FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2004
Release # 04-105
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 or Eric Criss, (301) 504-7908
CPSC Issues New Safety Warning for Paintball Guns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Based on its investigation of two deaths caused by
carbon dioxide (CO2) canisters flying off paintball guns, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is issuing a new warning.
Paintball gun users should be advised that the brass or nickel-plated
valve that connects directly to the canister must not be unscrewed from
the canister when removing the canister assembly from a paintball gun.
This valve must stay secured and rotate with the CO2 canister.
In both of the deaths investigated by CPSC, the brass valve
unscrewed from the canister, turning the pressurized canister into a
deadly projectile. In June 2003, a 15-year-old boy died after being
struck in the head by a paintball CO2 canister as he was removing the
canister from the gun. In February 2004, a female bystander was killed
by a CO2 canister that was expelled as someone else was removing the
canister from a paintball gun. While these investigations are not
complete, CPSC is issuing this new safety warning to help people avoid
the hazard.
"We are very concerned about the recent deaths associated with
paintball gun canisters," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "We are
actively investigating these cases. Even though our investigation is
not complete, we believe it is urgent to provide this new safety message
about the valve detaching from the canister while unscrewing it from the
paintball gun."
CPSC also recommends that people make sure that any modifications
to the paintball gun or the CO2 canister are done properly. For
example, installing anti-siphon tubes involves removing and re-
installing the canister valve. It is critical that the valve be re-
installed with the appropriate adhesive and the proper torque.
Make sure the brass or nickel-plated canister valve is securely
attached to the canister, rotates with the canister, and does not
unscrew from the canister.
The canister assembly should unscrew from the paintball gun in about
three or four full turns; if you finish the 4th full turn and the
canister is not unscrewed from the gun, stop! Take it to a
professional.
Some people have used paint or nail polish to mark the brass
valve and the CO2 canister so they can see that the valve and the
canister rotate together while being removed from the gun.
Figure 1: Paintball gun and carbon dioxide (CO2) canister.
Figure 2: Brass or nickel-plated valve must remain connected to the CO2 canister.
Figure 3: Painted line between valve and CO2 canister.
Figure 4: Painted lines separating. The painted lines must stay together as you unscrew the canister assembly from the paintball gun. If the lines separate, stop unscrewing the canister and take the gun to a professional. If the valve unscrews from the canister, the canister can become a deadly projectile.