Coding An Electronic Cigarette Fireplace

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

What is an e-cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also referred to as a private vaporizer or digital nicotine delivery system, is a battery-powered gadget that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke. There are thousands and thousands of users and tens of hundreds of thousands of devices in use right this moment, and the quantity is growing always. Typically, the units use a heating element generally 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, whereas handbook devices have an external switch that the person depresses to energize the heating element to create heated vapor.

E-cigarette incidents

Even with so many gadgets in use, fireplace-associated incidents are very infrequent. These incidents are sometimes described in the media as small explosions. The occasion happens all of a sudden and is accompanied by a loud noise, a flash of light, smoke, and flames; the battery and different parts are very often launched across the room. The ejected battery often lands on or subsequent to combustible materials, panda dtf printer corresponding to carpets, drapes or bedding, causing them to catch fireplace.

What causes e-cigarette fires?

Descriptions and images of e-cigarette failures are in keeping with known failures of lithium-ion polymer batteries, and studies of lithium-ion battery failures in mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices are readily found. The causes of catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery can include puncture, overcharge, overheating, short circuit, internal cell failure and manufacturing deficiencies.


When the temperature of the battery rises, the electrolyte in 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.)


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


The usage of unusual USB port charging connections could also be one supply of the issue. Few, if any, customers perceive that not all USB ports are "created equal." The voltage and present supplied by USB ports can differ. With out consulting the technical specs for the computer or USB energy adapter, it is troublesome or unimaginable to determine the ability supplied by any specific USB port and even more difficult to determine whether or not it is safe to use with a selected e-cigarette.


Plugging an e-cigarette into a "standard" USB port for recharge might subject the battery to increased present than is safe, leading to thermal runaway that leads to an explosion and/or fire.


These info illustrate the importance of using the correct 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, together with how they work, recent hearth and explosion incidents, and the influence 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 [email protected].