Standards, flammability

Nonwoven products ranging from medical disposables to automotive fabrics are required to meet specific flammability standards. These fabrics are generally composed of cellulosic and/or synthetic fibers which are flammable. Additionally, polymer coatings are applied to the fabric to impart properties such as strength, abrasion resistance and overall binding. It is the purpose of this paper to describe the various polymer coatings commonly used in the nonwovens industry and their effect on flammability of the substrates. Additionally, the effect of flame retardant additives, commonly used in latex formulations, will be discussed. 

Administration, Improved Flammability Standards for Materials Used in the Interiors of Transport Category Airplane Cabins Final Rule. 14 CFR Parts 25 and 121. Federal Register, 53 (165) pp. 32564-81, Aug. 25,... 

Flammable Fabrics Act, enacted in 1970 and last amended in 1983, gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission the authority to set flammability standards for fabrics that protect against an unreasonable risk of the occurrence of a fire. 

Borax pentahydrate is an effective flame retardant for wood/cellulosic materials in terms of surface flammability. However, due to the Na20 moiety, it can promote smoldering combustion in cellulose. Thus, in cellulosic material and wood products, it is commonly used in combination with boric acid, which is an effective smoldering inhibitor. For example, the treatment of wood fibers with a partially dissolved boric acid and borax pentahydrate slurry (-1.75% by wt. of boron) results in Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) that is claimed to pass the ASTM E-84 Class 1 surface flammability standard.12 The additional examples of using borax pentahydrate and boric acid combination are presented in Section 9.2.2.1. 

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Commerce promulgated Flammability Standard FF4-72. This Act requires all mattresses to pass a cigarette smoldering test. Boric acid (12-14 wt.% loading) in conjunction with a dust control agent (1 wt.% of paraffinic oil) is normally used in the cotton batting to pass the test. 

ASTM E13 21 08, Standard Test Methodfor Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties, Fire and Flammability Standards, 2008. 

Requirements for record keeping and prototype testing of mattresses for compliance with State and Federal Flammability Laws. Questions and Answers about the Amended Mattress Flammability Standard 16 CFR 1632 (FF 4-72)... 

OhlemiUer, T. and Gann, R., Estimating Reduced Fire Risk Resulting from an Improved Mattress Flammability Standard, National Institute of Standards and Technology Technical Note 1446, Boulder, CO, August, 2002. 

The CPSC staff performed quantitative risk assessments on various flame-retardants for both upholstered residential furniture fabrics and foam.89 CPSC addresses chemical hazards under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), which is risk based. For fabrics, five flame-retardants were evaluated, that include antimony trioxide, deca-BDE, HBCD, phosphonic acid, (3- [hydroxymethyl]amino)-3-oxopropyl)-, dimethyl ester (PA), and tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC). These flame-retardants were selected for study because they are used to comply with the U.K. upholstered furniture flammability standard (except THPC) and fabric samples were available for testing. The staff concluded in 2006 that deca-BDE, HBCD, and PA would not present a hazard to consumers and that additional data would be needed to assess antimony trioxide and THPC. 

Other textile products that require composite flammability testing are protective clothing assemblies for fire fighters suits, military flight suits, etc. Flammability standards and test methods for textile components in protective clothing have been discussed by Bajaj21 and Horrocks.22... 

Flammability standards for composites are beyond the scope of this chapter, but are discussed elsewhere.46... 

International flammability standards, which can be achieved by the use of halogenated phosphate esters include... 

Wakel5m, P.J., Adair, P.K., and Wolf, S., Cotton and cotton modacrylic blended batting fireblocking barriers for soft furnishings to meet federal and state flammability standards. Proceedings of the 2004 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN, 2004, pp. 2829-2842. 

Zota, A. R., Rudel, R. A., et al. (2008) Elevated house dust and serum concentrations of PBDEs in California unintended consequences of furniture flammability standards Environmental Science and Technology, 42(21) 8158-8164. 

Designed to meet applicable federal, state, local and foreign flammability standards. 

Flame retardants are added not to aid in processing, but rather to inhibit ignition or flammability of the end-use product. They are added so that the plastic is able to meet flammability standards established by either mandatory government regulations or voluntary specifications. 

Acetic acid, glacial Corrosive Flammable Standard... 

The mattress market history provides an interesting view of one industry s response to the forced introduction of a flammability standard. The message of adaptation, rather than complete change, is perhaps a preview of the future for the furniture industry. Whatever the combination of fabric and construction, industry recognizes the importance of these variables in the overall assessment of fire risk and has adapted manufacturing to reduce fire hazards. 

At first, property protection was the key concern to those studying fire hazards. However, during the past decade an emphasis shift has refocused attention to the non-structural and personal life safety parameters of fire. Many technical codes and standards reflect this significant progress of the past decade (Figure 5). This chart in 1989 would show further changes in future flammability standards. 

Vertical burner test subjects are vertically mounted over an open Bunsen burner flame to determine a material s flame propagation and self-extinguishing characteristics. The Fflfl s 14CFR 25.853(a) defines two vertical Bunsen burner flammability standards (60-sec-ond and 12-second flame applications) based on materials and end-use applications. 

Although much attention is given to flammability standards, the smoke produced by a burning plastic compound can be particularly harmful in an... 

---