Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes

Abstract

5.1 The most common initiating event in a fatal fire is the dropping of a cigarette onto a bed or piece of upholstered furniture, according to statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Association (4). Test Methods E1352 and E1353 and tests NFPA 261 and NFPA 260 have been developed to evaluate the susceptibility of upholstered furniture mock-ups and components to ignition by cigarettes. Federal Standard 16 CFR Part 1632, Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads, was promulgated to reduce the likelihood that mattresses and mattress pads would ignite from a lighted cigarette. Note 1: While Test Methods E1352 and E1353 were originally equivalent to NFPA 261 and 260, respectively, this is no longer the case. 5.2 This test method enables comparison of the relative ignition strength of different cigarette designs. 5.3 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to a set of laboratory conditions. If different conditions are substituted or the end use conditions are changed, it may not be possible, using this test, to predict quantitative changes in the fire test response characteristics measured. Therefore, the quantitative results are valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.