Vehicle Safety Standards

CAL = California MVSS = Motor Vehicle Safety Standard UL = Underwriter s Laboratory. 

Specific Tests. Federal (United States) Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (MVSS) 302 is used to measure the burning behavior of materials used in automobile interiors. A specimen is mounted horizontally and ignited for 15 seconds. The burning rate should be below 10 cm /min. The test specimen is 35.5 X 10.1 cm by the actual thickness (up to 1.3 cm). Automakers typically impose more severe criteria than the 10 cm /min in the standard. 

In vinyls, the aryl phosphates are frequently used in combinations with phthalate plastici2ers. The proportion of the more expensive phosphate is usually chosen so as to permit the product to reflably pass the flammability specifications. In plastici2ed vinyls used in automotive interiors, these phosphates are used to pass the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302. 

FMVSS. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. 

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Transportation, Chapter V, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, Part 571, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 571.301 Standard No. 301 Fuel system integrity. 

Motor vehicles Most of the passenger car interiors including car seats are made of polyester fiber (90% of the world market), and in some cases polypropylene fiber. The flammability testing of fabrics used in motor vehicles, in particular, cars are not mandatory due to the fact that fire incidents in motor vehicles are rare and, moreover, fire spreads relatively slowly. Most manufacturers test seating covers and carpets conform to the U.S. FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 302 test, which is a simple horizontal flame spread test. Other similar standards are German DIN 75 200, British, Australian BS AU 169, and Japanese JIS D 1201 automotive standards. The curtains and blinds are tested according to tests specific to them discussed earlier. 

For flexible PU foam BS4735, UL94 HF1, Italian CSE RF4, Consumer Protection Act 1988, BS5852 schedule 1, Crib 5, California Bulletin 117, Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard No. 302... 

Legal requirements. Government requirements like the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 105 and 135 in the United States and ECE R13 in Europe and South America are normally specified to cover vehicle stopping distance under cold, hot, high-speed, thermal and water fade and recovery conditions, and inoperative power assist. Additional requirements are imposed on the selection of raw materials by health, safety, and environmental regulations. These are the minimum requirements that need to be satisfied by a brake system. 

The above cited diol, when incorporated into a flexible polyurethane foam formulation at a 5.6% level (10 phr based on the polyol) produced a self-extinguishing urethane foam, based on the Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 302 Flammability Test. 

Historically, the bulk of urethanes and other plastics have been for interior seating and trim and for mechanical and electrical parts. With its first use in 1970, SMC was the major plastic used on the outside of the car. The promulgation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 215, the bumper standard, resulted in an increase in the external uses of urethanes and other plastics. This resulted in the use of various types of elastomers for bumper sight shields, fender extenders and fascia. 

The impetus for developing the RIM process for producing elastomeric fascia parts was furnished by the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 215, which went into effect in 1973. This regulation required that the front and rear ends of automobiles had to withstand a 5 mph. impact without impairment of functional parts. A more stringent regulation, Standard 581, which came into effect for all bumpers made after September 1, 1979, required that the bumper withstand the 5 mph. impact with no more than a 3/8" dent in the bumper itself. 

It is sometimes convenient to refer to fire tests for plastics, rubbers, and textiles, and while tests exist that are specifically intended for individual materials, a large number of fire tests are intended for products. For example, the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard is intended for materials used inside motor vehicles irrespective of their type. Standards directories list a considerable number of fire tests for plastics and textiles but relatively few for rubber, although in practice a number of the plastics tests are used with rubbers. 

The formulation passes the FMVSS 302 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) test used for the assessment of the burning behavior of materials used for vehicle interiors. A specimen of 35.5 X 10.0 X max. 13 cm is mounted horizontally and ignited for 15 sec. The rate of flame spread should not exceed 10 cm/min.]... 

MRB Malaysian Rubber Bureau MVSS motor vehicle safety standard... 

After the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grants a motor carrier provisional operating authority, a Mexico-domiciled motor carrier operating in the United States will be subject to an oversight program to monitor its compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs), and Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs). 

Trailers and Semitrailers Manufactured on or After January 26, 1998 — Each trailer and semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds (4,536 kg) or more must be equipped with a rear impact guard that meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 223 ( 571.223) in effect at the time the vehicle was manufactured. When the rear impact guard is installed on the trailer or semitrailer, the vehicle must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 224 ( 571.224) in effect at the time the vehicle was manufactured. 

A motor vehicle may not be operated with tires that carry a weight greater than that marked on the sidewall of the tire or, in the absence of such a marking, a weight greater than that specified for the tires in any of the publications of any of the organizations listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119 (49 CFR 571.119, S5.1(b)) unless ... 

Glazing — Glazing material used in windshields, windows, and doors on a motor vehicle manufactured on or after December 25, 1968, must at a minimum meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205 in effect on the date of manufacture of the motor vehicle. The glazing material must be marked in accordance with FMVSS No. 205 (49 CFR 571.205, S6). 

Federal motor vehicle safety standard no 320 — flammability of materials - passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses. Washington, USA US Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The only internationally used standard concerns the flammability testing of interior materials of motorcars. The US National Highway Transport Safety Administration was the first in regulating this test method when it published its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS No. 302) in 1972, which was accepted by the International Standard Organization as ISO 3795-1976 (E). 

Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302, Flammability of Materials used in the Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles, 1991. 

EMVSS Eederal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard... 

Materials in car interiors need to meet a horizontal flame spread rate of no more than 4 in/min (102 mm/min), when tested according to US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302 (FMVSS 302), however, the results of this test have been shown not to predict fire hazard. Fire fatalities in highway vehicles, although occurring in much smaller numbers than in buildings, do represent significant numbers. In 1997, there were 88 such cases in the UK and 450 in the USA. 

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