A TEST TO DETERMINE THE VIABILITY OF SELF-HEATING BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AS IGNITION SOURCES BOB FALCONE, CFEI, AAS KIRK SCHMITT, CFI A new product on the market designed to provide consumers with a hot cup of coffee, anytime, anyplace, prompted the question: Could this product start a fire, either accidentally or intentionally? The product in question is a self-heating beverage container, manufactured by the OnTech Corporation. The containers are about 25 percent taller than an 8 ounce soda can. The top (largest) portion of the container holds 8 ounces of beverage, while the bottom of the container holds a granular chemical, calcium oxide, and a small amount of water. The container arrives at the local market with the liquid product sealed inside the container. Adding your own drink of choice is not an option. The product we found locally was a gourmet coffee marketed by a well-known chef. To use the product, the consumer turns the container upside down and removes a metal lid (similar to those used on micro wave soup cans) from the bottom of the container using a pull-tab. With the metal lid off, a white plastic button is revealed on the bottom of the container. Pressing this button down (into the container) causes a foil seal to tear, allowing water to drain into the calcium oxide chamber, initiating an exothermic reaction. The consumer then turns the container right side up, and, five to seven minutes later, they can enjoy a hot beverage with a temperature of approximately 140 degrees Fahrenheit. THE PROCESS: To determine whether this device could become an ignition source, we conducted a number of experiments. All tests were conducted at the Colorado Springs Fire Department training facility. The experiments were conducted inside the building on a flat metal burn pan, and were recorded both on video and with still photography. A digital timer recorded the elapsed time of each event (and is visible in all of the video shots) with temperatures being measured using a laser thermometer from a distance of not more than 12 inches. It should be noted that these tests were not preformed in a laboratory environment. We attempted to keep the tests basic, to the point, and within the limits of our knowledge and experience. 22 Using the scientific method we: 1. Recognized the Need Could this product be used as an accidental or intentional ignition source. 2. Defined the Problem Develop tests to determine the potential of ignition for this product. 3. Collected Data Video tape; still photography, thermometer, and timers were all used to document our tests. 4. Analyzed the Data Based on the actual results of our various scenarios we analyzed the data we generated. What kind of temperatures did we see? 5. Developed a Hypothesis Using the data we collected, we compared the results to known ignition temperatures of the various substances we tested to determine the potential of ignition. HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM 6. Tested the Hypothesis Were the results of our tests consistent with known data as developed by laboratory testing? Did we manage to ignite any of our various test substances? 7. Selected Final Hypothesis Based on the results of our tests and the known data from laboratory testing, we did determine this product is not a significant fire hazard. The following experiments were conducted: 1. Device used as designed (baseline test) 2. Beverage section empty and, a. Activated right side up b. Activated on its side 3. Device upright, activated with beverage section empty on class A combustibles a. Excelsior (thin, curly wood shavings used as packing material) b. Shredded paper 4. Device upright, activated with beverage section empty and with flammable liquids added a. Acetone b. Bix (brand) paint stripper 5. Device upright, activated with beverage container empty, with gasoline added and a tea candle nearby. 6. Device upright, activated with beverage container empty, placed in pile of shredded paper and saw dust, with gasoline poured on the class A combustibles. JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR
THE FINDINGS: TEST 1 1. NORMAL USE Starting surface temperature 64 F. Maximum surface temperature 94 F. Maximum liquid temperature 140 F. TEST 1 (Normal use) 90 80 70 60 1 1 TEST 2 2A. VERTICAL Starting surface temperature: 64 F. There was smoke production noted at approximately 3 minutes into the test, accompanied by a surface temperature of approximately 141 F. Temperatures rose rapidly from this point, with deformation (melting) of the container at approximately 4.5 minutes into the test. The surface temperature rose to F at 5 minutes into the test, at which point the can was bulging and melting. At 7minutes, the surface temperature rose to 460 F, and the container failed, with chemical powder leaking out of the container, accompanied by smoke production. An acrid odor was noted at 7.5 minutes. At 8 minutes, a small quantity of water was poured onto the exposed chemical and it was noted that this was accompanied by smoke and heat production. By 8. minutes, the surface temperature had dropped to 165 F, and the test was terminated at 9 minutes. TEST 2A (Beverage section empty Container right side up) 0 4 400 3 0 4:20 5:30 6:15 8:45 JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM 23
2B. HORIZONTAL Starting surface temperature 64 F. It was noted that the temperatures rose more slowly than during the vertical test. At 4 minutes the surface temperature had risen to 85 F, but by 4.5 minutes, the temperature had reached 130 F accompanied by smoke production. The exterior temperature continued to rise at a rapid rate with the surface temperature peaking at approximately F at 9 minutes, and then quickly dropping off. The container didn t show any deformation or distortion until 6. minutes, with a corresponding surface temperature of 218 F TEST 2B (Beverage section empty Container laying on its side) 1 BOTTOM CENTER TOP BOTTOM 9:30 6:45 4:30 TEST 3 3A. EXCELSIOR Starting surface temperature 63 F. A small amount of excelsior was loosely inserted into the container, and, after activation the container, was placed (vertically) into a pile of excelsior. At 4.5 minutes some smoke production was noted, with an external surface temperature of 78 F. At 5.25 minutes, the temperature had risen to F, and by 7.3 minutes had risen to F, which was the peak temperature. The test ended at 8.5 minutes TEST 3A (Beverage section empty Upright, in pile of excelsior) 135 120 105 90 60 8:45 8:30 7:15 6:15 5:35 4:45 24 HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR
3B. SHREDDED PAPER Starting surface temperature 65 F. The container was activated, and placed into a pile of shredded paper. At 4.2 minutes, some surface distortion was noted, with surface temperature of 82 F. At 4.55 minutes, smoke production was seen, and at 6.5 minutes, the temperature had reached 220 F. At 7 minutes the temperature of the shredded paper, approximately 1 inch from the can, was 133 F. At 9 minutes deformation of the container was noted, and at 9.5 minutes, the temperature where the surface of the container came in contact with the paper was 276 F. At 10.5 minutes the container collapsed onto itself. The test ended at 11 minutes and it was noted that the paper which was in contact with the softened plastic side of the can had adhered to it, but no burning was noted. TEST 3B (Beverage section empty Upright, in pile of shredded paper) 2 1 1 1 9:30 8:30 7:30 5:25 4:20 TEST 4 4A. ACETONE Starting surface temperature 66. Two-cc of acetone was added to an empty, activated container. At 3 minutes the surface temperature reached 94 F with some smoke production. At 3.2 minutes the temperature rose to 110 F, and it appeared that the container failed, possibly due to a reaction with the acetone. At approximately 4.2 minutes the temperature reached 135 F, and a water leak was noted, again possibly due to a reaction with the acetone and the water container. At 5 minutes the container started to melt, with an accompanying temperature of 170 F. The temperature reached 280 F at 5.5 minutes and at 6 minutes there was smoke production and deformation of the container. The test ended at 9 minutes. TEST 4A (Beverage section empty Upright, 2cc of acetone added) 2 1 5:30 4:30 4:15 3:30 3:15 JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM 25
4B. PAINT STRIPPER Starting surface temperature 63 F. Twocc of paint stripper added to activated container. At 4.5 minutes smoke production was noted, and by 5.2 minutes a rapid temperature increase was noted with temperature of 145 F. At 6.2 minutes distortion of the container was noted with temperature of F, and at 7 minutes there was bulging of the container with a temperature of 270 F. At 9.5 minutes the container was soft and pliable with a temperature of 315 F. At 10 minutes the temperature peaked at 332 F, and then started to drop off, with the experiment ending at 11 minutes. TEST 4B (Beverage section empty Upright, 2cc of paint stripper added) 3 325 2 1 5:20 7:15 6:15 1 1 TEST 5 5. GASOLINE Starting temperature of 63 F. Four-cc of regular unleaded gasoline added to an activated container. A lit tea candle was placed approximately 12 inches from the container. At 4.5 minutes there was a failure of the container (similar to the occurrence in the acetone test). At 6 minutes the surface temperature reached 186 F and some distortion was noted of the can. At 7.2 minutes the temperature reached F, with additional deformation of the container. At 10 minutes the test was ended. 2 1 TEST 5 (Beverage section empty Upright, gasoline added, lit tea candle nearby) 3:45 4:45 7:20 1 26 HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR
TEST 6 6. COMBUSTIBLE SOLIDS AND GASOLINE This test was conducted outdoors on a cold (40 F) day. Starting surface temperature 25 F. Smoke production at 4.5 minutes with a temperature of F and rapidly increasing. At 6 minutes the surface temperature had dropped to 90 F where the container was in contact with the shredded paper and sawdust, but was still 220 F where there was no contact. The test was terminated at 8 minutes. TEST 6 (Beverage section empty Upright, in sawdust, shredded paper and gasoline) Test conducted outdoors 1 25 0 2:40 4:30 THE CONCLUSIONS: Our tests showed that the probability of the OnTech self-heating container being the origin of a fire is extremely remote. Even when the container is used in a manner other than the intended use, it does not generate temperatures capable of igniting common combustible liquids or solids, nor does it generate heat for a long enough period of time to allow liquids or solids to vaporize to a point where they will ignite. It was observed that anytime a liquid or solid was placed inside of, or in contact with the container, any heat generated was either absorbed by the liquid or solid, or the chemical generator failed, stopping heat production. The most dramatic test occurred when an empty container was activated and generated a temperature of 460 F, more than enough to burn skin on contact. We further found the hard plastic sides of the container had a tendency, under higher temperatures, to become tacky and adhere to items in contact with it, again a potential burn factor. DISCLAIMER: Bob Falcone and Kirk Schmitt undertook the testing procedures outlined above on their own initiative. They are not employees of OnTech Corporation. They are not under contract with OnTech Corporation or otherwise associated with OnTech Corporation in any way. OnTech Corporation did not solicit the tests described in this article. The tests described in this article were done strictly for academic and scientific purposes, and no endorsement of OnTech Corporation s self-heating beverage containers is intended or should be implied. BOB FALCONE is a 28-year veteran of the fire service, having served as a career, military and volunteer firefighter. Bob has been a fire investigator for the El Paso County (Colorado) Sheriff s Office for approximately 10 years. He holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Science Technology, and has been a CFEI with the National Association of Fire Investigators for 7 years. He is a member of the IAAI, and its Colorado Chapter. KIRK SCHMITT is a 23-year member of the Colorado Springs (Colorado) Fire Department. He was promoted to the rank of Fire Investigator in 1997 and continues to work in the Fire Investigations Division. He is a CFI with International Association of Arson Investigators, and a CFEI with National Association of Fire Investigators. Kirk also works with Phoenix Investigations of Denver, Colorado conducting origin and cause investigations for various private entitles. JANUARY 7 FIRE & ARSON INVESTIGATOR HTTP://WWW.FIREARSON.COM 27