"Throwaway" Lighters - Potential Bombs?

[ExSimGuy]

Have you seen the thread elsewhere about the dangers of cheap "throwaway" cigarette lighters?
http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/Forum1/HTML/013443.html
How many pax know that these things have been known to explode and start a fire in suitcases http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

We all know (hopefully :) ) not to take cans of paint thinner or caustic soda on to aircraft with us, but how many of us realise that cheap lighters are dangerous, and we should carry, at the most one, in our pocket, not in "carry on" or "checked" baggage http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/confused.gif

It seems that the charter companies are making PAs these days, after holiday resorts started giving a free lighter with a carton of cigarettes. Has anyone seen the scheduled airlines making this danger obvious to pax? (or is it only me who only realised in hindsight that this could be a danger?)

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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[LatviaCalling]

ExSimGuy,

I've read about these lighters in other threads, but I can't figure out what makes these lighters especially dangerous.

I mean, don't you have to strike them or put some kind of pressure on them, for them to go off? Do these lighters have some sort of button you press on the side, or something.

A butane lighter is a pretty safe thing (unless it is made in the PRC), and I know and detest all the safety features put on lighters sold in the U.S.

What sort of lighters are we talking about here that go off by themselves in the baggage compartment?

[Squawk 8888]

My guess would be that (a) they were cheap lighters and therefore not very sturdy, combined with (b) an unpressurized baggage hold causing the casing to burst. Don't know about the source of ignition once the gas was out though.

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Per dementia ad astra

[ExSimGuy]

Thanks Latvia & "8888"

I've seen the post (twice in the last 6 months) on R&N, but it always seems to "vanish off the bottom of the page" quite quickly.

In the Mid-East, these lighters sell for about 15 pence (UK) and I often have 2 or 3 in my pockets at any time. (Partly becuase they aften pack up on you even when apparently quite full!)

If I leave one in my car during the Summer (February to November out here :) ) it is quite likely that I will return to find it in pieces all over the place, but luckily I've never had one catch fire (even in the car at, probably, some 50-60 degrees C)

http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/Forum1/HTML/013443-2.html for the second page of discussion on R&N

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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[ExSimGuy]

Apart from the guesswork from Latvia and 8888, not much input on the subject!

Surely somebody knows the facts http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/confused.gif

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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[ExSimGuy]

Just read a bit about "dangerous cargo" on the R&N section - looks as though throwaway lighters are not the only things that even the "pros" are confused about http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[CargoRat2]

From IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
-Lighters, with lighter fluids (eg Zippo): FORBIDDEN.
-Lighters, containing pyrophoric liquid: FORBIDDEN.
-Lighters, containing flammable gas. UN1057 class 2.1 Max quantity per package 1KG on pax aircraft, 15KG on cargo aircraft. Note both have to be packed according to the provisions on Packing Instruction 201. PI 201 gives;
Wooden box 4C1 or 4C2
Plywood box 4D
Reconstituted wood 4F
Fibreboard box 4G
Plastic box 4H1 or 4H2
The codes indicate industry standard boxes approved by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation, part of the United Nations). Any professional packing company will be able to provide these (at quite a high cost).
Look on your ticket - violating the rules & regs of DGR will leave you liable for large fines/imprisonment.


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rgds Rat