The US government advises against using fire-extinguishing balls due to safety concerns. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a notice, especially targeting Elide fire-extinguishing balls, warning that they may not put out fires quickly enough, endangering people's lives.
The fire-extinguishing ball maker, Elide Fire USA, has raised concerns with the CPSC because they haven't issued a recall notice or helped consumers fix problems with their goods.
"Consumers should stop using and dispose of these products at either a local fire department or a hazardous waste disposal facility. Consumers should only purchase fire extinguishers that meet both the UL 299 and UL 711 safety standards and are marked with those certifications," the CPSC said in a media release.
Not Good Enough in Fighting Fire
ElideFireUS.com claims the fire-extinguishing ball ignites automatically a few seconds after contact with flames. Fire-extinguishing dry chemical discharges when the ball bursts.
However, the CPSC claims that the fire-extinguishing balls may not distribute chemicals enough to quell fires. Additionally, the balls lack a pressure gauge or indication, a locking mechanism to prevent unintentional discharge, and a nozzle for discharge, per Fox News.
Furthermore, according to the CPSC, the Elide Fire Ball does not adhere to the voluntary safety recommendations found in UL 299 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers and UL 711 Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers.
Gizmodo reported that Chuck Thompson, a representative of E Fire USA, a US-based firm that sells a copyrighted ball identical to the Elide Fire product, expressed dissatisfaction with the CPSC's declaration. E-Fire USA sells the product under the moniker "E-Fire Ball." Over a year ago, the business ended its cooperation with Elide Fire to bring the product to the US.
The CPSC announcement did not mention E Fire USA's goods by name, but Thompson voiced concerns about the "misinformation surrounding an innovative product like the Fire Ball." He said that the fire-extinguishing balls and other items were not classified as fire extinguishers and therefore not held to standards intended for that category, making the CPSC's warning unfair.
Thompson remarked: "We are trying to bring additional tools to help fight fire, so anytime something like this happens, it slows the industry from moving forward with new and innovative solutions."
Potential Alternatives
As a way to work around the issue, companies and individuals should turn to other solutions. The traditional fire extinguishers should do the trick, but you might also consider hiring fire watch guard services. Professional teams can oversee your property and offices, as well as perform inspections. The best thing about fire watch guards is that they know what to look for. They notice potential issues before they escalate, making them the best proactive solution for fires.
Fire-Extinguishing Balls Faced Scrutiny in The Past
Three fire-extinguishing ball models are available from Elide Fire USA: Models ELB01 and ELB02-1 are red, while Model ELB02-02 is blue. The pricing of these goods ranged from $95 to $120. The CPSC's warning applies to all three versions.
Last year, CPSC recalled fire extinguisher balls sold on Amazon due to safety concerns.
According to the regulator, CPSC.LVYXON, TATTCHINE, ARMYJY, PETSTIBLE, HelloPharma, Vixuiyz, and JHEUAYK fire extinguisher balls offered on Amazon.com pose burn and smoke inhalation risk. The federal government warned that certain goods may fail to extinguish flames, posing a serious harm or death risk.
The CPSC also noted that these fire extinguisher balls lack safety features like a pressure gauge or indicator, a locking mechanism to prevent unintentional discharge, a self-closing valve for intermittent discharge, and a nozzle to direct discharge, per USA Today.
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