Overview
ISO 3550-1:1997 specifies a standardized laboratory method for determining the loss of tobacco from the ends of cigarettes using a rotating cylindrical cage. This first part of ISO 3550 is intended primarily for cigarettes sampled on the manufacturing site (before or after packaging) and quantifies tobacco fallout caused by tumbling under controlled conditions. The method produces results expressed as mg tobacco loss per open end and mg per cm² of open end.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: a defined number of conditioned cigarettes tumble in an elliptical-section cylindrical cage formed from parallel rods; tobacco that falls through the rod spacing is collected and weighed.
- Test equipment:
- Rotating cylindrical cage with elliptical cross-section formed by 44 stainless-steel rods, 3.0 mm ±0.05 mm diameter; rod centers lie on an ellipse with a = 54.0 mm, b = 36.5 mm; rod clearance 3.5 mm.
- Drive system to rotate the cage at 90 r/min ±1 r/min, with a preset counter; 270 revolutions per test is specified.
- Conditioning chamber (ISO 3402), diameter-measuring device (ISO 2971), analytical balance (accuracy 0.0001 g), ruler, optional counting trays.
- Sample preparation and environment:
- Condition samples in accordance with ISO 3402.
- Measure cigarette diameter (ISO 2971), length, and determine water content (ISO 6488) - water content is reported because it affects fallout.
- Select test portion size based on cigarette diameter (example reference: 50 cigarettes for 8.0 mm diameter).
- Procedure: load test compartment(s), adjust end plates to match cigarette length, run specified revolutions, collect and weigh fallout pans, repeat 5–10 tests to achieve desired accuracy.
- Calculations and reporting:
- Convert collected mass to end-related (mg per open end) and area-related (mg/cm²) fallout.
- Report sample identification, cigarette dimensions, sampling method, test conditions (speed, revolutions), water content, individual results, mean, min/max, standard deviation and coefficient of variation (if n>3), and any deviations from the standard.
Applications and users
ISO 3550-1 is used for:
- Quality control in cigarette manufacturing to monitor resistance to tobacco loss during production and packaging.
- Product development and R&D to compare filter and plain cigarette designs, wrapper/plug differences, and assembly improvements.
- Packaging and handling engineering, to assess how filling, shipping, and packaging affect end-loss risk.
- Regulatory and standards laboratories performing standardized comparative testing.
Primary users include tobacco manufacturers, QC laboratories, product engineers, and testing service providers focused on mechanical and dimensional cigarette tests.
Related standards
- ISO 3550-2: Method using a rotating cubic box (sismelatophore) - intended to simulate losses during distribution and pocket handling.
- ISO 3402: Conditioning and testing atmosphere
- ISO 2971: Cigarette diameter measurement (laser)
- ISO 6488: Water content (Karl Fischer)
- ISO 8243: Sampling
Keywords: ISO 3550-1, cigarettes, loss of tobacco from the ends, rotating cylindrical cage, tobacco fallout, cigarette testing, quality control, ISO standards.