Product Design
Status of Research Regarding Low Ignition Propensity Cigarettes. A Discussion of Three Unresolved Issues That Make Cigarette Ignition Performance Standards Presently Infeasible
Abstract
The Cigarette Safety Act of 1984 established a Technical Study group to determine technical and commercial feasibility, economic impact and other consequences of developing low-ignition-propensity cigarettes. The Fire Safety Act of 1990 required completion of a test method and information on the changes in toxicity of the smoke of a low ignition propensity cigarette. RJR concludes that it is "infeasiable" to develop such a testing standard because the tests so far developed "haven't been demonstrated as valid and reliable predictors of how cigarettes will perform in "real world" circumstances. Also, there was "serious concerns" raised that changes in cigarettes to achieve lower ignition propensity would "bring about other unintended adverse changes to the consumer." These included negative taste and smoke characteristics. RJR says that it has "as yet been unable to make a reduced ingition propensity products...which are acceptable to smokers." The report criticizes NIST testing standards, says that no information has come about from the 1990 Act that alleviates concerns about increased biological activity, and that RJR has been unable to make a fire-safe cigarette that is acceptable to consumers. RJR thus says these reasons make "cigarette ignition performace standards presently infeasible."
Fields
- Rank
- 1
- Hypothesis
- Introduction of new/unconventional productsResearch and development of novel nicotine delivery devices and experimental tobacco designs.
- Measuring overall toxicityDevelopment of scientifically valid protocols and methods for testing the health and toxicity effects of changes in product design.
- Use of filters, paper, and ventilationModification of tobacco products through use of filters, paper, and ventilation, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.
- Use of tobacco processing/ blendsModification of tobacco products through changes in tobacco processing and use of blends, and measuring effects on dependence, behavior, and toxicity.
- Keyword
- Ignition potential (IP)
- legislation
- Ignition oxygen level
- Extinction oxygen level
- Fabric ignitability
- Fabric permeability
- Humidity
- Per puff deliveryPer puff tar, per puff nicotine, and per puff CO
- Design Component
- High density paper
- Low density paper
- Flue-cured tobacco
- Burley tobacco
- Expanded tobacco (Puffed tobacco, ET)
- Named Organization
- American Tobacco
- Battelle
- Building + Fire Research Lab
- BW, Brown&Williamson
- CA Bureau of Home Furnishings
- Coresta, Coresta
- Cpsc, Consumer Products Safety Commission
- Expert Panel
- FTC, Federal Trade Commission
- HHS, Dept of Health and Human Services
- JV, Joint Venture on Ignition Propensity
- Lorillard
- Mathematica Policy Research
- Natl Bureau of Standards
- Natl Fire Protection Assn
- Nist, Natl Inst of Standards&Technology
- RJR, R.J.Reynolds
- TAG, Technical Advisory Group
- TSG, Technical Study Group
- Univ of Va
- Technology/Method
- Mockup ignition test method
- Cigarette extinction test method
- Subject
- Test/Consumer Preference (Testing)
- Experimental Technology (Technology)
- Fire Safe Cigarettes (Products)
- Expanded Tobacco (Design)
- Blends (Design)
- Paper (Design)
- Density (Design)
- Burn Rate (Design)
Document Images
06/15/93 12:32 '8`202 637 1505 I.'HILIP MORRIS CO CM006/'028
THE IGNITION TEST METNOD PROPOSED 9Y NIST IS NOT A VAUO OR RELfASLE
PqEDICTOR OF CIGARET7E IGNITICNS IN'. REAI,-WORLD CIRCUMSTANCES
A. Irttroduction
"ne iaoo(atory resuwts cotaineo cy N8S unoer the 1~984 legislation were based on a mocxuo
test wnichiinciuded trree commercially purchased fabrics and two paddings.' The TSG recognizea
in rts Final Report, however, that aRhougllitne mockup tests were 'reasonable indicators of
performance on fuli-scale furnrture made of the same materials.' development of a standard test
method that would be valid and reliable snould proceed as soon as possibte.
Following publication of the TSG Final Report., RJR and other members of the tobacco
industry began to worx cooperatively in oraer to share inlomtaaon on test method development eejng
generated by individual campanies ana to build on the TSG woric. Work on test method devsiopment
was forrnalized througn two tobacco organuations: t) CORESTA, an international' scienufic
organization of tobacco companies and reiated organizations', and 2) the Industry Joint Venture, a
legal entity organized to work on test method development co+npnsing the six U.S. cigarette
manuf acturers.
The following discussion refers to a number of studies that have been completed or are in
progress. This information has also been shared with the organizations charged wrtn researcn tasks
or oversight or advisofy responsibilities under the 1990 Act Wtten relevant, information was
presented to tne TAG: in other cas.s, presentatiortis wefe made to CPSC andlor to NIST. Some of me
studies haw aJso been presented at otfw technical meetings or pubii,sl9ea in peer-reviewed journals.
Every effoR has been made to hew this technical information availsble for due consideration by
persons and or+paNzador+s cnarge0 with respoflsibility for cartymg out the legislation.
' Oann, R.G., R.H. Hut* Jr., J.F. Krasrt)r, Fi.s. Levltw, H.B. IMIfMtW and T. J. Ohlemiilller. The
Erfect
of ClaanRe Characteristics qo tfu 1qnRlon of Son Fufn 1~1 , Nf3S TeCMicat Neie 1241. 1984.
' Refsed organizatlons include both commercial suppfiers to tfle indtxtty such as paper ana ritter
manufacturers as well as univeratties that conduct tobacco research.
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in the work completed under the 1984 legislation, 32 experimental prototype cigarettes were
ranked by adding the number of ignrtions observed on each of the three mockup types.' The TSG
concluded that there were cigarette construct,on parameters important to reduced ignition
propens,rl,
;ow packing density. low paper permeao,itry. reduced c;rcumference. iin that order) and perhaps.
removaliot cttrate (useo as a metnod to ensure uniformity of burn rate) in cigarette paper. The
'reductionr potential was enhanced when tnese constructton parameters were used in combination.
7he three fabrics were cnosen because they were able to discriminate among cigarettes.
Neither the N8S nor the TSG investigated whether those fabric and padding combinations were best
for ranking cigarectes. The primary task was to determine technical feasibility of developing
cigarettes
wrth a reduced propensity to ignite soft furnishings. Thus, no effort was made to oetermine the
representativeness of'those fabrics to those used on, upholstered furniture. It was known, at the
nme
of course, that tne ignrtabiltty of cigarettes was highly substrate-dependent. Most fabncs will
eatner
always ignite when in contact with a burning cigarette or never ignite, regardless of the cigarette
construction parameters: relativey few fabrics will display varied ignition capabilities depending
on
now tne cigarette is constructed.
Since 1987, Industry work has shown tnat the rankin of cigarettes according to ignition
propensity is dependent upon the substrate which is tested. lh other words. a different ranking of
cigarettes and cigarette charaCcterl5t{CS can be achieved through a diferent choice of fabncs and
paddirgs. In additlon, the environment surrounding the tfst sRe can also inNuence not ony the
magnitude, but tM ordering of cigaretn igniHon rankirA
' The 32 cigaratta were sp.claly martufxwrea to repreve aN Combirtations of twv variables of
each d fNe factors packing dertieity, paper perrnesbility, ciraxn(eAnce. PreS&M40 Of ablild'"Ce of
cafm on paper, and tobacco typw Td the axieftt posaiM , pO factor wU tWed = two extreme
values For example, the vaiues for tobseco typ. were a1 burley v!, ali !hW curea: the values for
tooacco density wM represerxe?4 by usa af 100% expen0e0 tobioco vs. 0% expanded tobaaco. in
most caSY, tMse values are beyond the limits of curreRt commerctalty acceptabte cigarettss.
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g, Rather Tf1an Investioate Or Taks Account Of FA-CIoM TThat Affect Actual Furnrture F:res
N1 T Has Fiefied Undufy On The Prior TSG Ignition Testina To Validate Currern
Proposed Test Methods
T1ie 1990 Act charges NIST with test metnod development. NISTs approach has been ;o
seek arn lgnmon test trat wouid c:.rre+ate to. i e._ repeat as ciosey as possible, the resutcs of
rts eamer
work for the TSG.' 'wh,le !"e industry nas attempted to point out Guring technicaldiscussions w1tn
!be TAG. NIST and CPSC that discrepancies exist in the earlier work due to the influence of
substrates and environment, NIST has proceeded without due consideration of the Ihaustry finaings,
NIST has stated that the ranking established by the TSG is'yasid,' because of ignition tests run on
!u:~F
scale fWmiture that showed a*strong, but not petiect' correlation to the bencn-scale tests.'
This reasoning is difficult to uncerstand when one considers that the full-scale tests
themsefves were Iimlted in scope. The full-scale tests were not correlated to tne tests of 32
cigarettes
on 3 substrates usea to determine the TSG ranking.' They were correlated instead to a benchscaie
test of two of tne three substrates wrth 5 cigarettes (only 3 of which were included in tne
'ranking'),,
and to addRionaJ bench-scale tests with three other fabrics wtlich showod a nigfl proportion of
resuits
that were erther 0 or 100% (over one-hatf of all results were at 0).' The high number of results at
either end of the scale would tend to give any test a high correiation.
Even with the two fabrics which showed some discrimination, tne full-scaie test was merely a
'scale-up' test, and, as stated in the 1987 TSG Final Report: 'T'he mockup measurements are a
reasonable indicator of the performance of full-scale fumiturn m mat .' This
limited scale-up test does not lead to ttte conclusion thac thoee dgareaa woukd perforrtt the same
''TTtis rttetfloa r.omes diroctty to the general approach of the Technical StuQy Group (TSG1 in
tneir 19f3S-87 rMNICtt and re(Ip on the reistive rankings of cigarettes obtaine0 in tnat work to
select
the alpt?ropfof aM fabriCS 9ftd te3i condRioni.l AnntM R to ConCreSS - AcIiyitllrs of tt'e
Cia ett. Fire 9 Proiect. 1992 at 2
' Oeppa. R.W. Loa of Meetina (CPSC): Fir"af! Crlaaratesi. CP C/IndustrvlbIIST Techrncal
Mwti% Marctt 30 & 31. 1992, at "
' The otflK 29 CigBreRss lrom ttte 32 TSG cigereRfa set weA not tested o11 thM tMN additional
fabriCS, in eitfler the bench-scalr or fult-scaie testi.
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way in the real world under the vanety of Conditions and on the vanety of substrates that e:ist,
Reliance on these previous resutts for development of a valid and reliable standardized test is
reliance
on a thin reed indeed.
Earry in rts work under tne 1990 Act, NIST tested TSG cigarettes tnat nad been in freezer
storage since the completion of tne TSG work ana repeated tne bencn-scaie mockup tests with eignt
of the 32 onginal prototypes to determine wnether cigarette inregrrty was intaa.' The earfier
rankings
were not futty reproduced. however, in fact, there were some shiRs in relative posrticn of the
cigarettes, particulany in the mid-range of ignition propensity. NIST initialty attributed the
differences
to aging of one of the fabrics, out tests of the fabric by an Industry lab disproved this theory.'
These
re-tests at NIST were run in a aifferent laboratory by a different operatorr the re-test
demonstrates trie
sensrtivity' of test outcome to test conditions. Nevertheless. NIST proceeded to develop a new test
that would correlate to the 1987 ranking.
NIST has also cRed as verification of its previous ranking the test results of another Ilboratory
-The California Bureau of Home Furnishings-that were run as paR of the 1987 study.'0 In the CBHF
test. however, only 8 cigarettes and1wo substrates were tested Interestingly, the denim substrate
that showed the greatest discrepancies in the NIST retest was not tested by CBHF.
Other work shared with NIST and CPSC (in June, 1991) regarding ranking of cigarettes
included a study by AJR whicrt examined the independent effea of one of the TSG variables on
ignttk,m propeflsity." The TSQ had concluded that the cotrbinstbn d sortw variables was most
effective in reducing i9nitlon pfopeiyhy, but those variaDles were rlot studied individualy. RJA
maae
'Harris, fLH., Jr., M. Nava.*ro, R.Ci. Garnn, and KA. Ebertlardt. 'Aeevaluation of Expenmental
Cigarottes Usad h tttis Cigame Safosy Act of 1984,' NIST Aaoort FA 3984. 1,991.
' Notmart, V. M.morandum to A. Spoars. 'Char9cc.rizatfon d NSSINIST Denim FaDnc,' March
19, 1992 SubmiRSd to Catsumer Produt;t Safety CommistiorL Marctt 1992.
'O Oanwt QN., JA McConnack. and 9. Ctaire. Tests d Srno/0erha IQnitlon of Ctlairs an_d
ReducedScaie Madc!um by Various Ctaarertei Tecfvtical SKdy Cittwp, Volume 7, October 1987.
" Lewia, LS. Pnsentation aa NISTMdustry Technicat Meedng, f3aithersburQ, Md, June 4,1991.
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0011/028
,After controlling for atl smoker cnaractensttcs anQ city, logistic regleSSion modeling snowed
four cigarette characteristics to be significant tifter, filter length. porosSy, and pack rype."'
Densrry;,
the charaaenstiC that the TSG had identRied as the paramount parameter affecting ignition propensitv
«as not found to have a sign,ficant relationship to tnese aauat fires. In addition, nerther
circumference nor addivon of citrate was found to be related to the incidence of fires." These
reported results are further evidence that reliance on the onginal TSG results as a basis for
calibrating:
the proposed NIST tests is unwarranted.
NIST has provided two test approaches as potential candidates for a standardized test. The
first, the Mockup Ignition Test Method, is designated as a primary test method: one that measures
the perforrnance of cigarettes on moCkup assemblies [thatj Closey represent furniture
constructlon.'" The mockup assemolles are of three types: No. 1,0 COnon duck over 32 tigRT13
potyurethane foam: No. 6 cotton duck over the same polyurethane foam: and No. 4 Cotton duck over
6 mil polyethylene film over the same poyuretmane foam. All materials are 8' by 8'. and ~ the foam
is 2'
thick. Aft tests are run in the flat (as opposed to crerice) corlflguration. Tests are run inside a
pleYiglass box vented at the top by a 6' diameter chimney. Room conditions are specified to be 23 =
3°C and 55 x 5% relative humidity. Five (remade) TSG cigarettes were tested by this method in an
irnertaDoratory study completed at the end of 1992.
The second approach provtded by MST, the CigarRte Extinction Test Method. is a seconaary
or indlrea rttetttod that relies on asurrogate for a fabriGpadding sub3trate." A lit cigarette
is
placed on a stack of 3. 10, or 15 pieces of 02 titter paper, and results are r.cordad as a total bum
'° The prwerlCe of a fiRec and the lertgth of thft futer wen not evaluated by the TSc3M nor was tne
type of pack. The htx tha this study identifled cigarettas in a soR pack as being more retated to
tires
than those in a hard pack wu desafbed try tne irnestpators as `unLisuat.' !SL at 29. AJR knows of
no reason why the type of pack should t)Nt any relat/onship to cfganRe ignitlon propenswy.
t.
17
l.awsort, R. NIST PresentetzJon to Technioal Advisoty Group, January 28, 199Cl.
Ld.
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