CPSC Promotes Fuel Container Safety During National Consumer Protection Week (March 5

Washington, D.C. -- During National Consumer Protection Week (March 5-11) the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding consumers about hazards associated with fuel containers, gasoline, and other liquid fuels. Vapors from these liquids are invisible and dangerous. Each year, thousands of people go to hospital emergency departments with burn injuries related to flammable liquids. Many burn incidents involve liquid fuel used outside on a backyard fire pit, a campfire, a bonfire, or burning trash. Other burn incidents involve liquid fuel used inside classrooms during chemistry experiments.

Portable fuel containers also can pose a serious injury risk to consumers. Portable fuel containers are defined as having a capacity of five gallons or less and include gas cans and containers sold with butane to refill cigarette lighters, charcoal lighter fluid, ethanol or bioethanol, fuels for small engines, and liquid fireplace fuels. If fuel vapor escapes from a fuel container and encounters a spark or flame, it can ignite and flashback into the container, causing an explosion that can severely burn those nearby.

Flame mitigation devices, such as flame arrestors, protect against flame jetting and container rupturing. Flame jetting is a phenomenon where an external ignition source – such as an open flame – causes a sudden ignition of fuel within a container and forcefully expels burning vapor and liquid from the mouth of the container, resulting in a blowtorch-like effect. Container rupturing is like flame jetting, except the burning vapor and liquid are expelled through a rupture in the container.

The Commission has been active recently in this area, implementing statutes with new mandatory requirements. CPSC is making gas cans and other fuel containers safer by requiring them to have flame mitigation devices. This new mandatory safety standard will go into effect in July 2023. Congress required the agency to put rules into place to protect consumers under the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act (PFCSA) of 2020. In addition, in December 2022, the Commission voted to update child resistance requirements for closures on portable gas cans, and diesel and kerosene containers. These requirements became effective on December 22, 2022.

Consumers can protect themselves and their children from injury by using fuel containers with child safety features and flame mitigation devices and by following these fuel container safety tips:

Child Safety

Safe Storage

Backyard Fire Pits

At the gas station

To learn more about fuel container safety, visit CPSC's Fuel Container, Gasoline and Other Liquid Fuel Safety Education Center.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

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