Cigarette Ignition of Upholstered Furniture

Damant, Gordon H.

doi:10.1177/073490419501300501

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Heavy weight fabrics seemed to show a higher ignition response to lit cigarettes than lighter weight fabrics (Damant et al 1983;Damant 1995;McCormack et al 1988;Donaldson et al 1983;Gandhi & Spivak 1996). These types of results led to the belief that a standard test method might be developed to mimic the interaction between a furniture fabric cover or its mock-up and a smouldering cigarette (Gann et al 1987;Ohlemiller et al 1993).…”

Section: Fabric and Substrate Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The science behind the development and performance of reduced ignition propensity cigarettes

et al. 2016

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A burning cigarette is a known cause of fire when mishandled. Studies into cigarette ignition propensity intensified after the US Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 1984. Extensive research has investigated the thermal properties of a smouldering cigarette, mostly away from any object of thermal contact or interference. To understand fire ignition, the thermophysics of cigarette's burning tip has also been examined with and without a contact substrate. In either free or contact smouldering cases, oxygen diffusion through the cigarette wrapping paper has been found to be an important parameter controlling the rate of burn and the energy released. Research by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology led to a standardized test method to determine cigarette ignition propensity, and eventually regulations enforcing Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes have been passed in all US states and other countries. Among the physical parameters of a burning cigarette related to its thermal energy release, circumferential bands applied to the cigarette wrapping paper that reduce air permeability or diffusivity during smouldering have become the main approach to produce commercial RIP cigarettes. Studies have been performed to ensure that RIP cigarettes have equivalent or lower mainstream smoke yields and biological activities as compared with their conventional non-RIP equivalents. The effects of the paper band properties (width, gap between the bands, type as well as the amount of the material applied) have been studied systematically to establish a manufacturability window. Studies on human smoking behaviour confirmed that RIP cigarettes matched closely their predecessors. The bands, as intended, alter the combustion temperatures during cigarette smouldering within the band. Further research into the interaction of RIP cigarettes with different types of commercial upholstery fabrics and materials should help to understand its mechanism of action in support of emerging postimplementation fire statistics.

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Section: Fabric and Substrate Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The science behind the development and performance of reduced ignition propensity cigarettes

et al. 2016

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“…Cigarettes extinguished by upholstery fabrics and cotton ducks. A number of publications report that heavier weight fabrics have higher ignition responses to cigarettes than lighter weight fabrics [6][7][8][9]. High ignition responses to the eleven cigarettes occurred with upholstery fabrics that spanned the areal density spectrum.…”

Section: Analysis and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ignition Responses of Fifty Upholstery Fabrics to Commercial Cigarettes

Greear¹,

Hudson²,

Jupe³

et al. 1996

Journal of Fire Sciences

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Fifty cellulosic upholstered furniture fabrics were purchased in the Richmond, Virginia area and tested to determine their ignition responses to eleven commercial cigarette brands. Six of the commercial brands (A-F) had been identified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), using their cotton duck substrate test method, as having reduced ignition propensity. The six cigarettes had "unconventional" 4 characteristics deemed by NIST as likely to lower cigarette ignition propensity: smaller circumference, lower permeability paper, and/or reduced paper citrate. On the cotton duck fabrics, these cigarettes were extinguished frequently. On the fifty upholstery fabrics, the cigarettes rarely were extinguished. NIST also tested fourteen "conventional, "5 best-selling brands that their cotton duck test method classified as "strong" igniters. Five brands (1-5) tested here on upholstery fabrics were also major commercial brands of "conventional" design. Testing of the fifty upholstery fabrics and eleven cigarettes followed the protocol developed by NIST with exceptions that upholstery fabrics replaced cotton ducks and polyethylene film was not used between fabrics and foam. Standard ANOVA analysis of ignition responses of the fifty upholstery fabrics showed that the two cigarette types, A-F and 1-5, were statistically similar: the differences in igni-'Current address: KC Automation, Inc., Richmond, VA. 'Current address: Philip Morris, Inc., Richmond, VA. 3Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Brown and Wilhamson Tobacco Corporation, PO. Box 630, Dinwiddie, VA 23841-0630. 4Filter cigarettes of 97-120 mm length and 17-22 mm circumference. 'Filter cigarettes of nominal 85 mm length and 25 mm circumference. Downloaded from 414 tions reported by NIST using cotton duck as the test fabric were not found with this broad range of actual upholstery fabrics. Differences in ignition responses among the fabrics did range from igniting in all tests to not igniting in any test, and from igniting more frequently with the six "lower ignition propensity" cigarette brands to more frequently with the five "conventional" ones.

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“…Ohlemiller 53 observed that some thermoplastic fabrics, depending on fabric structure, may split open, enabling the underlying components (e.g., polyurethane foam and polyester wrap) to participate in the fi re. 60 the increased fl ammability caused by these covering fabrics, fi re blocking technologies were used in this study to delay ignition of the underlying components, thus allowing thermoplastic fabrics to be used while still complying with fl ammability regulations. 45 , 53 All the above studies suggest that the cover fabric could perform very differently with different fi lling materials and fi re barriers beneath it when used in actual furniture.…”

Section: 4 the Impact Of Tickings And Cover Fabricmentioning

confidence: 99%