Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve received, researched and answered below.

What is the California Balloon Law?
If I don’t live in California, do I need to abide by the California Balloon Law?
Do children need to be supervised when around balloons?
What is the most responsible way to dispose of balloons after my party?
Can helium be harmful if inhaled?
Do all balloons have to be filled with helium?
What are balloons made of?
Are Balloons a Single Use Item?
What’s the best way to release balloons?
How much weight is needed to hold down a balloon?
Does the release of helium hurt the environment?


What is the California Balloon Law?

A: The California Balloon Law was passed in 1990 in the state of California in an effort to reduce power outages due to metallized mylar or foil balloons.

The three aspects that all California based balloon retailers are required to abide by are:

  1. Weight all helium-filled foil balloons.
  2. Tie all ribbons to the weight so if they are released they will float away individually. Do not tie ribbons together before attaching to weight. Tie them to the weight with one knot.
  3. Do not use metallic ribbon with helium-filled balloons.

Note: California offenders of this law are punishable by a fine up to $100 and if you’ve violated this law twice you will be convicted of a misdemeanor.

The California Balloon Law is now promoted globally and implemented as an industry best practice for those who sell balloons.

Read the California Balloon Law


If I don’t live in California, do I need to abide by the California Balloon Law?

A: The answer is, you should. By implementing this basic standard you can:

  • • Prevent electrical outages in your area.
  • • Help prevent balloons from being unintentionally released and becoming litter.
  • • Prevent potential balloon bans from being enacted in your city, state or country.


Do children need to be supervised when around balloons?

A: Yes, children under the age of 3 should be closely monitored while around balloons and children under the age of 8 should be supervised. Ribbon and popped balloon fragments can become choking hazards for kids.


What is the most responsible way to dispose of balloons after my party?

A: Because there are two major types of balloons there’s a couple answers to this question.

  • • For latex balloons, the most responsible way is to compost them, however if you are unable to compost them you need to dispose of them in a trash bin.
  • • For foil/ mylar balloons, we recommend to reuse them first. If you don’t repurpose them these types of balloons should also be dispose of in a trash bin.

IMPORTANT: No balloons should ever be released into the air.

Here are some great articles that talk more in depth about this topic:


Can helium be harmful if inhaled?

A: Yes. We all need oxygen to breathe and displacing this crucial gas with helium can result in dizziness, asphyxiation, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness and even death.

Learn more about the effects of inhaled helium and the damage it can cause via this article: Helium Inhalation: the Party Addiction.


Do all balloons have to be filled with helium?

A: No. Only if you are wanting the balloon to float. Nowadays, the latest trend is inflating balloons with air and creating air-filled columns, arches and structures.

Click Here for some great balloon decoration ideas using only air.


What are balloons made of?

A: Latex balloons are derived from the sap of a rubber tree, an organic compound, and at no point in the creation process of a latex balloon is plastic introduced. Foil balloons are made of nylon or polyester, the same film used in food packaging. However, the amount of film used is significantly less. For example, the amount of film used in a typical balloon uses nearly 50% less material than your typical potato chip bag. To learn more about these balloons check out our article: Are Balloons Biodegradable?


Are Balloons a Single Use Item?

A: No. Balloons are not a single use item or single use product. Foil/ mylar balloons are able to be deflated and re-inflated to be used for the purpose of their original creation. These balloons can also be reused in different applications. Since latex balloons are biodegradable and made from natural occurring sap from the rubber tree, they are also not a single use item.


What’s the best way to release balloons?

A: There is no best way to release balloons. Balloons, whether latex or foil/ mylar balloons, should never be released. Balloons that are released into the air return back to the ground, causing litter. Foil/ mylar balloons that are released can come into contact with overhead powerlines and cause a power outage.


How much weight is needed to hold down a balloon?

A: Different balloons require different weights based on their lift.

Here’s a breakdown:

Weight Required for Latex Balloons:
• 1 – 9″ latex balloon: 16gram weight
• 1 – 11″ latex balloon: 16 Gram weight
• 1 – 3ft latex balloon: 184 Gram to 339 Gram weight (6.5 ounces – 12 ounces)

Weight Required for Foil/ Mylar Balloons:
Note: Because each foil balloon is a different shape, the amount of helium and lift of that helium varies. We recommend to always to choose the heavier weight option, when in doubt. 
• 1 – 18″ foil/ mylar balloon: 8 Gram weight
• 1 – 22″ to 24″ foil/ mylar balloon: 30 Gram weight
• 1 – 16″ Orbz Balloon: 45 Gram weight
• 1 – 20″ – 30″ foil/ mylar balloon 16 – 32 Gram weight
• 1 – 31″ – 40″ foil/ mylar balloon 32 – 60 Gram weight
• 1 – 41″ – 50″ foil/ mylar balloon 45 – 80 Gram weight
 
Weight Reuired for Bouquets:
• A bouquet with 3 latex balloons 35gram
• A bouquet with 5 latex balloons 80 – 85 Gram weight


Does the release of helium hurt the environment?

A: Helium is an inert, or non-reactive, noncombustible and non-toxic gas (1,2,3). It is present in high abundance in the universe most notably through nuclear fusion in stars and is produced on earth through radioactive decay (4,5,6,7). The volume of helium that is present in the air remains relatively constant despite production through radioactive decay because it is so light it escapes into space (8,9,10). In fact, helium along with other lighter gases are the most abundant elements in our upper atmosphere. It brings no harm to the environment when it is released into the air.

  1. 1.Hampel, Clifford A. (1968). The Encyclopedia of the Chemical Elements. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. pp. 256–268. ISBN 978-0-442-15598-8.
  2. Lewars, Errol G. (2008). Modelling Marvels. Springer. pp. 70–71. Bibcode:2008moma.book…..L. ISBN 978-1-4020-6972-7.
  3. Thomas, J. R. (1976). “Reversal of nitrogen narcosis in rats by helium pressure”. Undersea Biomed. Res. 3 (3): 249–59. PMID 969027. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. Weiss, Achim. “Elements of the past: Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and observation”. Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. Archived from the original on 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2008-06-23.; Coc, Alain; Vangioni-Flam, Elisabeth; Descouvemont, Pierre; Adahchour, Abderrahim; Angulo, Carmen (2004). “Updated Big Bang Nucleosynthesis confronted to WMAP observations and to the Abundance of Light Elements”. Astrophysical Journal. 600 (2): 544–552. arXiv:astro-ph/0309480. Bibcode:2004ApJ…600..544C. doi:10.1086/380121.
  5. Cook, Melvine A. (1957). “Where is the Earth’s Radiogenic Helium?”. Nature. 179 (4552): 213. Bibcode:1957Natur.179..213C. doi:10.1038/179213a0.
  6. Aldrich, L. T.; Nier, Alfred O. (1948). “The Occurrence of He3 in Natural Sources of Helium”. Phys. Rev. 74 (11): 1590–1594. Bibcode:1948PhRv…74.1590A. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.74.1590.
  7. Morrison, P.; Pine, J. (1955). “Radiogenic Origin of the Helium Isotopes in Rock”. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 62 (3): 71–92. Bibcode:1955NYASA..62…71M. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1955.tb35366.x.
  8. Lie-Svendsen, Ø.; Rees, M. H. (1996). “Helium escape from the terrestrial atmosphere: The ion outflow mechanism”. Journal of Geophysical Research. 101 (A2): 2435–2444. Bibcode:1996JGR…101.2435L. doi:10.1029/95JA02208.
  9. Strobel, Nick (2007). “Atmospheres”. Nick Strobel’s Astronomy Notes. Archived from the original on 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  10. Strobel, Nick (2007). “Atmospheres”. Nick Strobel’s Astronomy Notes. Archived from the original on 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-25.


Have a question you’d like us to research and answer?

Email us GetTheFacts@BalloonFacts.org

 

 

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