Splash Guard – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A splash guard is a small, built-in barrier or screen found in many modern vape tanks, Sub-Ohm atomisers and Starter Kit mouthpieces. Its sole job is to stop hot e-liquid droplets—commonly called “spitback”—from reaching your lips or tongue while you inhale. Usually made of food-grade PEEK, stainless steel mesh or silicone, the guard sits just above the coil or inside the DripTip“>drip tip and redirects vapour upward while trapping stray liquid, making every draw smoother, safer and more pleasant, especially for new vapers.

Technical Details

Splash guards work by forcing vapour through narrow channels, mesh grids or angular baffles. Typical mesh screens use 200–400 micron holes to block droplets larger than 0.2 mm while keeping airflow resistance below 20 Pa. Variants include:

• Fixed mesh discs pressed into the drip tip
• Removable spiral inserts that double as heat sinks
• Angled chimney baffles in high-end Sub-Ohm tanks
• Spring-loaded silicone flaps in some Squonk Mod RDAs

All designs must comply with ISO 20671 for mouth-contact materials and maintain a minimum 2 mm vapour path to prevent condensation build-up.

Usage & Tips

To get the best from your splash guard:

• Check weekly for residue; rinse under warm water or steep in vodka for five minutes to clean.
• If you notice gurgling, remove the guard and flick out excess liquid—this often fixes minor Short Circuit Protection warnings caused by flooded coils.
• Replace mesh discs every 2–3 months or when flavour drops; they cost only a few dollars and keep your steeping e-liquid tasting fresh.

Always dry the guard fully before re-installing to avoid inhaling residual alcohol or water.

History & Context

Early 2012 atomisers had no splash protection, leading to frequent spitback complaints. Aspire introduced the first integrated mesh guard in the Nautilustank (2013); today, even entry-level Starter Kit pods include the feature, making vaping more comfortable for millions of Australian users.