Specification for Performance of Flame Mitigation Devices Installed in Disposable and Pre-Filled Flammable Liquid Containers

Designation Number:
ASTM F3429/F3429M
Standard Type:
National Standard of Canada - Domestic
Standard Sub-Type
Bi-National
Standard Development Activity:
New Standard
ICS code(s):
75.200
Status:
NOI withdrawn
SDO Comment Period Start Date:
SDO Comment Period End Date:
Posted On:

Scope:

Note: This NOI was withdrawn by the responsible SDO on January 10, 2023.

1.1 This specification establishes performance requirements for the performance of flame mitigation devices (FMDs) installed in disposable and pre-filled liquid containers, intended for consumer use where the liquid flashpoint is below 60 ºC [140 ºF].

1.1.1 Uses of disposable and pre-filled flammable liquid containers include but are not limited to fuels, fire starters, and additives for internal combustion engines.

1.1.2 An FMD that complies with this specification minimizes the potential of flame jetting or container rupture from occurring.

1.1.3 Containers without a significant area reduction at the container opening are not covered because there is no hazard of a flame jet or container rupture because an internal pressure rise does not result from an internal ignition. (See Appendix X1.)

1.2 This specification does not apply to the following containers:

1.2.1 Containers greater than 20 L [5.3 gal] or smaller than 100 mL [3.4 oz] in volume.

1.2.2 Containers intended for beverages.

1.2.3 Portable fuel containers as defined in Specification F852/F852M.

1.2.4 One-time use portable emergency fuel containers for use by consumers as defined in Specification F2874.

1.2.5 Containers not intended to be open to ambient conditions such as those for liquefied petroleum gas.

1.3 This specification does not address hazards caused by fire and explosion nor hazards from vapors external to the container when the fuel in the container does not ignite. Further, this specification does not consider scenarios where confinement, obstructions, or preheating cause flame acceleration prior to the flame front reaching the interior of the container.

1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Information on specific hazards associated with the test methods in this specification is shown in Section 4.4.

1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.

1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Project need:

Fuels and other flammable liquids sold pre-filled in containers present a possible flame jetting or container rupture hazard. These hazards result in a burning liquid fuel being suddenly and possibly violently projected several feet from the container and is often described as a “fireball”. The possibility of flame jetting is often not known to consumers but can result in life-altering burn injuries and even death. The subcommittee developed this standard to mitigate the risk of flame jetting from disposable and prefilled flammable liquid containers by requiring Flame Mitigation Devices or Features (FMDs) that meet this minimum performance standard. The requirements in this specification are based on a robust research and development effort that evaluated the physical phenomenon, the hazard, and real-world events applications in a controlled laboratory evaluation under a range of conditions and containers.

Note: The information provided above was obtained by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and is provided as part of a centralized, transparent notification system for new standards development. The system allows SCC-accredited Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and members of the public, to be informed of new work in Canadian standards development, and allows SCC-accredited SDOs to identify and resolve potential duplication of standards and effort.

Individual SDOs are responsible for the content and accuracy of the information presented here. The text is presented in the language in which it was provided to SCC.