Term Clarifications: The genesis of the AFG Fireball® and its component certifications

Auto Fire Guard announced a product clarification about the popular Fire Extinguisher Alternative, Fireball® .

The Fireball® has multiple new features designed to make life easier for Homeowners, Boats, RV's, Tiny Homes, Elder Care Facilities and Real Estate Owners. Three that may have caused confusion are "invented", "UL Certified Components" and "Made in the USA with Foreign Components".

Announcement: Clarifications - The Fireball® is a unique device. It combines a unique set of chemicals with fire suppressants and beautiful designs making it the only product of its kind. Grant Van Der Jagt created the Fireball's patented designs and formulated its unique mix of ingredients to extend product life and stop fires safely. He also trademarked "Fireball®", making him the registered owner. No one else has invented a product like the Fireball® because no one else uses the chemical mixture that has become Auto Fire Guard's trade secret; no one else has made a device that functions like the Fireball® and looks as good, nor may anyone else use the trademark "Fireball®". Grant Van Der Jagt is proud of his invention as it adds to a long history of inventions that led him to make the Fireball®. For example, over 100 years ago, Thomas Edison made a similar device which he called a fire grenade. It was later updated by a company called Red Comet, which is still in business today. Suffice it to say, Grant Van Der Jagt did not invent fire nor the ball, nor did he invent the chemicals inside nor the way it is packaged and disbursed. Why the nuance? It is important to understand the parts that make up the whole so as to clearly understand what is meant by the next clarified announcement: "Auto Fire Guard's Fireball® uses UL certified components."

Ok, let's break this down. What is the UL? It is the Underwriters Laboratory which creates standards and tests products to those standards. What are components? In the Fireball®, the component that is UL certified is the fire suppressant chemical, which amounts to 97%+ of the Fireball® by weight. So, could someone say the Fireball® is UL certified? Perhaps a lay person, but here, the term is tightly controlled by the UL. The Fireball® as a unique device is not UL certified. Auto Fire Guard is actively working with the UL to develop standards to certify the device to, however at present there are no applicable UL standards, except for UL 299 & UL 711 which prove the highest quality of the fire suppressant dry chemical powder is used. And of course, that is the case with the Fireball®. Can the converse be stated without misleading the public? Yes. Because there are no applicable UL standards, it is not wrong to state that the Fireball® is UL compliant. Auto Fire Guard has always made this clear on its FAQ page. To learn about the Fireball visit https://www.AutoFireGuard.com.

But what many people wrongly understand is that it meets fire code. As is further explained on the AutoFireGuard.com website, only your local fire marshall can interpret your fire code. Some fire marshalls have allowed it and some have not. Similarly, some insurance companies offer discounts for it, while others don't. Ok, what does this announcement not mean? Well, the UL has not certified the other 3% of the device and therefore the Fireball is not UL certified. In fact, because the UL certified components are not certified for use in the device, contrary to information given to Auto Fire Guard previously by the UL and other professionals who work with the UL, the UL logo legal team has instructed Auto Fire Guard that it can't use the UL component logo until the components are approved for use in the Fireball®. So, Auto Fire Guard has retracted the use of the logo everywhere that it is not clearly identifying what is certified, which is the main point of this clarifying announcement. Meanwhile, the UL has instructed Auto Fire Guard that it can continue to say it uses UL certified components as long as the UL component logo is not used. Raise your hand if you see how nuanced this is.

Similar confusion may be discovered when asked where Auto Fire Guard makes the Fireball®. A lot has happened since making the first one in the inventor's living room in Wisconsin, where Auto Fire Guard conceptually began. Now, with its global headquarters in Colorado, production has been scattered and includes elements made in several US states like Colorado & South Carolina, but also includes aspects sourced abroad, including on American Indian Tribal land. Therefore, Auto Fire Guard says "made in the USA with foreign components." If anyone purchased any of the Fireball® devices believing Grant Van Der Jagt was the inventor each part: the ball, styrofoam, plastic, dry chemical powder or any other attributes of the device not clearly explained herein or if anyone purchased a Fireball® believing it is 100% UL cert

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Created on Jun 5th 2021 06:11. Viewed 149 times.

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