Furniture flammability testing is designed to ensure that the furniture meets required standards and regulations established by many countries to help mitigate the intensity of household fires. Flammability testing focuses on checking fire resistance of furniture, cover fabrics and filling materials in accordance with international standards.
The test sample shall consist of typical seating furniture suitable for use in public occupancies, or a full-scale mock-up of the furniture. When a full-scale furniture mockup is used, the mock-up shall in all respects (including fabrics, filling materials,
combustible decorative parts and furniture style) reflect the construction of the actual furniture that it is intended to represent. See Appendix D.
Test Conditioning:
The test sample and newsprint shall be conditioned for at least 48 hours prior to testing at 70±5°F and a relative humidity of less than 55%. Test materials shall be tested within 10 minutes of removal from such conditions if test room conditions differ from the above.
Test Ignition Source:
The test ignition source shall be a square gas burner as described in Appendix C.
An ignition source of five double sheets of loosely wadded newsprint contained in an ignition box, as described in Appendix B, may be used as a screening test.
Test Procedure:
Position thermocouple in two test locations (see Figure 1 or 2):
1. Over the geometric center of the ignition source, one inch below the ceiling. This shall be designated as the ceiling thermocouple.
2. Three feet in front of the ignition source, four feet below the ceiling. This shall be designated as the 4 foot thermocouple.
Position a smoke opacity monitor in one test location (see Figure 1 or 2): Four feet above the floor level. This shall be designated as the 4-foot smoke opacity monitor.
The gas sampling line shall be positioned 6.5 inches below the ceiling and 6.5 inches from the corner (see Figure 1 or 2).
A weighing platform shall support the base of the furniture 5±2 inches above the floor. The furniture and weighing platform shall be positioned in the corner so that the furniture is no more than 10 inches from both walls. If the seating furniture is no more than 40 inches in width, refer to Figure 1. If the seating furniture is more than 40 inches, refer to Figure 2.
If the seating furniture is no more than 40 inches in width, the square gas burner shall be positioned at the center of the crevice area, 2 inches from the furniture back and 1 inch above the seat surface. (See Figures 12D and 13).
If the seating furniture is more than 40 inches in width, the square gas burner shall be positioned 5 inches from the left arm crevice or edge of the seating surface. (See Figures 12D and 14).
The gas flow through the square gas burner, described in Appendix C, shall be maintained for 80±2 seconds.
Allow combustion to continue until:
1. All combustion has ceased; or
2. 1.0 hour of testing has elapsed; or
3. Flameover or flashover appears to be inevitable.
