NCJ Number
150115
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1994) Pages: 78-88
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Following a review of the OC-spray products of a number of manufacturers, this article discusses OC flammability concerns, its life expectancy, and decontamination systems.
Abstract
Most manufacturers in the field offer a full line of OC products, ranging from very small units, suitable for undercover personnel, to duty canisters built with the patrol officer in mind. There are also larger units, often containing several pounds of OC, designed for crowd-control operations, as well as grenades and projectile delivery systems for tactical applications. The OC products are briefly described for the following manufacturers: Aerko International, Cap-Stun Weapons Systems, Guardian Protective Devices, CASCO International, Aero/Chem Corporation, Mace Security International, Defense Technology Corporation of America, B-Safe Industries, and Phaser International. Regarding flammability concerns related to alcohol as an OC carrier, virtually all the manufacturers surveyed said it is not a problem, since alcohol is flammable only if a flame source is put directly at it. Such a circumstance is rare in police encounters. In the area of OC life expectancy, most manufacturers put a 2- to 4-year shelf life on their products. A new breed of product is OC decontamination system. BIO SHIELD, marketed by FACT Security Division, is billed as an antidote of sorts for OC, CS, and CN. The manufacturer claims that BIO SHIELD is capable of breaking down the active ingredients commonly found in law enforcement chemical weapons.