Coding An Digital Cigarette Fireplace

Twenty-5 separate incidents of explosion and fire involving digital cigarettes (e-cigs or e-cigarettes) have been reported in the United States media between 2009 and 2014. The duty of coding the supply of the explosion and hearth might be troublesome. This NFIRSGram will help hearth departments in coding these incidents within the National Fire Incident Reporting system (NFIRS) accurately.

What is an e-cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also known as a private vaporizer or electronic nicotine supply system, is a battery-powered machine that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke. There are millions of users and tens of hundreds of thousands of devices in use right this moment, and the number is growing consistently. Typically, the gadgets use a heating factor often called an atomizer or cartomizer to vaporize a liquid solution. «Automatic» e-cigarettes activate the heater when a consumer inhales from the e-cigarette, whereas handbook units have an exterior switch that the user depresses to energize the heating element to create heated vapor.

E-cigarette incidents

Even with so many gadgets in use, fire-related incidents are very infrequent. These incidents are usually described within the media as small explosions. The event happens abruptly and is accompanied by a loud noise, a flash of light, smoke, and flames; the battery and other elements are quite often launched across the room. The ejected battery often lands on or subsequent to combustible supplies, resembling carpets, drapes or bedding, inflicting them to catch hearth.

What causes e-cigarette fires?

Descriptions and pictures of e-cigarette failures are per recognized failures of lithium-ion polymer batteries, and studies of lithium-ion battery failures in cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices are readily discovered. The causes of catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery can include puncture, overcharge, smoore overheating, brief circuit, inside 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 used in lithium-ion batteries is a flammable liquid.)

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

Using bizarre USB port charging connections could also be one source of the problem. Few, if any, consumers perceive that not all USB ports are «created equal.» The voltage and current offered by USB ports can vary. With out consulting the technical specs for the pc or USB power adapter, it is tough or inconceivable to determine the ability equipped by any particular USB port and even tougher to determine whether it’s protected to use with a specific e-cigarette.

Plugging an e-cigarette into a «standard» USB port for recharge may subject the battery to greater present than is safe, resulting in thermal runaway that ends in an explosion and/or fire.

These information illustrate the importance of using the right charging devices with all rechargeable batteries.

NFIRS coding

For more information on e-cigarette fires

Digital Cigarette Fires and Explosions

An outline of electronic cigarettes, including how they work, latest hearth and explosion incidents, and the affect of lithium-ion battery failure.

Have a question about coding an digital cigarette hearth?

Please contact the NFIRS Assist Center: Monday — Friday between eight a.m. — 4:30 p.m. ET, at 888-382-3827 or by email at fema-nfirshelp@fema.dhs.gov.