Will a Disposable Vape Set off a Metal Detector?

We've all experienced that embarrassing ‘beep, beep, beep’ as you step through a metal detector. Your heart sinks slightly as a suspicious security guard directs you to a corner for further screening. Is it my boots? Or have I forgotten something in my pockets? 

While most of us have gotten into the routine of putting our keys and smartphones into the trays before entering detectors, there needs to be more clarity over disposable vapes. 

The popularity of disposable vapes is prompting authorities to strengthen their rules to make sure individuals are vaping responsibly. Will a disposable vape go off in a metal detector? Let's take a look.

As much as it might feel like it, detectors are not there to scold you for accidentally keeping your phone in your pocket. They are principally designed to detect dangerous items, such as explosive devices, firearms, and other weapons, from entering sensitive areas, such as planes, schools, and other public areas. However, they will go off if they detect any metal on a person's body. 

Metal detectors use an innovative technology called pulse induction (PI) to detect metal objects through an arch that people must pass through. On one side of the arch is a coil of wire that sends out short bursts of current, creating a brief magnetic field that lasts only around 30 microseconds before quickly collapsing. 

When no metal is detected, the magnetic field bounces freely back and forth, but when metal appears, the pulse creates an opposite magnetic field in the object, and that alarm goes off. You know the rest. Other technologies utilized by metal detectors are very low frequency (VLF), beat frequency oscillation (BFO), and ground penetrating radar (GPR). 

There is now a huge variety of disposable vapes on the market. These disposables have components that include mouthpieces, e-liquid cartridges, coils, wicks, batteries, circuitries, airflow sensors, housings or chassis, and LED lights. 

The majority have at least some metal in them. The metal parts are the coils, batteries, circuits, airflow sensors, and LEDs. Looking at them from the outside, they might seem completely plastic, but disposable vapes often contain small portions of titanium, nickel, chromium, lead, or manganese. 

Likewise, the vape battery will almost certainly contain lithium, a valuable metal now found in laptops, smartphones, electric cars, and many other devices. However, all that said, these metal parts are often tiny, with thick plastic casings around them, making them sometimes undetectable to metal detectors.

It's difficult to give a single answer here because sometimes they can and sometimes they can't. The answer will often depend on what kind of disposable vape you have, but it's important to remember that only some places entirely prohibit you from taking a vape. Vaping itself might be completely out of the question, but simply having one on you is usually fine. 

If this is the case, simply placing your vape on the tray and having it X-rayed will mean you don't need to worry about whether the metal detector goes off. 

There have been several stories about vapes exploding on planes in mid-air, but this is almost always because people had not appropriately disassembled them. Airlines have different rules regarding flying with vapes, so it's always worth checking with them first before heading to security - and certainly before getting on a plane.

If you want to take a vape into a place where it's prohibited, such as a school, you'll need to decide whether it's worth risking losing it by taking it through the metal detector.

For this section, let’s take a look at the various regulations on vape use in certain countries. In the United States, not just in a particular state, but federal-wide, it is strictly implemented that a vape consumer must be at least 18 years of age to purchase and own a vaping device. 

Meanwhile, in South Korea, where several celebrities are seemingly tapped to promote vaping, there are only certain areas where vaping is allowed. Vaping is prohibited indoors and in public places. In France, vape packaging must contain a readable disclaimer. 

While you can freely bring your vape devices on your international trip, it is important that you know the recent changes in policies. Some of them are: 

• In the USA, some states ban particular flavors and products, so you might want to do your homework before heading here.
• If you plan to buy vape products and top-ups in Japan and Thailand, you might find it challenging as very few stores sell them.
• In China, vaping in places where children gather isn’t allowed.
• Your device may be confiscated in Jamaica. 

Whether you like it or don’t, you need to abide by the rules of the country where you are taking your vape. Or, risk yourself to fines or worse, imprisonment. 

Here are some practical tips on how you can navigate security with your vaping device:

• Is your vape in your carry-on bag or in your checked-in luggage? To be safe rather than sorry, place it in your carry-on bag. 
• When at the airport security checkpoint, pull a tray and place your vape in it, just as you would your wallet, passport, phone, belt, and carry-on bag.
• You must place your e-liquids in a clear plastic bag. Abide by airport regulations that prohibit liquids of more than 100 milliliters.
• Remove or disconnect the batteries of vapes as much as possible while at the airport, during the flight, and as you land. 
• Nevertheless, various airports will have specific rules and regulations regarding vapes. Be sure to check them before your trip.

There you have it. That's why you must be aware of the rules of the countries you are visiting regarding vaping and strictly abide by them. The last thing you want to happen is for your trip to get ruined only because you needed to comply with vaping security protocols and regulations.