Warning
1995-71
October 25, 1995
Highly Flammable Household Aerosol Sealants a Potential Hazard
OTTAWA - Health Canada continues to receive reports of burn injuries or property damage due to improper use of household aerosol sealant products despite earlier warnings issued to Canadian consumers.
Health Canada is aware of at least 22 incidents involving two specific brand name aerosol sealant products: Stop Leak (310g) and Leak Sealer (354g). These incidents occurred after accumulated vapours spread throughout a room and were ignited by an ignition source causing a flash fire.
Under the Hazardous Products Act, labels on these products display hazard symbols and warning statements related to flammability. Following consultation with Product Safety officials of Health Canada, the two importers of the products involved in the incidents have since provided additional warnings which appear in a highlighted red background with white lettering. The additional warnings should help consumers use these products safely.
Consumer inquiries may be directed to the nearest Health Canada office.
- Vancouver (604) 666-5003
- Edmonton (403) 495-2480
- Calgary (403) 292-4650
- Saskatoon (306) 975-4028
- Winnipeg (204) 983-2846
- Toronto (416) 973-4705
- Hamilton (905) 572-2845
- Montreal (514) 646-1353
- Quebec (418) 648-4327
- Moncton (506) 851-6638
- Halifax (902) 426-8300
- St.John's (709) 772-4050
Information:
Bonnie Fox-McIntyre/Monique Renaud-Gagné
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588
Safe Use of Household Aerosol Sealant Products
As summer ends, thoughts turn to preparing homes for the long winter season. Many people focus on trying to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more air tight through the elimination of cracks or leaks around windows, doors, basement walls, etc. Autumn is also a time when cooler weather sometimes encourages work to be done indoors with the windows closed, thereby reducing proper air circulation and ventilation.
Many different types of sealing compounds are used to seal cracks or leaks on a variety of surfaces both indoors and outdoors, including those packaged in aerosol containers. When using household aerosol sealants, it is extremely important to have proper ventilation where the air is forced outdoors. These products may contain flammable ingredients which can be ignited by sources such as furnace and water heater pilot lights.
When using such household aerosol sealant products, especially indoors, consumers should:
- extinguish all pilot lights before use (contact their local gas or oil company for assistance if they do not know how to do so);
- read all warning labels/symbols and follow the manufacturers' directions for use;
- use the products only on small jobs, never for sealing large surfaces such as entire walls, etc.
- always use these products in the presence of good cross-ventilation forced to the outdoors, and continue ventilation during the drying phase.
Consumers should not:
- use these products near flame sources such as pilot lights on gas or oil appliances, furnaces, water heaters;
- use these products near electrical appliances and motors, or spark-producing equipment such as light switches or baseboard thermostats;
- smoke while using these products.
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