Open PDF ⬀

Safety Testing

Compliance & Safety Testing for Lighters

All lighters sold in the United States must meet both Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards and Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping requirements. Below is an outline of the standards our lighters must pass before reaching the market. TorchBlue brand torches comply with all CPSC and DOT regulations.

CPSC Safety Standards

The CPSC requires that all lighters sold in the U.S. be child-resistant, with two different regulations applying depending on the type of lighter. Lighters intended for lighting cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are regulated under 16 CFR Part 1210 while lighters intended to light materials other than cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are regulated under 16 CFR Part 1212.

Cigarette Lighters – 16 CFR Part 1210

  • Child-Resistance Testing
    • Tested with children below the age of 5 with a specified breakdown of ages and genders.
    • At least 85% must be unable to operate the lighter within 5 minutes.
    • After demonstration, at least 75% must still be unable to operate it.

Multi-Purpose Lighters – 16 CFR Part 1212

  • Child-Resistance Testing
    • Same panel requirements as cigarette lighters (85%/75% thresholds).
  • Additional Requirements
    • If a mechanism to allow hands-free operation is included it requires operation of an additional feature, must have a manual mechanism to turn it off, and automatically reset after turned off.

DOT Testing for Transport

Because lighters are regulated as hazardous materials (UN1057 – “Lighters”), they must also meet DOT performance testing standards under 49 CFR Parts 171–180 before they can be shipped. Testing confirms that lighters can be safely transported without risk of leakage or accidental ignition.

  • Pressure & Temperature Testing
    • Simulates altitude and temperature variations to ensure lighters do not rupture or leak.
  • Drop & Impact Testing
    • Lighters are dropped in multiple orientations to verify no ignition, leakage, or breakage.
  • Vibration & Handling Simulation
    • Replicates stresses of shipping; lighters must remain intact and leak-free.
  • Fuel Retention
    • After testing, lighters must still securely contain their fuel.

Each lighter model that passes receives an approval number from the testing agency which is required on DOT shipping paperwork.

Summary

  • 16 CFR Part 1210 – Cigarette lighters must meet CPSC child-resistance and durability standards.
  • 16 CFR Part 1212 – Multi-purpose lighters must meet the same child-resistance thresholds plus added safety requirements.
  • DOT Testing (49 CFR 171–180) – All lighters must pass transport safety tests (pressure, drop, vibration, leakage) before they can legally ship.

Every lighter we sell complies fully with both CPSC safety standards and DOT transport requirements, ensuring they are safe for consumers and safe to ship.