A flammable aerosol is an aerosol that contains a component that is classified as flammable, whether it is liquid, gas or solid. There are two categories of flammable aerosols. A Category 1 flammable gas contains 85% or less flammable components. A Category 2 flammable gas contains less than 1% flammable components.

Some aerosols are flammable. For example, many aerosols that contain alcohol, such as hairspray, deodorants, and certain cleaning products, can be flammable. These aerosols are flammable because they contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are compounds that vaporize easily and can catch fire or explode.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standard for flammable liquids, a flammable aerosol is any nonrefillable container containing a compressed, liquefied, or dissolved flammable gas under pressure with a release device that ejects the contents as particles in suspension and emits a foam, paste, powder, liquid, or gas.

Depending on how much material sprays before an ignition occurs, and the time required for ignition, an aerosol is classified as either flammable, or not classified as a flammable aerosol. Classification of the flammability of an aerosol is needed to properly label the aerosol and to safely transport the material.

Flammable Aerosols Flammable liquids in pressurized containers may rupture and aerosolize when exposed to heat, creating a highly flammable vapor cloud. As with flammable liquids, these should be stored in a flammable storage cabinet.