Coding An Electronic Cigarette Hearth

Twenty-five separate incidents of explosion and fire involving digital cigarettes (e-cigs or e-cigarettes) have been reported within the United States media between 2009 and 2014. The duty of coding the source of the explosion and fire can be difficult. This NFIRSGram will help hearth departments in coding these incidents in the Nationwide Fire Incident Reporting system (NFIRS) accurately.

What’s an e-cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also referred to as a personal vaporizer or digital nicotine supply system, is a battery-powered system that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke. There are hundreds of thousands of users and tens of thousands and thousands of devices in use right now, smoore tech and the quantity is growing continuously. Usually, the gadgets use a heating component often known as an atomizer or cartomizer to vaporize a liquid solution. «Automatic» e-cigarettes activate the heater when a user inhales from the e-cigarette, while handbook units have an external switch that the person depresses to energize the heating element to create heated vapor.

E-cigarette incidents

Even with so many units in use, hearth-associated incidents are very infrequent. These incidents are typically described in the media as small explosions. The occasion happens abruptly and is accompanied by a loud noise, a flash of light, smoke, and flames; the battery and different components are very often launched across the room. The ejected battery typically lands on or next to combustible supplies, resembling carpets, drapes or bedding, causing them to catch fireplace.

What causes e-cigarette fires?

Descriptions and pictures of e-cigarette failures are in keeping with known failures of lithium-ion polymer batteries, and stories of lithium-ion battery failures in mobile phones, laptops and different digital units are readily discovered. The causes of catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery can include puncture, overcharge, overheating, short circuit, inner cell failure and manufacturing deficiencies.

When the temperature of the battery rises, the electrolyte within the lithium-ion battery can ignite, leading to overpressure, rupture of the cell, and ejection of the battery core from the case. (The electrolyte utilized in lithium-ion batteries is a flammable liquid.)

The vast majority of incidents reported by the media occurred while the battery was charging. A variety of charging sources had been reported — laptop USB ports, auto USB adapters, desktop pc USB ports, and wall adapter USB ports.

The usage of bizarre USB port charging connections could also be one source of the issue. Few, if any, shoppers perceive that not all USB ports are «created equal.» The voltage and present offered by USB ports can fluctuate. With out consulting the technical specs for the pc or USB energy adapter, it is difficult or unattainable to determine the facility supplied by any specific USB port and even more difficult to find out whether it’s protected to make use of with a specific e-cigarette.

Plugging an e-cigarette into a «standard» USB port for recharge could subject the battery to higher current than is secure, resulting in thermal runaway that ends in an explosion and/or fireplace.

These facts illustrate the significance of using the proper charging devices with all rechargeable batteries.

NFIRS coding

For extra data on e-cigarette fires

Digital Cigarette Fires and Explosions

An overview of digital cigarettes, together with how they work, recent fireplace and explosion incidents, and the impression of lithium-ion battery failure.

Have a question about coding an digital cigarette hearth?

Please contact the NFIRS Support Middle: Monday — Friday between 8 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. ET, at 888-382-3827 or by e-mail at fema-nfirshelp@fema.dhs.gov.