Guide to Global Textile Flammability Regulations and Test Methods
Flammability regulations for textiles vary across the globe, creating challenges for textile companies, particularly those selling in multiple regions. This article will give you a clear overview of the main regulations and standards covering textile flammability in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. You’ll learn which rules apply to your products and what steps you need to take to meet compliance.
Textile Flammability Regulations and Standards in Key Markets
Flammability standards for textiles vary significantly between regions, with each market enforcing its own set of requirements. These requirements are designed to ensure product safety, but the differences in regulatory requirements across markets can create challenges for businesses operating internationally.
In many cases, regulations dictate the need for specific flammability tests, often referred to as “standards,” to determine whether a textile product meets safety thresholds. These testing standards provide a measurable way to classify textiles based on their risk of ignition and flammability speed. Understanding both the regulations and their related testing standards is crucial for ensuring that your products comply with the rules in each market.
While this article highlights key flammability regulations and standards across major markets, it is not an exhaustive list. We recommend checking for additional local or industry-specific requirements that may apply to your textiles. QIMA experts can help you determine which tests you need based on your materials and destination market.
United States
The United States has some of the strictest flammability standards for textiles, primarily enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Key requirements address clothing, children’s sleepwear, and toys, with specific regulations determining which products can be legally sold in the market.
Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)
Scope: The FFA applies to textiles and garments intended for consumer use, particularly clothing, children’s sleepwear, and interior furnishings, to protect against the risk of fire-related injury.
Key Requirements: Products must undergo flammability testing to ensure they meet mandatory flammability standards, as determined by the CPSC.
16 CFR 1610 - General Wearing Apparel
Scope: This standard applies to most clothing textiles sold in the U.S. However, some fabrics that have low ignition potential, such as many synthetic fibers, may be exempt from flammability testing.
Key Requirements: 16 CFR 1610 helps to classify textiles in clothing into three flammability classes based on their burn time. This standard specifies burn testing methods to classify fabrics into class 1, 2 or 3.
Class 1 textiles are considered safe and have normal flammability.
Class 2 textiles have intermediate flammability. (This class is limited to certain raised surface fabrics).
Class 3 textiles, which exhibit rapid flammability, cannot be sold in the U.S. market. This classification requirement helps ensure that highly flammable clothing stays off the shelves.
16 CFR 1615 & 1616 - Children’s Sleepwear
Scope: These standards apply to children’s sleepwear sizes ranging from 0-14 years.
Key Requirements: Flammability standards for children’s sleepwear are stricter than for general apparel, requiring more rigorous testing to prevent rapid ignition. The standards dictate specific testing methods, such as measuring "char length" after exposure to flame, both before and after 50 launderings. The sleepwear must meet strict requirements to be sold in the U.S., though there is an exemption for tight-fitting sleepwear for infants (sizes 0-9 months).
Read more about 16 CFR 1610, 1615, and 1616: Uncompromising Flammability Regulations for the U.S. Apparel Market
ASTM F963 - Toy Flammability
Scope: This standard applies to all toys, including fabric-based toys like costumes or plush toys.
Key Requirements: ASTM F963 incorporates flammability requirements, stating that all fabrics used in toys must comply with the 16 CFR 1610 standard.
Europe
The European market is governed by various flammability standards. These tests ensure the safety and standardization of fabrics used in public spaces, household items, and specialized settings like transportation.
The standards discussed below are not legislative, but may be used to ensure compliance with regulations such as the EU General Product Safety Regulation, which requires that all consumer products sold in the EU are safe.
EN 1103 - Flammability of Clothing Textiles
Scope: This European standard applies to textiles used in clothing, especially materials that come into direct contact with skin.
Key Requirements: EN 1103 specifies testing methods to measure how a fabric reacts when exposed to a flame. Fabrics are tested after both dry cleaning and washing to simulate normal wear conditions. The burn time and behavior of the fabric under these conditions are measured, ensuring that clothing textiles meet minimum safety standards in case of accidental ignition.
EN 1021 Part 1 and 2 - Upholstered Furniture Flammability
Scope: This European testing standard applies to upholstery materials used in furniture, including fabrics and fillings.
Key Requirements: EN 1021 is divided into two parts: Part 1 assesses resistance to a smoldering cigarette, and Part 2 assesses resistance to a small open flame, such as a match. The test involves placing a test specimen vertically and exposing it to the ignition sources. The fabric's reaction to these sources determines whether it passes or fails, ensuring that upholstered furniture complies with fire safety standards in both public and private settings.
Compliance with EN 1021 is mandatory in many European countries for the sale of upholstered furniture. For example, the UK, France, and Germany require furniture sold in these markets to meet the flammability requirements outlined in EN 1021.
EN 13773 - Flame Spread in Curtains and Drapes
Scope: This European standard applies to curtains, drapes, and other hanging textiles used in public spaces and private homes.
Key Requirements: EN 13773 outlines a method to measure the flame spread of vertically oriented fabric. A heat source is applied to the fabric, followed by a flame applied to a cotton piece at the bottom of the specimen. Based on the flame spread, fabrics are categorized into five classes (1-5), with Class 1 being the safest (no ignition) and Class 5 the least safe (fast flame spread).
UK: BS 5867 Part 2 Type B and C - Curtains and Drapes in Public Buildings
Scope: This UK standard applies to curtains and drapes used in public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and theaters. In the UK, testing under BS 5867 Part 2 is legally required for curtains and drapes used in public spaces such as hospitals, schools, and theaters. Fabrics used in these environments must pass these tests to ensure fire safety. Compliance may also be a requirement required under building safety codes.
Key Requirements: BS 5867 Part 2 Type B and C sets out testing methods to determine the flammability of hanging textiles. The fabrics are tested using an ignition source, and their flame spread is measured. Type B requires that the fabric withstands ignition without any flaming debris, while Type C mandates that the fabric exhibits no significant flaming after removal of the ignition source.
Asia
Asia is home to a variety of flammability regulations, with key markets like China, Japan, and Taiwan enforcing their own safety standards for textiles. These regulations ensure that products sold in these regions meet strict fire safety requirements, particularly for items used by children or in high-risk environments.
China: GB/T 14644 - Textiles: Burning Behaviour - 45° Test
Scope: This standard applies to all fabrics, defining the method to determine the flame spread rate using a 45° surface ignition test. This method is used to classify fabrics by flammability.
Key requirements: Fabrics are tested at a 45° angle to measure the flame spread time. Non-raised surface textiles are classified based on burn time, while raised surface textiles are assessed on whether the base cloth ignites, with classifications ranging from normal to medium flammability.
China: GB 6675.3-2014 - Toy Safety Standard
Scope: This Toy Safety Standard lays out flammability requirements for toys, including fabric toys like toy costumes.
Key requirements: Part 3 of this Standard establishes flammability resistance requirements for certain toys, relevant test methods, and categories of flammable materials prohibited from use in toy products. It focuses on toys with a higher risk of ignition, such as costumes, wigs, masks, and soft-filled toys, ensuring they meet safety standards before entering the market.
Japan: JIS L1091 - Flammability Testing for Textiles
Scope: This standard applies to a variety of fabric types, and specifies methods to determine their flammability under various test conditions.
Key Requirements: The fabric must be pre-treated by washing or dry cleaning five times before testing. The standard includes three main tests: the 45° burner test, 5% loose test, and 45° coil test. To pass, the afterflame must not exceed 3 seconds, afterglow must not exceed 5 seconds, and the charred area must stay within defined limits. This ensures that textiles meet minimum safety standards for flammability.
Taiwan: CNS 10285 L3196 - Flame Retardancy for Thin Materials and Textiles
Scope: This standard applies to thin building materials, thin plywood, and textile products, assessing their flame retardancy properties.
Key Requirements: The test evaluates how these materials resist ignition and flame spread under specific conditions. Like other standards described above, this CNS helps classify materials into different categories based on their flammable properties.
Other
Here are a few key examples of other textile flammability standards from around the world.
Australia and New Zealand: AS 3744.2 - Flammability of Upholstered Furniture
Scope: This standard applies to upholstered materials used in furniture, testing their resistance to ignition and smoldering when exposed to a small flame.
Key Requirements: The test involves constructing a chair from the material to be evaluated and applying a burner flame along the joint between the seat and back for 20 seconds. The behavior of both the outer fabric and interior filling is observed for smoldering or flaming. If no progressive smoldering or internal material ignition occurs within 1 hour, and the internal material remains unaffected, the fabric passes the test, ensuring it meets fire safety standards for upholstered furniture.
Canada: SOR/2016-194 - Canadian Textile Flammability Regulations
Scope: These regulations apply to both bedding and non-bedding textile products in Canada, ensuring they meet specific flammability requirements to minimize fire hazards.
Key Requirements: For non-bedding textiles, the flame spread time must exceed 3.5 seconds for non-raised fiber surfaces and 4 seconds for raised fibers. Bedding textiles must have a flame spread time of over 7 seconds. Testing follows the Canadian General Standards Board’s methods, ensuring compliance before these textiles can be sold in the Canadian market.
Canada: CAN/ULC-S109 - Flammability of Fabrics Test
Scope: This testing standard applies to fabrics and films, testing their burning behavior when exposed to low-intensity fire.
Key Requirements: The test includes both a small-flame and large-flame test. For the small flame, the fabric is exposed to a 40 mm flame for 12 seconds, with a maximum damage length of 165 mm and a maximum flaming time of 2 seconds for droplets. In the large-flame test, the fabric is exposed to a 280 mm flame for 120 seconds, with stricter limits on damage and flaming duration for folded and single-sheet fabrics.
Ensuring Flammability Compliance for Your Textiles
To ensure your textile products meet flammability standards in key markets:
Start by identifying the regulations and test methods relevant to your industry, product type, and region.
Understand the specific test methods required under each regulation and implement appropriate testing protocols, either in-house or through third-party labs.
Ensure proper documentation and certification are in place to demonstrate compliance. Some regulations, such as US flammability regulations under the CPSC, may require specific documentation demonstrating conformity.
QIMA provides comprehensive flammability testing services around the globe. We can help you determine the most important tests for your specific textile product types and destination market. Ensure the safety and compliance of your textiles with our regulatory and testing expertise. Learn more about our textile testing services or contact us today to book a test.
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