Coding An Digital Cigarette Hearth

Twenty-5 separate incidents of explosion and hearth involving electronic cigarettes (e-cigs or e-cigarettes) had been reported in the United States media between 2009 and 2014. The duty of coding the source of the explosion and hearth can be difficult. This NFIRSGram will assist hearth departments in coding these incidents in the National Hearth Incident Reporting system (NFIRS) correctly.

What is an e-cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also called a personal vaporizer or digital nicotine delivery system, is a battery-powered system that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke. There are thousands and thousands of customers and tens of millions of gadgets in use at present, and the number is growing continually. On the whole, the units use a heating element often known as an atomizer or cartomizer to vaporize a liquid resolution. "Automatic" e-cigarettes activate the heater when a person inhales from the e-cigarette, whereas handbook devices have an exterior switch that the consumer depresses to energize the heating factor to create heated vapor.

E-cigarette incidents

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

What causes e-cigarette fires?

Descriptions and pictures of e-cigarette failures are in keeping with identified failures of lithium-ion polymer batteries, uv printer and experiences of lithium-ion battery failures in cellphones, laptops and other digital gadgets are readily discovered. The causes of catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery can embrace puncture, overcharge, overheating, quick circuit, inner cell failure and manufacturing deficiencies.


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


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


The use of unusual USB port charging connections could also be one source of the problem. Few, if any, customers perceive that not all USB ports are "created equal." The voltage and present supplied by USB ports can fluctuate. With out consulting the technical specs for the computer or USB energy adapter, it's troublesome or unimaginable to determine the ability provided by any explicit USB port and even harder to determine whether it's safe to use with a specific e-cigarette.


Plugging an e-cigarette right into a "standard" USB port for recharge could subject the battery to larger present than is safe, resulting in thermal runaway that ends in an explosion and/or fireplace.


These details illustrate the importance of utilizing the right charging gadgets with all rechargeable batteries.

NFIRS coding

For more data on e-cigarette fires


Digital Cigarette Fires and Explosions
An outline of digital cigarettes, together with how they work, current fireplace and explosion incidents, and the affect of lithium-ion battery failure.


Have a question about coding an electronic 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 email at [email protected].