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Performance Information
The intense flickering red glare provided by a flare
through extreme environmental conditions is unparalleled by competitive products. Flares are self-sustaining, do not require an outside light source to be effective and there is no concern about battery life or corroding electrical parts. Flares are time tested and have been the primary distress signal on our railroads and highways for over 50 years for one simple reason - they work the best.
Highway Safety flares burn at approximately 70 candela. By comparison, chemiluminescent light sticks are approximately 10 candela and a typical flashlight is 5 candela. At the other end of the spectrum, Orion's marine flares burn at approximately 700 candela but for a shorter period of time.
The average burn time for a highway emergency flare is a function of its length (and to some degree minor variations in the flare composition). Orion flares burn within a 5% margin of error (longer but not shorter) than the stated duration of the flare. This is within UL specs and is frequently tested to maintain quality. See next page for more detailed information about quality standards.
In addition to brightness, movement enhances visibility. The "flicker" associated with the burning of an emergency flare (as escaping gases fractionally move the light source back and forth) is unique to a flare and eye catching to passersby.
The "prime" (the button that is first rubbed on the surface of the flare to initiate combustion) burns more easily and quickly than the flare mix (the compressed powder that fills the body of the flare). Combustion is transferred from the prime to the mix (which takes up to 5 seconds and produces a yellow flame), at which time the flare begins to burn a brilliant red.
Flares positioned on their side (lying on the road) will not burn underwater but will burn
vigorously through extreme rain and wind.
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