ASTM E2187-20a

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a standard measure of the capability of a cigarette, positioned on one of four 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 is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2020
• ICS: 65.160 - Tobacco, tobacco products and related equipment
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.15 - Furnishings and Contents

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2187-20 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM F1870-22 - Standard Guide for Selection of Fire Test Methods for the Assessment of Upholstered Furnishings in Detention and Correctional Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2187 − 20a An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
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* ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a standard
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
measure of the capability of a cigarette, positioned on one of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
four standard substrates, to generate sufficient heat to continue
burning and thus potentially cause ignition of bedding or
2. Referenced Documents
upholstered furniture.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This method has value as a predictor of the relative
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
propensity of a cigarette to ignite upholstered furnishings.
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.3 This method is applicable to cigarettes that burn along
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
the length of a tobacco column.
E1352Test Method for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of
Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Assemblies
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information E1353Test Methods for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of
Components of Upholstered Furniture
only.
3
2.2 NFPA Standards:
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
NFPA 260Standard Methods of Tests and Classification
responseofmaterials,products,orassembliestoheatandflame
Systems for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components
under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate
of Upholstered Furniture
allfactorsrequiredforfirehazardorfireriskassessmentofthe
NFPA 261Standard Method of Test for Determining Resis-
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
tance of Mock-up Upholstered Furniture MaterialAssem-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
blies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 2.3 Other Standard:
Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Pads, 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1632
For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire the ASTM website.
3
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.15 on Furnishings Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
and Contents. Park, Quincy, MA 02269, http://www.nfpa.org.
4
Current edition approved May 1, 2020. Published May 2020. Originally Available from the Government Publishing Office, 732 North Capitol Street,
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as E2187-20. DOI: NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001; http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/
10.1520/E2187-20A. ecfrbrowse/Title16/16cfr1632_main_02.tpl.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2187 − 20 E2187 − 20a An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
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. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The most common initiating event in a fatal fire in the United States is the dropping of a lit cigarette
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*
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a standard measure of the capability of a cigarette, positioned on one of four
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 is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E1352 Test Method for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Assemblies
E1353 Test Methods for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture
3
2.2 NFPA Standards:
NFPA 260 Standard Methods of Tests and Classification Systems for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of
Upholstered Furniture
1
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 and
Contents.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020May 1, 2020. Published March 2020May 2020. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20162020 as
E2187-16.-20. DOI: 10.1520/E2187-20.10.1520/E2187-20A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269, http://www.nfpa.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2187 − 20a
NFPA 261 Standard Method of Test for Determining Resistance of Mock-up Upholstered Furniture Material Assemblies to
Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes
4
2.3 Other Standard:
Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and
...