DIN EN 1021 / ISO 8191 / BS5852 / Crib 5

For the furniture industry, the following standards are used when it comes to fire retardancy:

- DIN EN 1021

- ISO 8191

- BS 5852

- M2 French standard

- B1 Austrian standard

The types are described below with their corresponding meaning.

BS5852

This standard contains test methods for assessing the flammability of covers and fillings used in upholstered chairs/seats by smouldering and burning ignition sources.

BS5852; 1990. This standard was withdrawn and replaced by the DIN EN 1021 standard.

DIN EN 1021 is divided into 2 tables and are named DIN EN 1021 'part 1' and 'part 2'

The so-called "UK Fire Statistics" introduced the DIN EN 1021 standard in England in 1980. The regulation was developed for furniture that is purchased commercially and is also used as such and states that BS5852 is required on the furniture in question. The standard describes the flammability of upholstered furniture. 8 ignition sources are distinguished in this test.

DIN EN 1021-1

The BS5852 requirements are specified as follows:

- For smouldering ignition:

- Test describing the amount of observable smoke, heat or amount of smouldering after 60 minutes after ignition of the test piece

- Test describing the amount of ignition in the filling with a maximum of 100 mm in any direction.

- For burning ignition:

- Test describing the size of the flame after 10 minutes after ignition

- Test describing the vertical and horizontal ignition of the sample and the duration of the test.

BS5852:1990:Source 5 or CRIB 5 test

Test method for assessing the flammability of upholstered chairs from smouldering and flaming ignition sources.

The introduction of BS5852:1990. This document contains the test methods and flammability test requirements for upholstered furniture exposed to ignition sources 0 to 7 (see table 1 above). Source 0 is a cigarette, sources 1 to 3 are butane flames with different calorific values. Sources 4 to 7 are wooden furniture varying in weight from 8.5 grams to 126 grams. A "crib" is made of pine wood and weighs approximately 17 grams per piece. So the test is done from half a "crib". In this test a wooden furniture is lit and the flammability of the artificial leather or fabric is tested.

The procedure for the Source 5 test is different. In this case, an upholstered chair is used with the fabric stretched over the chair and foam incorporated under the fabric. The dimensions of the fabric are 1100 mm by 650 mm (LxW). Before starting the test, both the textile to be tested and the filling are maintained in a cooled environment. The events of the ignition of the source are recorded, e.g. time until ignition of the fabric, flame extinguished. When the flame has extinguished, the filling is also examined.

Pass/Fail criteria

Two principles are considered when passing or failing the test: The progressive smoulder test and ignition test.

The following results refer to failure in the smoldering test:

- The result of the test is when the smoldering escalates and needs to be extinguished

- The result of the test where the textile continues to smolder until it has completely decomposed

- The result of the test where there is an extreme amount of harmful smoke, heat or smoldering 60 minutes after ignition.

The following results refer to failure in the ignition test:

- The flame escalates to the point where it becomes unsafe to continue the test

- The result of the test where it continues to burn until the entire test piece is consumed.

- The result of the test where the flame reaches the extreme criteria of the test piece

- The result of the test where the burning continues 10 minutes after ignition of the source.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a London-based organization that establishes agreements between participating member states at an international level in order to make shipping as safe and environmentally friendly as possible. The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and was founded in 1948 and established in 1958.

The IMO A652 (16) test

The test describes the method for assessing the flammability of material combinations on upholstered furniture. The ignition sources used are a smouldering cigarette and a small flame. The test procedure is also described in the 'NORDTEST' method NT fire 039 (cigarette) and NT fire 040 (small flame)

The test is carried out on a test rig. During testing with the smouldering cigarette, the aim is for the cigarette to smoulder away completely. The development of the test object is observed. Two parallel tests with smouldering cigarettes are carried out.

A small flame (matchstick flame comparison) is used as the ignition source. The test object is exposed to the flame for 20 seconds and the development of the spreading of the flame is observed. Two parallel tests with a small flame are performed.

Pass/fail procedure

The tested object must not show any signs of ignition either flaming or smouldering for 1 hour after the performance of the test in case of the smouldering cigarette

The tested object shall show no signs of ignition, either flames or smoldering for 120 seconds after the test has been performed in the case of a flame test.

If both criteria are met, the material is suitable according to the standard IMO A652 (16).

FMVSS 302 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard USA)

The test specifies fire resistance requirements for materials used within motor vehicle compartments. The test is conducted in a metal enclosure for environmental protection. The metal enclosure has fixed dimensions with a viewing window.

Fail/Pass criteria

Five test specimens, measuring 4 x 14 x nominal thickness (in inches) are exposed horizontally and exposed to a 1.5 inch flame for 15 seconds. The rate of flame spread measured over the length of the test specimen is observed. The maximum flame spread allowed is 4 inches per minute which is approximately 10 cm per minute.

Depending on the type of classification requested, materials are tested according to: UL 94HB, 94V-0, 94V-1, 94V-2, 94HBF-1, 94HF-2, 94-5V, 94VTM-0, 94VTM-1, or 94VTM-2. The main difference between these procedures is the orientation of the test. All procedures expose a different reaction using a 'Bunsen' or 'Thirril' burner with different flame sizes and different time schedules between 3 and 60 seconds. Each procedure ranks the materials in certain classes based on factors. Among others different burning classes, possibility of self-extinguishing, after-flame time, burning drops, glow time or burning through.

The VDI 6022 is a guideline of the Building Services department of the Association of German Engineers. The guideline describes the state of affairs with regard to the health regulations for air-conditioning systems and equipment and the assessment of air quality.

Carmat has EPDM profiles that meet the VDI 6022 standard.