MATTRESS TESTING Chilworth Pacific Fire Laboratories, Inc. has extensive laboratory facilities and expertise for the testing of mattresses according to the new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved open-flame standard recently published as 16 CFR 1633. The standard is modeled on the TB 603 standard that was adopted in California in 2005. This new standard establishes performance requirements based on research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Mattresses and mattress and foundation sets that comply with the requirements will generate a smaller size fire with a slower growth rate, thus reducing the possibility of flashover occurring. These improved mattresses should result in significant reductions in deaths and injuries associated with the risk of mattress fires. Applicability The new 16 CFR 1633 standard will apply to all mattresses sold in the United States that are manufactured in the United States or imported into the United States on - or after - July 1, 2007. Test Method The test method is a full-scale test based on NIST research. The mattress specimen (a mattress alone or mattress and foundation set) is exposed to a pair of T-shaped propane burners and allowed to burn freely for a period of 30 minutes. The burners are designed to simulate burning bedclothes. The burners impose a specified heat flux simultaneously to the top and side of the mattress set for a specified period of time (70 seconds for the top burner and 50 seconds for the side burner). Measurements are taken of the heat release rate from the specimen and energy generated from the fire. The standard establishes two test criteria, both of which the mattress set must meet in order to comply with the standard: The peak heat release rate for the mattress set must not exceed 200 kW at any time during the 30 minute test, and The total heat released must not exceed 15 MJ for the first 10 minutes of the test. The standard requires, with certain exceptions, that mattress manufacturers have three specimens of each prototype tested before introducing a mattress or mattress set into commerce. Mattress sets produced based on the prototype mattress must be the same as the prototype with respect to materials, components, design, and method of assembly. We recommend that the mattress manufacturers study the new standard carefully in preparation for prototype development and testing and/or contact us for further information. Chilworth Pacific staff has over 20 years of heat release and mattress testing experience and is totally familiar with the mattress test method(s) at the California Bureau of Home Furnishings laboratory. Our large calorimeter can accommodate mattresses of all sizes. It can also handle large furnishing fires, which might be of interest in the period of the prototype development testing/studies. Chilworth Pacific Fire Laboratories Our state-of-the-art fire testing laboratories provide almost all fire parameters that might be required for the evaluation of a product or fire simulation. These include: Standard Testing Furniture Fire Tests Standard Method Description 16 CFR 1632 Flammability of Mattresses & Mattress Pads ASTM E 1352 Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Assemblies ASTM E 1353 Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture ASTM E 1537 Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture ASTM E 1590 Fire Testing of Mattresses ASTM E 1822 Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs CAL 129 Flammability Test Procedure for Mattresses for use in Public Buildings CAL 133 Flammability Test Procedure for Seating Furniture for Use in Public Occupancies Intermediate-Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) Intermediate-Scale Test (ICAL) ASTM E1623 - Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, products, and systems using an Intermediate-Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) Room Fire Tests Standard Method Description ISO 9705 Room Corner Test ASTM E 2257 Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies UBC 26-3 Room Fire Test Standard for Interior of Foam Plastic Systems UBC 8-2 Standard Test Method for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Wall Covering NFPA 286 Standard Test Method for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth Mannequin Burn Tests of Clothing
Chilworth Pacific Fire Laboratories, Inc. 2401 B Talley Way, Kelso, WA 98626, USA. Tel: 360-423-1220 · Fax: 360-578-7662 · Email: fire@chilworthpacific.com Privacy Policy Site designed by Vis-Com, Inc.