ASTM E2187-04
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes
Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The most common initiating event in a fatal fire is the dropping of a cigarette onto a bed or piece of upholstered furniture, causing 20 % of the estimated U.S. fire deaths from 1992–1996 in residential structures, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Test Methods E 1352 and E 1353 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.
This test method enables comparison of the relative ignition strength of different cigarette designs.
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.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a standard measure of the capability of a cigarette, positioned on one of three standard substrates, to generate sufficient heat to continue burning and thus potentially cause ignition of bedding or upholstered furniture.
1.2 This method has value as a predictor of the relative propensity of a cigarette to ignite upholstered furnishings.
1.3 This method is applicable to cigarettes that burn along the length of a tobacco column.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard measures and describes the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
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An American National Standard
Designation:E2187–04
Standard Test Method for
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Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2187; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
ThemostcommoninitiatingeventinafatalfireintheUnitedStatesisthedroppingofalitcigarette
onto a bed or piece of upholstered furniture. The cigarette coal heats the furnishing materials to the
point where smoldering combustion begins, perhaps followed by a transition to flaming combustion.
Since limiting the frequency of ignitions is a principal approach to reducing fire loss, it is desirable
to establish a test method for the propensity of a cigarette to ignite soft furnishings. This test method
uses standard substrates to determine the extent to which, as the substrate draws heat from the
cigarette, the cigarette combustion remains strong enough to be capable of initiating a fire.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
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1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a standard 2.1 ASTM Standards:
measure of the capability of a cigarette, positioned on one of E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
threestandardsubstrates,togeneratesufficientheattocontinue E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
burning and thus potentially cause ignition of bedding or Determine the Precision of a Test Method
upholstered furniture. E1352 Test Method for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of
1.2 This method has value as a predictor of the relative Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Assemblies
propensity of a cigarette to ignite upholstered furnishings. E1353 Test Methods for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of
1.3 This method is applicable to cigarettes that burn along Components of Upholstered Furniture
the length of a tobacco column. 2.2 Other Standard:
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information Pads, 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1632
only.
3. Terminology
1.5 This standard measures and describes the response of
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
materials, products, or assemblies to heat under controlled
conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors method refer to Terminology E176.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials,
products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. 3.2.1 full-length burn, n—theoutcomeofadeterminationin
which the cigarette burns to or past the front plane of the
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the tipping paper, which covers the filter and perhaps a short
sectionofthetobaccocolumninafiltertipcigarette,orpastthe
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tips of the metal pins (see 7.5) if the cigarette has no filter.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
4. Summary of Test Method
statements, see Section 6.
4.1 This test method measures the probability that a ciga-
rette, placed on a substrate, will generate sufficient heat to
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.15 on Furnishings
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and Contents. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published August 2004. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E2187–02b. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2187-04. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E2187–04
maintain burning of the tobacco column. Each determination relative humidity of 55 6 5% and a temperature of 23 6 3°C
consists of placing a lit cigarette on the horizontal surface (73 6 5°F) and shall be continuously monitored. The room in
consistingofasetnumberoflayersoffilterpaper.Observation which the tests are conducted, which may also be the condi-
ismadeofwhetherornotthecigarettecontinuestoburntothe tioning room, shall be maintained within the same temperature
beginning of the tipping paper. Forty determinations (compris- and relative humidity ranges.
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