Fire Codes
Please check with your local fire marshall if needed, for your specific fire code needs
Fabric Fire Codes
UFAC Upholstered Furniture Action Council
This test is often referred to as the Cigarette Test because the purpose is to
classify the fabric on it’s propensity to resist cigarette ignition when tested
in combination with a standard foam cushion material. The candidate fabric is
used to cover small pieces of a standard foam cushioning material. The test
pieces (fabric over the foam) are placed on a small test rig, simulating a
chair back and seat. A lighted cigarette is placed in the crevice where the
back and the seat of the chair meet. To intensify the heat, the cigarette is
covered by a piece of cotton sheeting fabric. This test records the extent of
the vertical burning (char length) on the back section of the seat assembly and
whether or not ignition occurred.
Call 117 California Technical Bulletin 117 Section E (CS191-53)
The California Technical Bulletin 117, Section E requires testing in accordance
with the same procedure as CS 191-53. Using this method, a 2″ X 6″
specimen is placed into the tester situated at a 45 degree angle. The surface
of the test specimen is touched by a 5/8″ long pencil-thin flame for a
period of 1 second. The rating criteria is either “Pass” (did not ignite) or
“Fail” (ignites).
NFPA 260
Standard Methods of Tests and Classification System for Cigarette Ignition
Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture
NFPA 701 Small Scale Standard For Flame Tests Of Textiles
Draperies, blankets, bedspreads, quilts, mattress ticking, sheets, upholstery
fabrics, wall hangings, outside coverings. This recently revised test places
the fabric specimen in a vertical position while a test flame is held to the
lower edge for 12 seconds before the flame is removed. The test requires that
any after-flame must be extinguished within 2 seconds of the removal of the
test flame, that no flaming drippings touch the test chamber floor, and that
the char length be limited according to the weight of the fabric.
NFPA 701 Vertical Burn
12 second ignition, sample size 3 1/2″ X 10″, maximum flame time 2
seconds, maximum burn length specified, no drop to floor.
Foam Fire Codes
CAL 117 California Technical Bulletin 117, Section E (CS 191-53)
This test is conducted under specific laboratory conditions. The result cannot
be used as a demonstration of the performance of furnishings containing
California 117 foam in flammability tests nor in actual fire conditions. Foam
is tested without any contaminates, including adhesives. It is important to
note that all flexible polyurethane foams will burn if exposed to a
sufficiently intense heat source. Some of the combustion characteristics of
flexible polyurethane foams can be altered by varying formulations and
including flame retardants and other additives in production. However, all
flexible polyurethane foams, whether they contain flame retardants or not
should be considered and handled accordingly
Miscellaneous Fire Codes
FAR 25.853 (b)
Aircraft: floor covering, draperies, seat cushions, upholstery, padding, decorative,
and non-decorative coated fabrics, etc
MVSS #302 Motor Vehicle Standard
This protocol currently is in use by the automotive industry for fabrics used
in vehicles. The fabric is placed in a horizontal position and allows the
test flame to burn at one end. As the fabric burns away from the test flame it
is gradually relieved of the heat and combustion front until within a distance
of 1 1/2″ from the flame. The test measures flame spread from a point 1
1/2″ from the flame to 11 1/2″ from the flame. Any flame spread that
is 4″ per minute or less is acceptable.
MVSS #302 Horizontal Burn
Sample size 4″ X 14″, maximum 4″ per minute burn rate.