Appendix – Fire Test Procedures for Ignitability of Bedding Components
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - 2010 FTP Code – International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, 20101 – Resolution MSC.307(88) - Annex 1 – Fire Test Procedures - Part 9 – Test for Bedding Components - Appendix – Fire Test Procedures for Ignitability of Bedding Components

Appendix – Fire Test Procedures for Ignitability of Bedding Components

Parent topic: Part 9 – Test for Bedding Components

Introduction

 The test specified in this method deals with a simple presentation of a particular aspect of the potential fire situation typified by smouldering cigarettes and a match equivalent flame exposure to the product. The test alone cannot provide any direct guidance on behaviour or safety in other types of accidents, like exposure to larger sources of flames. A test of this type may, however, be used to make comparisons or to ensure the existence of a certain characteristic considered to have a bearing on fire performance in general. No other significance shall be attached to performance in this test.

Safety Warning

 The attention of all users of the test is drawn to the following warning:

  • In order that suitable precautions may be taken to safeguard health, the attention of all engaged with fire testing is drawn to the fact that toxic or harmful gases may be released during combustion of test specimens.

1 Scope

 The method specifies a procedure to determine the ignitability of bedding components with small smouldering and flaming sources of ignition.

2 Field of Application

  2.1 The method is intended for testing bedding components such as blankets, quilts, bedspreads, pillows and mattresses, including thin, light mattresses used on top of other mattresses.

  2.2 The following items shall be included in bedding components: bed drapes, duvets, comforters.

  2.3 The following items shall not be included in bedding components: sheets, pillow cases, box springs, valances (dust ruffles), and bed curtains.

3 Definitions

  3.1 Mattress is a product in the form of a resilient material (for instance, polyurethane foam or light fibre fill) or of padding materials in combination with steel springs (spring mattress), enveloped by a cover.

  3.2 Quilt and pillow are products of padding materials (down/feather or textile fibre) enveloped by a textile fabric.

  3.3 Ticking is a fabric enveloping the resilient material in a mattress.

  3.4 Ignitability is a measure of the ease with which a material or a product can be ignited so as to flame or progressively smoulder.

  3.5 Ignition source is a source of energy which is used to ignite combustible materials or products.

  3.6 Flaming is undergoing combustion in the gaseous phase, usually with emission of light.

  3.7 Smouldering is an exothermic reaction taking place in a material without flaming, with or without emission of light.

  3.8 Progressive smouldering is smouldering which continues after the ignition source is extinguished or removed.

4 Sampling

 The specimens shall be representative of the whole product to be tested. If possible, the specimens shall be taken in such a way that ignition can also be started along seams and their intersections. The top side is exposed. Where there is doubt as to which side is the top side, the test shall be carried out on both sides. Four additional specimens are then needed.

4.1 Mattresses

  4.1.1 Sufficient material shall be available for making at least four specimens with dimensions 450 mm x 350 mm in full nominal thickness. The cover shall envelop the mattress completely without wrinkles and shall be secured underneath (for instance, with steel pins).

  4.1.2 For testing of mattresses with removable covers, sufficient material shall be available for the making of at least eight specimens, four with and four without the mattress cover, with dimensions 450 mm x 350 mm in full nominal thickness.

4.2 Pillows

 Four samples in full size shall be available.

4.3 Other than mattresses and pillows

  4.3.1 Four specimens each of size 450 mm x 350 mm shall be cut from each sample.

  4.3.2 If the product contains loose filling material, the edges shall be sewn. It is advisable to sew the seams before cutting the specimens in order to avoid loss of filling material.

5 Test Method

5.1 Principle

 The test is carried out with the specimen placed in a horizontal position on a test rig. The ignition source is placed on top of the specimen. The determination of the ignitability is carried out using smouldering and flaming ignition sources. A smoulderable insulation of cotton-wool pad on a smouldering cigarette is used as a smouldering ignition source, which is intended to simulate possible smoulderable materials used in bedding. The flaming ignition source is a small propane flame. The ignition of the specimen in progressive smouldering or flaming is observed.

5.2 Apparatus and material

 The following equipment and material are necessary for the test:

  • .1 the test rig for support of the specimen is shown in figure 1. The stand is made of angle iron with nominal dimensions 25 mm x 25 mm x 3 mm. On top of the stand is a platform of wire mesh with openings of nominal dimensions 100 mm x 50 mm;

  • .2 mineral wool with a nominal density of 60 kg/m3 and with dimensions 450 mm x 350 mm x 50 mm;

  • .3 stop clock;

  • .4 test enclosure, being either a room with a volume greater than 20 m3 (which contains adequate oxygen for testing), or a smaller enclosure with a through flow of air. Inlet and extraction systems providing air speed of 0.02 m/s to 0.2 m/s in the locality of the rig provide adequate oxygen without disturbing the burning behaviour;

  • .5 ignition sources: the sequent ignition sources used are a smouldering cigarette covered with a cotton-wool pad and an open flame;

  • .6 cigarettes: for the tests, cigarettes with the following specifications shall be used:

    length 70 ± 4 mm
    diameter 8 ± 0.5 mm
    mass 0.95 ± 0.15 g
    smouldering rate 11 ± 4.0 min/50 mm

  • The smouldering rate shall be verified for every carton of 20 cigarettes as follows:

  • The cigarettes are conditioned as described below under paragraph 7. One cigarette is marked at distances 5 mm and 55 mm from one end. The cigarette is ignited at the end with the 5 mm distance marking, and the air is drawn through the cigarette until a clear glow is observed, but not further than on to the 5 mm marking, thereafter the cigarette is impaled horizontally on a wire spike inserted not more than 13 mm into the unlit end. The time is recorded for the smouldering from the 5 mm to the 55 mm marks;

  • .7 cotton-wool pad: the cigarette shall be covered with a pad of cotton wool of nominal dimensions 150 mm x 150 mm x 25 mm and of weight 20 ± 6.5 g. The cotton wool shall consist of new, undyed and soft fibres without any admixtures or artificial fibres, and it shall be free from thread, leaf and shell fibre dusts. A suitable material for this purpose is packaged in the form of rolls for surgical use. The piece shall be unwrapped from the roll as a single layer 25 mm to 30 mm thick, cut to plan size, then reduced to the correct mass and thickness by removal of loose fibres from the top; and

  • .8 flame: the burner is a tube of stainless steel with internal diameter 6.5 ± 0.1 mm, outside diameter 8 ± 0.1 mm and length 200 ± 5 mm. The fuel shall be propane gas of 95% purity. Fuel supply rate: 6.38 ± 0.25 g/hour at 20°C.

6 Preparation of Specimen

 If the blankets, quilts, pillows, thin light mattresses or removable covers are sold as flame retardant, they shall be tested after three cleaning treatments carried out according to one of the following as determined by the Administration:

  • .1 instructions given by the manufacturer;

  • .2 a procedure described in standard ISO 6330; or

  • .3 the commercial detergent.

7 Conditioning

 The materials to be tested, the cigarettes used as ignition sources and the insulating cotton-wool pads shall be conditioned immediately before testing for 72 h in indoor ambient conditions and then for at least 16 h in an atmosphere having a temperature of 23 ± 2°C and 50 ± 5% relative humidity.

8 Test Procedures

 The test is carried out indoors, in an environment essentially free of air currents. The room temperature shall be 20 ± 5°C and 20 to 70% relative humidity. The mattress specimen is placed directly on the test rig. The blanket, pillow, quilt or thin, light mattress specimen is placed on the mineral wool which is laid on the test rig. The ignition source is placed on top of the specimen. The time is measured from the moment the ignition source is placed on the specimen. The test duration is 1 h from the moment the ignition source is placed on the specimen.

8.1 Testing with smouldering ignition sources

 The cigarette is lighted and air is drawn through the cigarette until it glows brightly. Not less than 5 mm and not more than 8 mm of the cigarette shall be consumed in this operation. The cigarette is placed on the specimen at a distance of at least 100 mm from the nearest edge of the specimen or from marks left by any previous test. The cotton-wool pad is placed centrally on the cigarette, and the clock is started. The progress of combustion is observed and any evidence of progressive smouldering ignition (see paragraph 10.1) or of flaming ignition (see paragraph 10.2) of the specimen is recorded. Two separate tests are carried out with the cigarette covered with the cotton-wool pad. On specimens with stitching, one test is carried out with the cigarette placed along a stitching, and one test is carried out with the cigarette placed on a smooth surface if possible.

8.2 Testing with flame as ignition source

 The gas is ignited and the gas flow adjusted to the rate indicated in paragraph 5.2.8. The flow is allowed to stabilize for at least 120 s. The burner is placed horizontally on the specimen at a distance of at least 100 mm from any edge of the specimen and not less than 50 mm from any marks left from previous tests. The specimen shall be exposed to the ignition flame for 20 s. The exposure is terminated by carefully removing the burner from the specimen. The progress of combustion is observed and any evidence of progressive smouldering ignition (see paragraph 10.1) or of flaming ignition (see paragraph 10.2) of the specimen is recorded. Two separate tests are carried out. On specimens with stitching, one test is carried out with the burner placed along a stitching, and one test is carried out with the burner placed on a smooth surface if possible.

9 Expression of Test Results

  9.1 All time observations are expressed in minutes and seconds elapsed from the start of the test. The test results include:

  • .1 the behaviour of the specimen during and immediately after the specified test period;

  • .2 flames or detectable amounts of smoke, heat or glowing during and immediately after the specified test period; and

  • .3 damages to the specimen after the test is finished, measured in millimetres.

  9.2 The results obtained from each individual test shall be reported separately.

10 Criteria for Ignitability

10.1 Progressive smouldering

 For the purpose of this test method, all the types of behaviour described below in subparagraphs .1 to .5 are considered to be progressive smouldering ignition:

  • .1 any test specimen that produces externally detectable amounts of smoke, heat or glowing after a period of 1 h following the application of the ignition source;

  • .2 any test specimen that displays escalating combustion behaviour so that it is unsafe to continue the test and requires forcible extinction;

  • .3 any test specimen that smoulders until it is essentially consumed within the duration of the test;

  • .4 any test specimen that smoulders to the extremities of the specimen, viz. to either side or to the full thickness of the specimen, within the duration of the test. However, all materials having a thickness of 25 mm or less, such as thin, light mattresses, quilts or blankets are allowed to smoulder to the full thickness of the specimen; and

  • .5 any test specimen that, on final examination, shows evidence of smouldering other than discoloration more than 25 mm in any horizontal direction from the nearest part of the original position of the edge of the cotton-wool pad and open flame ignition source.

10.2 Flaming ignition

  10.2.1 Mattresses

 For the purpose of this test method, all the types of behaviour described below in subparagraphs .1 to .5 are considered to be flaming ignition:

  • .1 the occurrence of any flames initiated by a smouldering ignition source;

  • .2 any test specimen that continues to flame for more than 150 s after removal of the igniting flame;

  • .3 any test specimen that displays escalating combustion behaviour, so that it is unsafe to continue the test and requires forcible extinction;

  • .4 any test specimen that burns until more than 66% consumed within 150 s after removal of the igniting flame; and

  • .5 any test specimen that burns to the extremities of the specimen, viz. to either side or to the full thickness of the specimen, within the duration of the test.

  10.2.2 Blankets, quilts, pillows and thin, light mattresses

 For the purpose of this test method, all the types of behaviour described below in subparagraphs .1 to .5 are considered to be flaming ignition:

  • .1 the occurrence of any flames initiated by a smouldering ignition source;

  • .2 any test specimen that continues to flame for more than 150 s after removal of the igniting flame;

  • .3 any test specimen that displays escalating combustion behaviour, so that it is unsafe to continue the test and requires forcible extinction;

  • .4 any test specimen that burns until more than 66% consumed within 150 s after removal of the igniting flame; and

  • .5 any test specimen that burns to either side of the specimen within the duration of the test.

10.3 Classification

 The bedding component is classified as not readily ignitable if it shows no progressive smouldering ignition or flaming ignition as specified in paragraphs 10.1 and 10.2.

11 Test Report

 The test report shall include the following information as a minimum. A clear distinction shall be made between the data provided by the sponsor and data determined by the test:

  • .1 reference that the test was carried out in accordance with part 9 of the 2010 FTP Code (see also subparagraph .2);

  • .2 any deviations from the test method;

  • .3 name and address of the testing laboratory;

  • .4 date and identification number of the report;

  • .5 name and address of the sponsor;

  • .6 name and address of the manufacturer/supplier, if known;

  • .7 type of the material, i.e. mattress, blankets, quilts, pillows, thin, light mattresses or removable covers, etc.;

  • .8 name and/or identification of the product tested;

  • .9 description of the sampling procedure, where relevant;

  • .10 description of the product tested including, as applicable:

    • .1 fabric:

      • .1 material: materials such as wool, nylon, polyester, etc., and its composite ratio;

      • .2 composition of weave: such as plain, weave, twilled;

      • .3 density (number/inch): the number of threads per inch in both warp and weft;

      • .4 yarn number count;

      • .5 thickness of the fabric in mm;

      • .6 mass: weight per unit area (g/mm2);

      • .7 colour and tone: if the product has a pattern, the representative colour shall be described; and

      • .8 fire-retardant treatment;

    • .2 fillings:

      • .1 material (name of the manufacturer, type designation);

      • .2 density: weight per unit volume (kg/m3) and for products where thickness is difficult to measure exactly, square density (g/m2); and

      • .3 fire-retardant treatment, if any;

  • .11 description of the specimen including dimensions and mass of the fabric and the fillings, colour, orientation of the fabric;

  • .12 date of sample arrival;

  • .13 details of specimen conditioning including type of cleaning and weathering procedures used and information of the detergent used, if applicable;

  • .14 date of test;

  • .15 test results including:

    • .1 dimensions and mass of cigarette used;

    • .2 smouldering rate of the cigarette used;

    • .3 extent of damage (burning and/or char) of specimen measured from the ignition source;

    • .4 occurrence of progressive smouldering; and

    • .5 occurrence of flaming ignition;

  • .16 observations made during the test;

  • .17 determination whether the tested material meets the performance criteria in paragraph 3 of this part; and

  • .18 the statement:

  • "The test results relate to the behaviour of the test specimens of a product under the particular conditions of the test; they are not intended to be the sole criterion for assessing the potential fire hazard of the product in use.".

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