- Author
- Villa, K. M. | Krasny, J. F.
- Title
- Flammability Tests for Industrial Fabrics: Relevance and Limitations.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Industrial Fabrics Association International. Textile Technology '88. 76th Annual IFAI Convention. November 9-12, 1988, Industrial Fabrics Assoc. Intl., St. Paul, MN, Chicago, IL, 119-134 p., 1988
- Keywords
- textiles | flammability tests | fabrics | tents | self-extinguishment | test methods | inflatable structures | inflatable materials | thermoplastic fabrics
- Identifiers
- outdoor equipment
- Abstract
- Flammability tests applicable to industrial fabrics, including tents and other outdoor equipment, inflatable structures, etc., are discussed briefly. These tests were designed to assure self-extinguishment after exposure to small flames. The specimens are generally held vertically in a U-shaped steel frame and ignited at the bottom. Most of these tests were developed when only char-forming materials like flame retardant cotton were available. The criteria chosen for the tests were char length, and afterflame and afterglow time. The applicability of these tests and criteria to both char-forming and thermoplastic fabrics is critically reviewed.