and the burner flame depending on the outcome of each test (see also 6.3.1.3.1.4 and 6.3.1.3.1.5);

(p) if no ignition occurs at 15cm, the procedure is finished for initially full cans; the procedure is also finished when ignition and sustained combustion is obtained at a distance of 90cm; if ignition could not be obtained at 15cm distance, record that ignition did not occur; the maximum distance between burner flame and the aerosol's actuator for which an ignition and sustained combustion was observed is noted as the “ignition distance”, in all other circumstances;

(q) one test shall also be conducted on three cans of 10-12% nominal fill level; these cans shall be tested at a distance between the aerosol's actuator and the burner flame of the “flame ignition distance of full cans + 15cm”;

(r) discharge an aerosol can to a 10-12% nominal fill level (by mass) in bursts of 30 seconds maximum; observe a 300 seconds minimum time period between bursts; during this interim period dispensers shall be placed in the water bath for conditioning;

(s) repeat steps (g) to (n) for 10-12% nominal fill aerosol cans, omitting steps (l) and (m); this test shall only be performed with the aerosol in one position, e.g. upright or inverted, corresponding with that which produced the ignition (if any) for filled cans;

(t) record all results in the Table 6.3.1.1 as shown below.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1A inserted (E.W.S.) (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 13 para. 8 (with reg. 2 as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)