Citation

Alpert HR, O'Connor RJ, Spalletta R, Connolly GN. Fire Technol. 2010; 46(2): 275-289.

Affiliation

Harvard School of Public Health, Landmark Building, Floor 3E, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02135, Email: halpert@hsph.harvard.edu , Telephone: 617-998-1086.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10694-008-0070-8

PMID

20495669

PMCID

PMC2873202

Abstract

Major U.S. cigarette companies for decades conducted research and development regarding cigarette ignition propensity which has continued beyond fire safety standards for cigarettes that have recently been legislated. This paper describes recent scientific advances and technological development based on a comprehensive review of the physical, chemical, and engineering sciences, public health, and trade literature, U.S. and international patents, and research in the tobacco industry document libraries.Advancements since the first implementation of standards have made been in: a) understanding the key parameters involved in cigarette smoldering combustion and ignition of substrates; b) developing new cigarette and paper wrapper designs to reduce ignition propensity, including banded and non-banded cigarette paper approaches, c) assessing toxicology, and d) measuring performance. While the implications of manufacturers' non-safety related aims are of concern, this research indicates possible alternative designs should experience with fire loss and existing technologies on the market suggest need for improvement.

Language: en