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Paragraph 6.3.1.3.2 Test procedureF1

(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.

Annotations

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)