Effect of Cigarette Characteristics on the Ignition of Soft Furnishings

摘要

The research was performed by the NBS Center for Fire Research under the Cigarette Safety Act of 1984. Cigarette-initiated furniture fires are the leading cause of fire deaths and injuries in the United States. The objectives of the project was to determine those properties of cigarettes that have an impact on their ignition of furniture. Experiments were performed on small-scale representations of furniture as well as actual chairs. Experimental cigarettes, varied parametrically in six different characteristics, were used, along with some patented ('fire-safe') and representative commercial cigarettes. These experiments demonstrated significant differences in performance among the cigarettes used and led to further understanding of the features of the burning process that affect energy transfer to (and subsequent ignition of) furniture. Four cigarette characteristics were found to reduce ignition propensity: filter tip; low tobacco density; reduced circumference; and low paper permeability.