- Author
- Buchbinder, L. B.
- Title
- Relationship of Garment Characteristics and Other Variables to Fire Injury Severity. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Cotton Foundation, Memphis, TN
- Report
- NBS TN 867, June 1975, 41 p.
- Distribution
- Available from Government Printing Office Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- garments | burns (injuries) | FFACTS | fires | flammable fabrics | flammable liquids
- Abstract
- This final report on an in-depth study of apparel fire accident variables focuses on the physical parameters of fabrics and garments involved in apparel fires and the relationship between these parameters and injury severity. Interactions between accident variables are summarized and recommendations for remedial action and further research are included. Garments involved in apparel fire accidents were classified by degree of fit and amount of the body covered. Fires in which the garment configurations involved covered over half the body (the dress/shift and pants/top configurations) were shown to be associated with more extensive burn injuries than fires involving configurations covering smaller areas (loose tops, fitted pants, and loose pants). Degree of fit could not be shown to be directly related to injury severity. Within garment configurations classifications, age was shown to be a major determinant of injury severity, with victims over 65 years of age receiving a signficantly higher precentage of severe burns than those in the 21-65 age group. In accidents involving loose tops, fitted pants, and loose pants the presence of flammable liquids in the accident sequence appeared to be the dominant factor in determining injury level. In addition, when accidents involved flammable liquids, (1) the fabrics involved tended to be heavier, (2) the fit of the garment at point of ignition was closer, and (3) the proportion of cellulosic/synthetic blend and 100% synthetic fabrics was higher than in accidents which did not involve flammable liquids. Because of the many human and physical variables shown to be associated with an apparel fire accident, the author suggests a broad fire prevention program which includes both product regulation and public education.