FAQs

PepperBall is a non-lethal public safety system used by law enforcement, corrections, military, and security professionals to help de-escalate dangerous situations from a safer distance.

The system combines air-powered launchers, projectiles, and training to help officers create time and distance, influence behavior, deny access, or gain compliance without immediately relying on higher levels of force.

Non-lethal means the product is specifically designed to incapacitate or repel personnel with a low probability of fatality or permanent injury. PepperBall aligns with NATO’s definition of non-lethal weapons.

Millions of PepperBall projectiles have been deployed with zero reported fatalities. Like any force option, misuse can create risk, which is why proper training and adherence to safe-use guidelines are essential.

PepperBall allows officers to respond from distances of up to 150 feet, reducing the likelihood of close-contact confrontations and injuries.

It also fits earlier in the use-of-force continuum, giving agencies an intermediate response option before situations escalate to higher-risk force. PepperBall has tracked more than 143,000 U.S. incidents since 2022 where officers resolved situations without escalating further.

PepperBall offers both INERT™ and PAVA-filled projectiles. INERT projectiles contain a harmless scented powder and use a purple/white shell.

Live projectiles contain PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide), a plant-based, pharmaceutical-grade, non-flammable irritant derived from capsaicinoids found in pepper plants.

PAVA can cause temporary irritation including burning sensations, tearing of the eyes, coughing, breathing discomfort, inflammation, mucus production, and temporary disorientation.

Symptoms generally subside within 20 to 45 minutes once the individual is removed from the exposure area and properly decontaminated.

PepperBall is an American company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, with additional manufacturing operations in Waukegan, Illinois.

The company was originally developed in 1996 and has served law enforcement agencies for more than 25 years. All PepperBall projectiles are manufactured in the USA and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards.

Traditional pepper spray often requires officers to be only a few feet from a subject, increasing the risk of physical confrontation or escalation.

PepperBall allows officers to create distance — up to 150 feet — while maintaining greater control during crowd management, barricade incidents, corrections operations, and other volatile situations.

ASTM International created a standardized testing method for measuring the accuracy of non-lethal projectile systems.

PepperBall reports nearly double the accuracy of leading competitors under this standard, helping agencies evaluate safety, precision, and performance using objective benchmarks.

PepperBall launchers use compressed air or CO2 to deploy .68 caliber projectiles at controlled velocities.

When the projectile strikes a surface or subject, it breaks apart and releases either INERT powder or PAVA irritant into the surrounding area.

PepperBall systems are effective at distances of up to 150 feet, roughly half the length of a football field.

This added distance gives officers more time to assess situations and can reduce the need for closer, higher-risk engagements.

A direct impact combines kinetic energy with the release of irritant powder, while impacts on nearby surfaces create an airborne cloud known as area saturation or area denial.

This allows officers to influence behavior or create separation without necessarily requiring direct contact with the subject.

With more than 20 million projectiles deployed worldwide, PepperBall reports zero fatalities. However, no force option is completely risk-free.

PepperBall systems generate significantly less energy than many other less-lethal systems, and training emphasizes maintaining distance and avoiding sensitive target areas such as the head, neck, or spine.

Individuals with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions may experience stronger reactions to PAVA exposure.

PepperBall training includes situational awareness guidance so officers can consider vulnerabilities before deployment whenever possible.

Decontamination begins by moving the exposed individual into fresh air and away from the affected area.

Eyes and skin should be flushed with cool running water without rubbing. Symptoms generally subside within 20 to 45 minutes after decontamination.

Yes. PepperBall launchers include manual safety mechanisms and are designed for deliberate, controlled deployment.

Training covers safe loading, unloading, storage, carrying procedures, and proper handling practices for all users.

PepperBall uses a Train-the-Trainer model and recommends agencies maintain at least one certified Instructor and Armorer.

Training focuses on safe operation, deployment, maintenance, de-escalation practices, and policy integration.

PepperBall provides Instructor and Armorer Certification programs, correctional and patrol training variations, and custom agency training.

The company conducts more than 200 instructor certification sessions annually across the globe.

Yes. Agencies can attend regional training sessions or request on-site training through the PepperBall Host a Training program.

Courses can also be searched and registered online through the PepperBall training calendar.

PepperBall University is an online resource hub containing instructional videos, product specifications, launcher manuals, and technical documentation.

It serves as a self-service learning center for agencies and users seeking additional operational guidance and product information.

PepperBall maintains a live tracker showing the number of incidents where officers resolved situations using PepperBall rather than escalating to higher levels of force.

As of 2026, the tracker reports more than 143,000 de-escalation outcomes across the United States since 2022.