Flammability Tests of Full-Scale Mattresses: Gas Burners Versus Burning Bedclothes.
Flammability Tests of Full-Scale Mattresses: Gas Burners
Versus Burning Bedclothes.
(1847 K)
Ohlemiller, T. J.
NISTIR 7006; 27 p. July 2003.
Available from:
: National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
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Order number: PB2003-106498
Keywords:
mattresses; flammability tests; gas burners; combustion;
beds (furniture); bedding; heat release rate; test
methods
Abstract:
Six mattress and foundation designs were subjected to
two modes of ignition: the NIST dual gas burners and
burning bedclothes. All of the designs represent
substantial reductions in flammability compared to
current residential designs but they nevertheless
covered a wide range of performance, as measured by peak
heat release rate and time to that peak. Variability of
the fire behavior of some designs (in triplicate gas
burner tests) made comparisons with the burning
bedclothes results more difficult, however, a reasonable
correlation was found between the two methods when worst
case behavior was compared. Relatively late developing
hazards of some otherwise well performing mattress
designs would not be observed if the 1 h gas burner test
duration were shortened, a degree-of-safety-improvement
decision for regulatory authorities. Persistent crevice
flames were a clear contributor to the failures seen in
some of the tests (both with gas burners and
bedclothes). Data are now available on crevice flame
duration and heat flux so as to permit simulation of
this exposure as part of the proposed CPSC bench-scale
screening protocol.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899