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contains the text of the Flammable Fabrics Act of 1953, as amended in 1954.

AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1191-1204, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A-The Standard

AUTHORITY: Sec. 5, Pub. L. 83-88, 67 Stat. 112, as amended, 68 Stat. 770 (15 U.S.C. 1193); sec. 11, Pub. L. 90-189, 81 Stat. 568.

NOTE: All fabrics of natural or regenerated cellulose, as well as certain types of finished and unfinished fabrics made from other natural or synthetic fibers, are combustible. Some combustible fabrics, when used for clothing, are potentially dangerous to the wearer because of the speed and intensity of flame with which those fabrics burn and their ease of ignition, and because of the design of the garment. Two of these factors, the ease of ignition and the speed of flame spread, can be measured with the instrument described herein.

It is suggested that measurement of these two factors, together with visual observation of flame intensity, will permit the separation of various fabrics into three classes of flammability, thus assisting in a judgment of fabric suitability for clothing.

§ 1610.1 Purpose.

The purpose of this standard is to reduce danger of injury and loss of life by providing, on a national basis, standard methods of testing and rating the flammability of textiles and textile products for clothing use, thereby discouraging the use of any dangerously flammable clothing textiles.

§ 1610.2 Scope.

(a) The standard provides methods of testing the flammability of clothing and textiles intended to be used for clothing, 1,a,b establishes three classes of flammability, sets forth the requirements which textiles shall meet to be so classified, and warns against the use

1 Hereinafter, "clothing and textiles intended to be used for clothing" shall be referred to as "textiles."

a All the numbered footnotes are from the original printing by the Department of Commerce. All the lettered footnotes are new.

b Refer to sections 2 and 4 of the Flammable Fabrics Act of 1953, as amended in 1954, set out at 16 CFR part 1609, for the scope of the Standard.

of those textiles which have burning characteristics unsuitable for clothing. (b) Specific exceptions— This standard shall not apply to:

(1) Hats, gloves, and footwear.c (2) Interlining fabrics. 2

§ 1610.3 Requirements.

(a)(1) Normal flammability, Class 1. This class shall include textiles which meet the minimum requirements set forth in paragraph (a)(1)(i) or paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section. Textiles meeting these requirements are generally accepted by the trade as having no unusual burning characteristics.

(i) Textile without nap, pile, tufting, flock, or other type of raised-fiber surface. Such textiles in their original state and/or after being dry-cleaned and washed as described in §§ 1610.4(d) and 1610.4(e), when tested as described in §1610.4 shall be classified as Class 1, normal flammability, when the time of flame spread is 4 seconds or more.

(ii) Napped, pile, tufted, flocked, or other textiles having a raised-fiber surface. Such textiles in their original state and/or after being dry-cleaned and washed as described in §§ 1610.4(d) and 1610.4(e), when tested as described in § 1610.4, shall be classified as Class 1, normal flammability, when the time of flame spread is more than 7 seconds, or when they burn with a rapid surface flash (from 0 to 7 seconds), provided the intensity of the flame is so low as not to ignite or fuse the base fabric.

(2) Intermediate flammability, Class 2. This class shall include textiles which meet the minimum requirements set

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forth in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section. Textiles meeting these requirements are recognized by the trade as having flammability characteristics between normal and rapid and intense burning.

(i) Napped, pile, tufted, flocked, or other textiles having a raised-fiber surface. Such textiles in their original state and/or after being dry-cleaned and washed as described in §§ 1610.4(d) and 1610.4(e), when tested as described in § 1610.4, shall be classified as Class 2, intermediate flammability, when the time of flame spread is from 4 to 7 seconds, both inclusive, and the base fabric ignites or fuses.

(3) Rapid and intense burning, Class 3. This class shall include textiles which have burning characteristics as described in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) and (a)(3)(ii) of this section. Such textiles are considered dangerously flammable and recognized by the trade as being unsuitable for clothing because of their rapid and intense burning.

(i) Textiles free from nap, pile, tufting, flock, or other type of raised-fiber surface. Such textiles in their original state and/or after being dry-cleaned and washed as described in §§ 1610.4(d) and 1610.4(e), when tested as described in § 1610.4, shall be classified as Class 3, rapid and intense burning, when the time of flame spread is less than 4 seconds.e

(ii) Napped, pile, tufted, flocked, or other textiles having a raised-fiber surface. Such textiles in their original state and/or after being dry-cleaned and washed as described in §§ 1610.4(d) and 1610.4(e) when tested as described in §1610.4 shall be classified as Class 3, rapid and intense burning, when the time of flame spread is less than 4 seconds and when the intensity of flame is such as to ignite or fuse the base fabric.

§ 1610.4 Methods of test.

(a)(1) Number and size of specimens required. Five specimens, each measuring 2 by 6 inches, are required for each test.

(2) For textiles without a raised-fiber surface the long dimension shall be that in which they burn most rapidly,

e See footnote d.

and the more rapidly burning surface shall be tested. To establish the long dimension and the surface, preliminary tests are made as described in paragraph (g) of this section, with specimens cut in different directions.

(3) For textiles having a raised-fiber surface, the direction of the lay of the surface fibers shall be parallel with the long dimension of the specimens. For this type of textiles with varying depths of pile, tufting, etc., the specimens are taken from that part and tested on that surface which has the fastest rate of burning.

(4) If the specimens in the preliminary test, when tested as described in paragraph (g) of this section, do not ignite or are very slow burning, or should have a fire-retarding finish, a swatch large enough to provide the specimens required for the test, with allowance for shrinkage in dry cleaning and washing, is subjected to the dry cleaning and washing procedures described in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section. The specimens for the flammability test are then taken from it.

(5) The specimens required for testing, each 2 by 6 inches, are marked out on the back (or under side) of each sample with the long dimension in the direction in which burning is most rapid, as established in the preliminary trials. The end of the specimen toward which and on the face of which burning is most rapid is identified by attaching a staple to it. The specimens are then cut out.

STAPLE

DIRECTION IN WHICH FABRIC BURNS MOST RAPIDLY

FIGURE 1-Specimen showing staple.

(b) Flammability tester. The flammability tester consists of a draft-proof ventilated chamber enclosing a standardized ignition medium, sample rack, and automatic timing device.

(1) Draft-proof chamber with vented top (A, fig. 2). This metal chamber prevents air circulation around the specimen rack and flame, but permits free ventilation for rapid oxidation. The chamber is 141⁄2 inches wide, 81⁄2 inches deep,

and 14 inches high. There are 12 halfinch holes equidistant along the rear of the top closure. A ventilating strip is provided at the base of the sliding glass door in the front of the apparatus.

(2) Specimen rack (B, fig. 2). The specimen rack provides supports for the frames in which the specimens are mounted. The angle of inclination is 45°. Two guide pins projecting downward from the center of the base of the rack travel in slots provided in the floor of the chamber so that adjustment can be made for the thickness of the specimen in relation to the flame front. A stop is provided in the base of the chamber to assist in adjusting the position of the rack.

(3) Specimen holder (C, fig. 2). The specimen holder consists of two 16 inch matched metal plates with clamps mounted along the sides, between which the specimen is fixed. The plates are slotted and loosely pinned for alignment. The two plates of the holder cover all but 11⁄2 inches of the width of the specimen for its full length. The specimen holder is supported in the draft-proof chamber on the rack at an angle of 45°. Five specimen holders are provided.

(4) Indicating finger (D, fig. 2). The forepart of this finger touches the specimen when the rack is adjusted. By means of this finger the thickness of the specimen is compensated for in the throw of the gas nozzle.

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test specimen. The stop cord consists of a No. 50 mercerized sewing thread and measures the rise and spread of the flame from the test specimen.

(8) Pulley or eye (Gs, fig. 2). The pulley or eye is the support and guide for the stop cord.

(9) Stop weight (H, fig. 2). The weight, attached by means of a clip to the stop cord, in dropping actuates the stop motion.

(10) Slide door control (I, fig. 2). This knob moves the catch mechanism used to hold the sliding door in an open position for insertion of test specimen racks.

(11) Slide door (J, fig. 2). A glass door in its normal position slides in the grooves at the front of the cabinet.

(12) Fuel-control valve (K, fig. 2). This valve consists of a sensitive control device for regulating the fuel supply at the tank. The valve ends in a 11⁄2-inch male connection for attachment to the standard butane tank of 2 pounds capacity.

(13) Flow meter (L, fig. 2). A flow meter is used to bring the fuel supply to test level by means of the control valve. The flow meter consists of a Ushaped glass tube cut into the gas line in a manner to register the gas pressure delivered to the microburner. Attached to the case wall behind the flow meter is a movable metal plate with two parallel horizontal lines properly spaced for the desired flame length. When the pressure is off, the plate is so regulated that the liquid level in both sides of the U-shaped tube meets the lower line. When the test is made the pressure is so adjusted that the higher liquid level in the U-shaped tube meets the upper line.

Other guides are specifically identified as the skyhook (G1), the L-shaped guides (G2, Gз) and a pigtail guide (G). See § 1610.61(c)(1) for a clarification of the stop cord position.

(14) Butane, c.p., container1 (M, fig. 2). This fuel supply is a No. 4 cylinder of c.p. butane.

(15) Stopwatch and timing mechanism (N, fig. 2). This watch, by means of special attachments, is actuated to a start by connection with the gas jet (E, fig. 2). A driving mechanism on rear of cabinet (S, fig. 2) moves the gas jet to its most forward position and automatically starts the timing at the moment of flame impact. The falling weight (H, fig. 2), when caused to move by severance of cord (F, fig. 2), stops the watch. Timing is read directly.

(16) Starting lever (O, fig. 2). This lever is operated from left to right in one stroke and is released to operate the gas jet.

(17) Cord supply (P, fig. 2). This supply, consisting of a spool of No. 50 mercerized cotton sewing thread, is fastened to the side of the chamber and can be withdrawn by releasing the thumbscrew holding same in position.

(18) Cord loop (G4, fig. 2). At a point behind the stop cord (F, fig. 2), on the rear panel, there is installed another loop to draw the cord away from directly over the flame.

(19) Draft ventilator strip (Q, fig. 2). A draft ventilator strip is placed across the front opening, sealing the space between the sliding door when in lowered position and the base on which the grid rack is attached.

(c) Brushing device.h (1) This device consists of a baseboard over which a smaller carriage is drawn. This carriage runs on parallel tracks attached to the edges of the upper surface of the baseboard. The brush is hinged with pin hinges at the rear edge of the baseboard and rests on the carriage vertically with a pressure of 150 grams.

4 Butane, c.p. No. 4 cylinders containing 2 pounds of butane may be obtained from, among others, the Matheson Co., Inc., East Rutherford, N.J.

h See § 1610.61(c)(2) for a clarification of the brushing technique for fabric with raisedfiber surfaces.

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