Flame resist finishes testing

The Fire Tests for Flame Resistant Textiles and Films, issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ia 1989, is the method most used by iadustrial fire-retardant finishers (ca 1993) (50). It has been approved by the American National Standards Institute. 

Many tests have been devised to evaluate the fire and flame resistance of surface-treated acoustical fiberboard. The most widely accepted test, recognized by both the building industry and the building code agencies, is the fire-resistance test specified in federal specification (3). Other tests under consideration, but not universally adopted, are the tunnel test of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (11), and the Factory Mutual room burn out test (2). A small scale test that is being employed for plant control and quick finish evaluation is the Class F fire test (12). 

The main durable FR finishes used on cotton to meet more severe open-flame resistance requirements are phosphorus based [343,358]. One of the problems with typical phosphorus-based FR treatments on fleece, which only requires a mild treatment to pass the 45° angle test, is that the often-required levels alter the esthetic properties of the fleece, resulting in a fabric that is stiff or matted and often has unpleasant odors. Most common types of dyes used on cotton are affected by pH or oxidation-reduction procedures that are used during the FR treatments. 

Fabrics should be tested after a defined wash or durability test which, in the case of Part 7, for fabrics treated with a flame retardant, is a single specified wash cycle. Only so-called durable flame retardant finishes as described in Chapter 8 will pass such a wash cycle since semi-durable treatments are usually only resistant to dry cleaning or simple water soak tests specified in BS 5651 1989, for example. Fabrics containing inherently flame retardant fibres such as Hi-modified polyester (e.g. Trevira CS ), polyacrylics (e.g. modacryUcs such as Kanekaron ), and polypropylene do not require a prewash treatment prior to testing. 

A related methylphosphate/phosphonate oligomer has primary alcohol end groups, and can coreact with amino resins to form a water-resistant flame retardant resin finish on paper or on textile substrates. The application of this oligomer with a coreactant methylolmelamine on cotton upholstery fabric can enable furniture covered with this fabric to pass the Consumer Product Safety Commission s proposed cigarette ignition test. 

This test is intended for materials used in the construction and finishing of buildings or structures. It is also specified where fire resistant elements are used to limit flame penetration such as in bulkheads and partitions in ships. 

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