ISO 15592-3:2022

Overview

ISO 15592-3:2022 specifies standardized laboratory methods for measuring total particulate matter (TPM) and preparing samples for determination of nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM) from smoking articles made from fine‑cut tobacco (including expanded tobacco). The standard covers how to make laboratory fine‑cut smoking articles (FCSAs) using a specified wrapper, how to generate and collect mainstream smoke with a routine analytical smoking machine, and how to treat TPM samples for subsequent water and nicotine analysis.

Keywords: ISO 15592-3, fine-cut tobacco, TPM, NFDPM, nicotine, routine analytical smoking machine, wrapper, FCSA.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clear definitions for fine‑cut tobacco, expanded tobacco, wrapper, FCSA, TPM and related terms.
• Sampling and conditioning: References procedure linkage with ISO 15592-1 (sampling) and ISO 15592-2 (conditioning and testing atmosphere).
• Manufacture of FCSAs: Method for making laboratory smoking articles using tubes formed from a specified wrapper (wrapper specifications are provided in Annex A).
• Apparatus and set‑up: Requirements for use of a routine analytical smoking machine (in line with ISO 3308) and associated smoke traps, holders and monitor test pieces.
• Marking and reproducibility: Instructions for marking insertion depth and butt length of the test articles to ensure consistent machine setup.
• Smoking plan and TPM collection: Procedures for preliminary tests, smoking runs, smoke trap preparation and TPM collection.
• Sample treatment: Extraction procedures to prepare TPM for water determination (e.g., Karl Fischer) and nicotine analysis, and calculation method to derive NFDPM.
• Quality and precision: Requirements for reporting, collaborative precision data and annexed studies (wrapper specification, expanded tobacco).

Practical applications

• Laboratories testing smoke yields from roll‑your‑own (RYO) or hand‑made style articles to obtain TPM and NFDPM data.
• Regulatory and public‑health testing programs that need standardized, reproducible measurements of mainstream smoke constituents from fine‑cut tobacco products.
• Product development and quality control in tobacco manufacturing where comparison of consumer‑made articles to laboratory‑made FCSAs is required.

Who should use this standard

• Analytical chemists and method developers in tobacco testing labs
• Regulatory bodies and compliance testing organizations
• Manufacturers and R&D teams assessing smoke constituent yields from fine‑cut and expanded tobaccos
• Accreditation bodies and proficiency testing providers

Related standards

• ISO 3308 - Routine analytical cigarette‑smoking machine (standard conditions)
• ISO 4387 - Determination of total and nicotine‑free dry particulate matter
• ISO 10315 / ISO 10362-1 - Nicotine and water determination methods
• ISO 15592-1 / ISO 15592-2 - Sampling and conditioning for fine‑cut tobacco

This standard ensures comparable, reproducible TPM and NFDPM results for fine‑cut tobacco smoking articles when using routine analytical smoking machines.