- Author
- Ohlemiller, T. J.
- Title
- Assessment of a Possible Bench Scale Screening Protocol for Predicting Full-Scale Mattress Fire Behavior.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC
- Report
- NISTIR 7341, September 2006, 32 p.
- Keywords
- mattresses | fire behavior | design applications | regulations | codes | fire tests
- Identifiers
- Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1633; rationale and limitations of bench-scale mattress tests; description of the test apparatuses; component materials in SPSC mattress designs; nominal composition of CPSC mattress/foundation designs; summary of average peak HRR and time to peak in full-scale CFR 1633 tests of mattress/foundations; comparison of test results for two sampling modes; left two columns: surfaces/seams tested individually; right two columns: top/seam/side tested as unit; summary of composite bench-scale test results for D series
- 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.