Coding An Electronic Cigarette Fireplace

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

What is an e-cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also referred to as a private vaporizer or electronic nicotine supply system, is a battery-powered gadget that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke. There are millions of users and tens of tens of millions of units in use in the present day, and the number is growing continuously. Typically, the devices use a heating component often called an atomizer or cartomizer to vaporize a liquid resolution. "Automatic" e-cigarettes activate the heater when a consumer inhales from the e-cigarette, while manual gadgets 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, fireplace-associated incidents are very infrequent. These incidents are usually described within the media as small explosions. The event occurs abruptly and is accompanied by a loud noise, a flash of light, smoke, and flames; the battery and different components are quite often launched throughout the room. The ejected battery typically lands on or subsequent to combustible supplies, akin to carpets, drapes or bedding, causing them to catch fireplace.

What causes e-cigarette fires?

Descriptions and images of e-cigarette failures are according to recognized failures of lithium-ion polymer batteries, and stories of lithium-ion battery failures in mobile phones, laptops and other digital gadgets are readily found. The causes of catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery can embody puncture, overcharge, panda dtf printer overheating, quick circuit, inner cell failure and manufacturing deficiencies.


When the temperature of the battery rises, the electrolyte in the lithium-ion battery can ignite, resulting in 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.)


Nearly all of incidents reported by the media occurred while the battery was charging. Quite a lot of charging sources have been reported - laptop USB ports, auto USB adapters, desktop pc USB ports, and wall adapter USB ports.


The use of abnormal USB port charging connections could also be one supply of the issue. Few, if any, customers understand that not all USB ports are "created equal." The voltage and present supplied by USB ports can range. With out consulting the technical specs for the pc or USB energy adapter, it is troublesome or inconceivable to find out the ability equipped by any explicit USB port and even tougher to find out whether it's safe to use with a selected e-cigarette.


Plugging an e-cigarette right into a "standard" USB port for recharge may topic the battery to larger current than is safe, leading to thermal runaway that results in an explosion and/or fireplace.


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

NFIRS coding

For extra data on e-cigarette fires


Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions
An summary of electronic cigarettes, including how they work, recent fire and explosion incidents, and the affect of lithium-ion battery failure.


Have a query about coding an digital cigarette hearth?


Please contact the NFIRS Support Middle: Monday - Friday between eight a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET, at 888-382-3827 or by e mail at [email protected].