The Objective for performing this study was to compare LIP / FSC cigarettes, showing different pass rates with two test methods, one according to ISO 12863 and the second with the alternative set-up as proposed by NIST (thin stainless steel substrate plus one layer of filter paper instead of the 10 layers, as defined in ASTM E.2187-09 and ISO 12863). Samples have been chosen with a Full Length Burn rate below and above 25%. This objective included also an evaluation of the impact on the variation of the results when performing the test on the metal sheet. The observations from our study were that LIP cigarettes which failed the test when performing according ISO 12863 will pass the test when performing according the proposed alternative. There are no significant differences when comparing the results of LIP cigarettes which passed the test according ISO 12863 with 0% Full Length Burn and the proposed alternative. A further topic in our study was to test if the results of the proposal from NIST are more comparable to ISO 12863 when increasing the layers of filter papers on the metal sheet. We called it “progressive testing”. It is described in ISO 12863 – Annex C (normative) C3. – Procedure for selection of substrate assemblies for testing. In conclusion it means that cigarettes which will not pass the test today will pass the test when analyzed with the metal sheet plus one layer of filter paper. Results with the metal sheet plus one layer of filter paper are misleading – with the risk of non-conformity products on the market; Full Length Burn above 25%!