Assessment of a Possible Bench Scale Screening Protocol for Predicting Full-Scale Mattress Fire Behavior.
Assessment of a Possible Bench Scale Screening Protocol
for Predicting Full-Scale Mattress Fire Behavior.
(869 K)
Ohlemiller, T. J.
NISTIR 7341; 32 p. September 2006.
Sponsor:
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC
Keywords:
mattresses; fire behavior; design applications;
regulations; codes; fire tests
Abstract:
This report summarizes a study of the feasibility of
developing a bench-scale protocol for possible use in
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1633 (open flame)
compliance testing of commercial mattress designs. It
was shown that local resistance to the CFR 1633 gas
burner exposure could successfully be done in one step
with a composite consisting of a mattress top panel,
tape edge seam and side panel (or analogous components
for a foundation), rather than with separate tests for
each component. A second type of test (with a different
apparatus) is indicated for assessing resistance to
commonly encountered, persistent mattress/foundation
crevice flames which represent a different mode of
mattress design vulnerability. An apparatus for this
was developed but not systematically applied. Other
vulnerability modes may require other tests. The real
goal of bench-scale testing, faster and more economical
assessments, is thus unlikely to be achieved and the
best approach appears to be full-scale testing.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899