Overview
Cigarette Fire Safety Standard
In 2002, legislation was enacted requiring New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control to promulgate a fire safety standard for cigarettes offered for sale in New York State. This unprecedented step in public fire prevention, establishing a means to curb incidents of cigarette caused fires, was the first of its type anywhere in the world.
This standard requires the industry to produce a cigarette which essentially self extinguishes and as such reduces the possibility for igniting upholstered furniture, thereby reducing the overall number of fires. To date, other states including California, Vermont, New Hampshire, Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland, as well as the dominion of Canada have followed suit and adopted cigarette fire safety standards.
In 2006, additional legislation was enacted amending GML 204d requiring fire chiefs and/or fire investigation units to report all fires suspected to have been caused by cigarettes to the Office of Fire Prevention & Control within fourteen days of completing their investigation. This legislation is intended to provided a process for the fire service to measure the effectiveness of the standard in reducing the number of cigarette caused fires and the resultant dollar loss and fire deaths.
As a means to assist the fire service in complying with the reporting requirements of GML 204d, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control has established a process for fire chiefs and their investigation units to report specific criteria which will aid in monitoring the effectiveness of this important fire safety program. A simple one page form titled “New York State Suspected Cigarette Caused Fire Incident Report” captures the necessary data from suspected cigarette caused fire incidents. In addition to the form, it is important to document the cigarette pack by photographing each side of the pack with “upclose” detailed photos depicting the Fire Standard Compliant markings and the NYS Tax Stamp. The report form may be obtained by contacting OFPC or via our website at www.dhes.ny.gov/ofpc. The form can be submitted to the Office by any of the following means:
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Fax: (518) 474-3240
- NYSPIN: Incorporate into body of a file 25 and send to GATA
- Mail: New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control, 1220 Washington Ave, Building 7A, Floor 2, Albany, NY 12210-2833
OFPC staff will evaluate each submission. Follow-up contacts will be conducted with fire chiefs, as necessary, to review details of the incident and the data as captured through the fire departments documentation of the incident which includes the cigarette packaging.
Measure designed to reduce risk of fires caused by cigarettes.
Manufacturer Certified Cigarettes
The list below contains a list of cigarettes certified by manufacturers.
Report of Suspected Cigarette Caused Fire
Form to be filed by the Fire Chief or designated Fire Investigator within 14 days of the completion of the investigation.
FAQs
Q: What do I need to do to certify my cigarettes?
A: Provide OFPC the following documentation:
- A written certification attesting that:
- Each cigarette listed in the certification has been tested in accordance with section 429.3 of Title 19 NYCRR;
- Each cigarette listed in the certification meets the performance standard set forth in section 429.4 of Title 19 NYCRR;
- The laboratory conducting the testing in accordance with section 429.3 has been accredited pursuant to standard ISO/IEC 17025 of the International Organization for Standardization entitled "General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories".
- Each cigarette listed in the certification shall be described with the following information:
- Brand (i.e., the trade name on the package);
- Style (e.g., light, ultra-light);
- Length in millimeters;
- Circumference in millimeters;
- Flavor (e.g., menthol, chocolate) if applicable;
- Filter or non-filter;
- Package description (e.g., soft pack, box).
- Each certification shall include the following information:
- Name, address and telephone number of the laboratory, if different from the manufacturer that conducted the test;
- Date(s) when testing occurred;
- Notarized statement from an officer or director of the laboratory certifying that the cigarette meets the standards prescribed in section 429.3;
- Web address of the website maintained by the manufacturer pursuant to section 429.7 listing the cigarette brands and styles which it has certified.
Mail all information to:
NYS Office of Fire Prevention & Control
Attn: Cigarette Fire Safety Program
State Office Campus
1220 Washington Avenue
Building 7A, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12226
Q: Are there forms needed for filing certifications?
A: No. OFPC does not utilize a standard form for certification. However, manufacturers must include all relevant information and documentation as specified in the previous question.
Q: Is there a charge for certifying cigarettes?
A: No. New York State does not charge manufacturers to certify their cigarettes.
Q: How long is a certification good for?
A: Cigarette certifications need to be renewed every three years.
Q: Do I need to mark my cigarette packages?
A: Yes. The letters FSC must be on all packs, cartons, and master cases in eight point print at or near the UPC.
Q: I also sell rolling paper. Does that need to be certified?
A: No. Roll your own and cigars do not need to be certified.
Q: How can I determine if a particular brand and/or style is certified with OFPC?
A: You can review a list of certified cigarette brands and style.
Q: Are there readily available statistics for smoking-related fire deaths and smoking-related fires?