- Author
- Davis, S. | Villa, K. M.
- Title
- Development of a Multiple Layer Test Procedure for Inclusion in NFPA 701: Initial Experiments.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- American Textile Manufacturers Institute, Washington, DC American Fiber Manufacturers Association, Washington, DC Cotton Inc., Raleigh, NC Wool Bureau, Woodbury, NY
- Report
- NISTIR 89-4138, April 1989, 62 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- curtains | drapes | flammability | large scale fire tests | textiles | small scale fire tests
- Identifiers
- ASTM D3659; NFPA 701
- Abstract
- The objectives of this research program are to investigate the flammability behavior of multiple layer fabric assemblies used for draperies and to develop a laboratory-scale test protocol for predicting full-scale fire behavior. The need for such a study arose from recent findings that showed multiple layers of fabrics, comprised of individual fabrics which meet the requirements of NFPA 701, may present a serious fire hazard. Eight combinations of four drapery fabrics and two lining fabrics were examined using variants of two established test procedures for single layers: the ASTM D3659 Semi-Restraint Test Method and the NFPA 701 Large-Scale Test method. The conclusions from this study are that neither of these methods, as currently written, adequately predict the full-scale fire behavior of multiple layer fabric assemblies. Based on the results of this study, it is too early to recommend any test protocol for inclusion in NFPA 701.