Cigarettes, smoldering

O. M. Grace and co-workers, "Improvement in Cigarette Smoldering Resistance of Upholstered Furniture," Proc. Polyurethanes World Congress, Sept. 29—Oct. 2, 1987, Aachen, Germany. 

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Commerce promulgated Flammability Standard FF4-72. This Act requires all mattresses to pass a cigarette smoldering test. Boric acid (12-14 wt.% loading) in conjunction with a dust control agent (1 wt.% of paraffinic oil) is normally used in the cotton batting to pass the test. 

In summary, cigarette smoldering and open flame are the two types of ignition considered in assessing fire risk. Federal cigarette standards are in place for the mattress industry. 

The furniture industry is also adapting to address the problems presented by fabric and construction in the fire risk of upholstered furniture. Specifically they are trying to improve cigarette smoldering resistance in furniture. 

Another related term is smolder resistance. Smolder resistance implies resistance to ignition by a smoldering source, such as aUt cigarette, placed on the surface of a fabric or in the crevice formed between two butting fabrics. Smolder resistance does not necessarily imply flame resistance, although the material in question may well be flame resistant. A fabric can be smolder resistant and not flame resistant, or vice versa. 

Standard Methods of Tests for Determing Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Material Assemblies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes, 1989. 

Tobacco smoke and iV-nitrosation are the focus of intense research activity. Workers in the field use the following concepts Tobacco-specific /V-nitrosamines (TSNA) mainstream tobacco smoke (MSTS), smoke inhaled in a puff sidestream tobacco smoke (SSTS), smoke evolved by smoldering cigarettes between puffs nitroso organic compounds (NOC), referring especially to IV-nitrosamines volatile NOC (VNOC) and iV-nitroso amino acids (NAA). 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are added to many consumer and commercial products to prevent these products from burning even if they have been exposed to a spark or a smoldering cigarette. BFRs are added to polyurethane foam that is used in furniture found in most homes and offices to commercial fabrics used in, for example, auditorium seating and to carpeting. BFRs certainly save lives by preventing large fires, but some of these chemicals have become environmentally ubiquitous. 

The open flame hazard associated with a bedroom fire is well established through fire statistics and field studies. The majority of bedroom fires not caused by smoldering cigarettes involve... 

A compartment fire usually starts with the ignition of a small amount of combustible contents or interior finishes due to, for example, a lighter flame, an electrical fault, or a smoldering cigarette. This is illustrated in Figure 14.1a, which shows an upholstered chair shortly after the onset of flaming combustion due to exposure to a small open flame ignition source. 

Requirements, test procedures, and apparatus for testing the resistance of a mattress or mattress pad to combustion which may result from a smoldering cigarette... 

Best, F.W. and D.C. Friende The fate of glycerol applied to cigarette wrappers measured during puff and smolder periods R DM, 1988, No. 25, January 15, see www.rjrt-docs.com 510168054 -8055. 

Seehofer, F. and W. Schulz Zur Kenntis des Glimmstromes von Cigaretten [Information on the smolder smoke stream from cigarettes] Beitr. Tahakforsch. 3... 

Accurately measure temperatures during puffs and during the smolder period between puffs at various sites within the burning cigarette and its fire cone. 

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