Less Lethal

Less Lethal Article

April 14, 2006

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"Electronic control device safe": Can you trust the label?


By: Officer Chris Myers; Forensic Scientist Rick Wyant; Officer Tom Burns
 
Forensic testing of chemical agents with electronic control devices

Flammable OC when applied to the exposed Taser spark
In the early 1990's, portable less-lethal chemical agents became standard issue for patrol operations(1). In many cases, these agents have been successful in helping to control resistive or violent subjects without serious injury or an escalation of force. With the re-introduction of Electronic Control Devices in the late 1990's, there is a growing concern of flammability issues when these two less-lethal devices are used simultaneously. We recently conducted forensic testing to determine which brands of OC spray would ignite in combination with Electronic Control Devices under our testing protocol.

Oleoresin Capsicum (OC-Pepper spray):

The most common chemical agent used by law enforcement is OC or pepper spray. OC sprays contain several components including a carrier, emulsifier, and propellant. They can be oil or water based and are available in different capsaicin concentrations. Every OC type does contain a certain amount of flammable/volatile material, but formulas are generally unknown as manufacturers guard their proprietary formulations.

Standards for flammability of liquids:

The US Environmental Protection Agency has set standards for rating the flammability of liquids(2):

A. Flash Point: the lowest temperature at which a liquid product containing a combustible ingredient that gives off a flammable vapor will ignite(2) .  NOTE: Even though most of a liquid may be below its stated flash point, an ignition source (Taser) can create a locally heated area sufficient to result in ignition3.

B. Flame Extension Test:  conducted by holding the aerosol can 6 inches from a flame and
discharging the product across the flame. Flame extension of more than 18 inches or flashback of flame to the can would dictate the labeling of the product as either being flammable or extremely flammable2.
 
Ignition of gases: Combustible substances in the gaseous state have extremely low mass and require the least amount of energy for ignition(3). Therefore, spray that becomes aerosolized when leaving the nozzle has the potential to be more flammable than its liquid form.

It is our opinion that the flash point and flame extension tests alone cannot accurately predict an ignition during a joint field application of OC spray and TASER  or other electronic control devices.
 
CRT OC-TASER testing protocol:

The authors created an experiment that would simulate a realistic, worst case scenario.  This scenario involves a clothing disconnect, or loose probe in the suspect's clothing with an exposed spark. The spray would be directly applied to the spark backed by a cotton t-shirt as with a clothed subject.

In late 2004, 2005 and early 2006 we conducted a series of flammability tests with TASER and OC spray.  We used a TASER  model M26 electronic control device and over twenty types of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray.  The M26 was chosen for this test over the X26 because of the greater output (1.76 joules for the M26 vs. 0.36 joules for the X26) in keeping with the "worst case," most likely to ignite, testing.  We worked under the theory that if the OC did not ignite under the worst case situation, we could comfortably carry the Taser and OC simultaneously in routine patrol operations.

The TASER  probes from an XP cartridge (right) were attached to a forensic mannequin.  The mannequin was covered with a conductive layer under an insulating layer. Typical cotton clothing was placed over the insulating layer. The probes were placed one foot apart on the upper torso. The top probe was placed in a fixture in the clothing one half inch from the conductive layer to simulate a clothing disconnect with exposed spark. The bottom probe penetrated making direct contact with the conductive layer.

The weather conditions were recorded.  Temperature and humidity affect the volatility of liquids.  Testing was monitored with digital still, video, and thermal imaging. The clothing was changed after each testing event. The OC spray was applied for 2-3 seconds, 3 feet away, directly to the spark gap as the TASER  was cycled for 10 seconds. After a 20 second delay, the TASER  was applied for a minimum of two cycles. The OC canister was not shaken prior to testing to maintain realistic field conditions.

Forensic Testing Results:

29 types of spray were tested in four separate evolutions. One interesting finding during our testing is that we firmly dispelled common myths often heard in law enforcement circles:

Water based sprays are TASER safe"
"Cans marked 'Non-flammable' are TASER safe"

During our testing, eight brand types of the OC ignited the cotton clothing on the mannequin either during simultaneous application of TASER  and OC or after a delay. In some cases, a direct application of the OC product onto the TASER spark did not cause immediate ignition, but the re-activation of the TASER after a delay did cause flame. The flaming after a delay is theorized to be due to a wicking effect created by the cotton clothing used for testing.

Brand                                                                            Type             Flammable under CRT protocol?
AERKO Punch II both "flammable" and "nonflammable"  STREAM      YES
AERKO FREEZE +P, OC-CS                                      STREAM       NO
Body Guard LE10* (def tech)                                        STREAM       YES
Body Guard LE10* (def tech)                                        FOG               NO
Body Guard LE10* (def tech)                                        FOAM           NO**
Counter Assault OC-10*                                               FOG               NO
CTS Mk 4                                                                     FOG               NO**
CTS Mk9                                                                      FOG               NO
Def Tech Pepper Foam 10% *                                       FOAM           NO
Def Tech First Defense MK-IV*                                    STREAM       NO
Def Tech First Defense X2                                             STREAM       NO
Def Tech 5.5 Pepper mace*                                           STREAM       YES
Def Tech  Pepper 10*                                                    STREAM       NO
Def Tech  First Defense MK-9                                       FOG              NO
FOX spray*                                                                   STREAM      NO
FOX spray                                                                     FOG              NO
Guardian                                                                         FOG             YES
Guardian                                                                         STREAM      NO
Mace Sec. Int'l TAKEDOWN                                        GEL              NO
Pepperball                                                                      CONE           NO
Pepperball                                                                       STREAM      NO
TDS Tactical Defense Spray                                            FOG             YES
TDS Tactical Defense Spray                                            STREAM      YES
SABRE CS/Red pepper                                                  STREAM      YES
SABRE RED                                                                   FOAM          NO
SABRE Red- H2O                                                          STREAM      NO
SABRE Red- H2O                                                          FOAM          NO
SABRE Red- H20                                                           FOG             NO
Zarc Cap-stun                                                                  FOG             YES

* tested on two separate events with different lot numbers with the same results
Some have more than one lot number tested with the same results

** Did not ignite, but raised concerns with high heat generation or hot vapor production.

This series of experiments was designed to create a practical, reality based scenario similar to those faced by Law Enforcement Officers in daily operations.  It is foreseeable that officers will encounter situations where Electronic Control Devices and Chemical agents are deployed simultaneously or in succession, whether by design or not. 

We tried to obtain as many law enforcement grade OC products as possible for testing. Some manufacturers chose not to participate in this study preferring to rely on Flash Point and Flame Extension standards to label their products.  Based on this testing protocol, we concluded that manufacturing labeling as safe and non-flammable may not be accurate under field conditions.

The testing scenario was intentionally structured to be "worst case", one most likely to produce ignition if the agent in question was combustible.  These results are not and cannot be all inclusive and applicable to every situation. It is the authors' recommendation that agencies use these results only as a guideline for the selection of Chemical Agents in an environment with the potential Electronic Control Device deployment."

References:
1.  Armor Holdings Training Academy Manual; Defense Technology, Federal Laboratories
2. US EPA Label review Manual, Chapter 9: Physical or Chemical Hazards
40 CFR 158.190
3. National Fire Protection Association 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations 1995

About the Authors:

Rick Wyant is a forensic scientist with the Washington State Patrol in Seattle. He is a nationally recognized expert in forensic reconstruction of TASER incidents and analysis of TASER evidence. He is a distinguished member of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners, a SWGGUN board member and a reserve deputy.

Chris Myers is a Seattle Police Officer and Instructor on Less Lethal Options including the TASER, Specialty Impact Munitions, and Chemical Agents. 

Tom Burns is a Seattle Police Officer and Instructor on Less Lethal Options including Specialty Impact Munitions, Chemical Agents, Crowd Control Tactics, and TASER devices.

All three authors work together to test various less lethal options under realistic conditions and instruct officers to effectively apply this technology within its limitations.  For more information please visit www.CRTLessLethal.com


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