Which statement about Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) is true?

• A. They measure the strength of the entire spray
• B. They measure the pungency of OC before dilution and are not an accurate measure of the entire spray
• C. They measure the propellant content
• D. They measure the nozzle pattern

Answer: (B)

Scoville Heat Units measure the pungency of the OC concentrate itself, usually before it’s diluted or formulated into a full spray. This rating tells you how hot the capsaicinoids are in the concentrate, not how the entire spray will feel once deployed. The final spray includes propellants, solvents, and other additives, and its effectiveness depends on dispersion, droplet size, nozzle design, and how the OC is diluted in flight. Because of all these factors, the SHU value isn’t a reliable measure of the spray’s overall strength or performance. That’s why the statement that SHU’s measure the pungency of OC before dilution and are not an accurate measure of the entire spray is the true one.