Standards Development

Scope

This International Standard deals with the safety of battery-operated vaping appliances that use consumables, with or without nicotine, heated into an aerosol that the user inhales.

Purpose

According to the report “Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States 2009 – 2016” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/electronic_cigarettes.pdf) issued by U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), between January 2009 and December 31, 2016, 195 separate incidents of explosion and fire involving an electronic cigarette were reported by the U.S. media that resulted in 133 acute injuries:

• Thirty-eight of the incidents (20%) resulted in severe injury to an individual, meaning that the victim required hospitalization, and may have suffered loss of a body part, 3rd degree burns, or facial injuries. Eighty victims (4%) suffered moderate injuries, which were defined as persons requiring treatment in the emergency room for smoke inhalation, 2nd degree burns, or lacerations requiring stitches.

• Sixty-one incidents (31%) occurred when either the device or spare batteries for the device were in a pocket. Sixty incidents (31%) occurred while the device was being used. Forty-eight incidents (25%) occurred while the battery in the device was being charged. Eighteen incidents (9%) occurred while the device or battery was stored. In seven incidents (4%), it is not reported whether the e-cigarette was in use, stored, or being charged.

Although fires or explosions caused by the batteries used in electronic cigarette are uncommon; however the consequences can be devastating and life-altering for the victims.

The combination of an e-cig and lithium battery is a new, unique hazard – the inherent intimacy with the device further complicates the hazard associated with the e-cigarette and makes it unique among other consumer products.

These products have been marketed as a smoking cessation tool, or a healthier alternative to cigarettes since 2003. There has been a correlation between the increase in sales and an increase in the number of related incidents. Based on a review of past issues and incidents, two major electrical safety issues related to e-cig have been identified:

1. Explosion/Fire – Due to incompatibility (overcharge, speed of charge, etc.) of the battery/charger combination. The end result is either fire or more typically explosion while in use which can result in injury to the user.

2. Fire – Due to use of sail switch designs (heating element is activity via airflow), inadvertent start up can be initiated. If this occurs while the device is surrounded by combustibles, i.e. e-cig is located within a purse or luggage, a fire can be initiated.

The following main risks were considered when developing the initial draft of the Standard: battery explosion, battery replacement, atomizer replacement, venting mechanism and accidental activation.

The initial draft of this Part 2 of IEC 60335 is based on ANSI/CAN/UL 8139, Standard For Safety For Electrical Systems of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices, which is a consensus-based standard and has been approved as bi-national standard by ANSI and SCC on April 27, 2018.

It should be noted that there have been a number of CB test certificate and test reports based on IEC 60335- 1 alone (without any appropriate Part 2 of IEC 60335), as part of the technical documentation in the CE marking process.

Nonetheless, CTL Provisional Decision Sheet (PDSH), Tracking No. 2115, stated in its explanatory notes “The intentional operation of electronic cigarettes is to produce a vapour which will be directly inhaled by the consumer. Thus the consumer will be in direct physical (oral) contact with the appliance. IEC 60335-1 can be applied however, it has to be noted that it does not cover all the relevant safety aspects.”  

The above justifies the need for a delicate Part 2 for portable vaping devices.