BIC - Safety and Quality

BIC^® Lighters

Serious about safety.
Committed to quality.

BIC has developed and perfected the strictest quality and safety standards as safety is our #1 priority. Read our inaugural Lighter Safety Report and find out why.
Download the Report

The Numbers

Videos

LIGHTER SAFETY STANDARDS

OUR COMMITMENT TO LIGHTER SAFETY

Americans don’t understand the lack of safety requirements for lighters, suggesting they are not taking the appropriate precautions.

An infographic repeating information contained in the report.

81%

of Americans don’t know that many pocket lighters in the U.S. are not tested extensively for safety.
77%

do not know that lighters sold in the U.S. are not required to meet any safety restrictions, other than being child-resistant.
77%

say price would be an influential factor if they were deciding on a pocket lighter to purchase.
65%

Compared to just 65% who say safety would be.

Parents need to educate themselves on lighter safety.

>33%

More than 1 in 3 parents (37%) mistakenly believe if a lighter has a child resistant feature, then children cannot turn it on.
100%

While all lighters sold in the U.S. must have a child-resistant feature, they are not childproof.
68%

While 68% of parents say their children have been taught about fire safety, less than half (48%) say their child has been taught about pocket lighter safety.
59%

of parents have not taught their children that if they find a lighter, they should not touch it and should show an adult where the lighter is.
66%

of parents do not test smoke alarms as often as recommended (once a month).
36%

Only a third (36%) of parents say they have a home fire exit plan and practice it once a year with their family.
26%

Only 26% of parents avoid using novelty lighters (lighters that look like toys or playful objects).

SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY. COMMITTED TO QUALITY.

Ryan Sutter Discusses Lighter Safety & Quality
Ryan Sutter Discusses Flame Height
Ryan Sutter Discusses Flame Extinguishing Time

ASTM Voluntary Lighter Safety Standards*

The following are some lighter safety standards recommended by ASTM International, these tests are most closely related to accidental fires and injuries. Many low-quality (and often less expensive lighters) failed at least one of these tests, compared to BIC which meets or exceeds all voluntary standards.

Flame Extinguishing Time

After a user removes their finger from the lighter, there should not be any exposed flame within 2 seconds, and any flame that might continue below the hood or windscreen should fully extinguish within another 2 seconds. *All BIC lighters extinguish in less than half a second.

Flame Extinguishing Time

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Flame Height

Flame height should not exceed 2-inches for non-adjustable lighters or 4.75-inches for adjustable lighters (adjustable lighters are lighters which enable the user to change or “adjust” the flame height). *BIC lighters have a consistent flame that are well within safety standards.

Flame Height

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BIC lighter spitting and sputtering icon

Spitting & Sputtering

The condition where non-evaporated or liquid fuel escapes from the lighter (or alternative wording: through the valve of the lighter) producing a shower of burning liquid droplets that separate from the main flame. *BIC’s fixed flame lighter design does not create spitting or sputtering.

BIC lighter white spitting and sputtering icon

Spitting & Sputtering

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Flaring

There should be no greater than 2-inches of variation in flame height from the steady state flame condition. In other words, the flame should not flare up unexpectedly to a greater height. *BIC’s fixed flame lighter design does not create flaring.

Flaring

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Drop Test

Every lighter should be able to withstand three separate 5-foot drops without fuel reservoir fragmentation, sustained self-ignition or gas escape (leakage) exceeding 15 milligrams per minute. *BIC lighters are routinely drop tested from a height of 10 feet or more and withstand the requirements.

Drop Test

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Volumetric Displacement

Liquid portion of fuel should not exceed 85% of the fuel reservoir capacity, to allow for some expansion within the body of the lighter in hotter weather conditions (as one example). *BIC’s automated manufacturing process ensures the fuel doesn’t exceed 85% of the fuel reservoir capacity.

Volumetric Displacement

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Resistance to Continuous Burn

If a lighter is lit for two minutes or more, the highest flame height should be two inches if held vertically, without any issues of components continuing to burn, or the valve rupturing / coming apart. *All BIC lighters meet these requirements.

Resistance to Continuous Burn

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Resistance to High Temperature

Every lighter should be able to withstand 149-degrees Fahrenheit for 4 hours without gas escape (leakage) exceeding 15 milligrams per minute. *BIC lighters are routinely tested and withstand 167°F for 8 hours.

Resistance to High Temperature

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*Do NOT attempt to test a lighter at home!

Since introducing the child-resistant lighter and launching proactive public education efforts, the U.S. has seen declines in the following areas:
- Number of serious fires and deaths / injuries from fires
- Number of structure fires started by children
- Children starting fires that involve lighters and matches while playing

However, two factors have threatened to reverse the progress of the last quarter century:

All Lighters Are Not Created Equal.

Low-quality (non-BIC) imported lighters are currently flooding the U.S. market with more than 300 million exports entering the U.S. in 2017 alone. BIC’s most recent internal testing found that as many as 70% percent of non-BIC lighters tested in the U.S. failed voluntary safety standards set forth by ASTM International, meaning they can lead to serious fires, damages or injuries.

A Lack of Consumer Awareness and Action around Lighter Safety.

A March 2019 survey by BIC and Harris Poll found that many Americans don’t understand lighter safety and standards, therefore are not making fully-informed purchase decisions or taking appropriate precaution for lighter safety in their homes and daily lives.

Understanding lighter safety standards

So what should you know about lighter safety standards? First, all lighters sold in the U.S. must be child- resistant, but that does not mean they are childproof. A child-resistant product means it is more difficult to operate, but some young children may have the dexterity to do so.
Second, this feature is the only requirement issued by the CSPC. ASTM International one of the world’s largest standards-developing organizations, sets forth key voluntary lighter safety standards. While BIC meets or exceeds each test, most competitor lighters failed at least one standard in internal BIC testing.
Learn more about ASTM safety standards here

Bic^® Pocket Lighters

What goes into a Bic^® Lighter?

Bic^® Pocket Lighters

What goes into a Bic^® Lighter?

We weren’t the first to create fire (you’ve got us there, cavemen). But we invented the coolest way to make a flame: the iconic BIC^® Pocket Lighter. Here’s a look at our lighter’s inner workings, no x-ray glasses required.

Guard
Sparkwheel
Hood
Fork
Flint
ForkSpring
Jet
Valve
FlintSpring
Body
Base
Ball

BIC’s Commitment to Lighter Safety

BIC is serious about safety.

We have been making BIC Lighters since 1973. With consumer safety in mind, we developed and meet / exceed the most rigorous safety and quality standards so you can trust that any BIC lighter is high performing, convenient and safe.

Each of our 7 million lighters produced worldwide daily undergoes more than 50 quality and safety checks during the manufacturing process.

Our award-winning fire safety program, “play safe! be safe!” helps educators and parents teach fire safety skills to young children, distributing more than 120,000 safety kits since 1994.

Learn more at playsafebesafe.com.

Serious about safety. Committed to quality.

Americans don’t understand the lack of safety requirements for lighters, suggesting they are not taking the appropriate precautions.

81%

77%

77%

65%

Parents need to educate themselves on lighter safety.

>33%

100%

68%

59%

66%

36%

26%

SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY. COMMITTED TO QUALITY.

Ryan Sutter Discusses Lighter Safety & Quality

Ryan Sutter Discusses Flame Height

Ryan Sutter Discusses Flame Extinguishing Time

ASTM Voluntary Lighter Safety Standards*

Flame Extinguishing Time

Flame Extinguishing Time

Flame Height

Flame Height

Spitting & Sputtering

Spitting & Sputtering

Flaring

Flaring

Drop Test

Drop Test

Volumetric Displacement

Volumetric Displacement

Resistance to Continuous Burn

Resistance to Continuous Burn

Resistance to High Temperature

Resistance to High Temperature

However, two factors have threatened to reverse the progress of the last quarter century:

All Lighters Are Not Created Equal.

A Lack of Consumer Awareness and Action around Lighter Safety.

Understanding lighter safety standards

What goes into a Bic® Lighter?

What goes into a Bic® Lighter?

BIC’s Commitment to Lighter Safety

BIC is serious about safety.

Serious about safety.
Committed to quality.

What goes into a Bic^® Lighter?

What goes into a Bic^® Lighter?