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Posted on Fire standard complaint cigarettes (FSC) must meet the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) criteria and most use a different design in the paper which restricts air flow. The bans of paper act as speed bumps slowing down the burning of the cigarette thereby creating a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended. “We are very proud of our accomplishments on this issue in Maryland and anticipate that fire standard compliant cigarettes will help prevent both fires and fire deaths for years to come,” said Fire Marshal William E. Barnard in a prepared statement. Two other states as well as the District of Columbia will have laws going into effect the same day. The Coalition of Fire-Safe Cigarettes sites that 74% of the U.S. population is now or soon will be better protected from cigarette fires. Source: Maryland State Fire Marshall |