Flame retardant performance testing methods

On the current international smoldering performance test methods for flame retardant fabric has a lot of, such as China GB, British BS, Canada CGSB, German DIN, American FS, French ANF SNV, Switzerland, Japan JIS, Swedish SIS and internationally recognized standards such as ISO, a set of your own test standards and methods. And varieties of different categories of textile products or finished products, there are different testing methods, such as ordinary textiles (including all kinds of bedding), clothing textiles, including children's pajamas, overalls and flame retardant protective clothing, etc.), decorative, including curtain, curtain, tent cloth, etc.), ground covers (carpet, etc.), and the train, automobile, ship in textile products, etc. Test method can be divided into three categories, vertical test method, test method and tilt (45 °, 30 °) test method, with vertical test demands higher level test is low. The following will GB 8965 compare with other standards.

Take standard GB 8965 is China's national flame retardant. This standard is applicable to industrial furnaces, metal hot working, welding, chemical, oil and other places, engaged in open fires or send out sparks or operating in the vicinity of molten metal, and the combustible matter and angry dangerous places to work by use of flame retardant protective clothing. The reference to the same name in 1988 with the similar international standards and issued standard of industrial flame retardant clothing, and made the detailed rules for the following aspects: the overall performance of flame resistant clothing  fabrics, and suture of the flame retardant properties, mechanical properties, flame retardant protective clothing structure design, processing production, product packaging tags and transport, inspection method, etc. Fabric of the flame retardant performance testing methods of GB/T 5455, the test method is similar to the EN 532 is on the surface of the material that vertically ignition 10 s, then according to the test parameters to continue burning time, smoldering combustion time and the length of the damaged fabric can be divided into three levels. Arrangement of the flame retardant fabric, of secondary for qualified, level for excellent product. Test the fabric after 50 times of washing, shall not be less than 3, found in the test for nonconforming products are melting shrinkage phenomenon.

Standard test methods, instruments and equipment to manufacture, demanding conditions, strict operation complicated. Test results can be expressed in the laboratory under the condition of relative safety, flame retardant have good repeatability, but the results can not represent the actual fire, under the condition of risk and the combustion situation. Over the years, the domestic import or design a variety of flame retardant test equipment, test and a variety of conditions, for these standard method, to obtain the good reproducibility, test condition is the key. One of the biggest influence on data was (1) the fabric and the temperature and humidity of the air; (2) the flame size and temperature; (3) all round ventilation (test case), etc.; (4) the sample size and the relative position of a fire. Experiment also found that a variety of standard test method, due to the different requirements and conditions, the results often have difference, sometimes the results of a standard method is better, but for another method, the result is bad or very poor. Various standard test methods, therefore, can only explain in a regulation under the experimental conditions, the burning of fire, heat, or said security, can not explain in the actual fire danger in fire or burning.