Safe Public Places thro’

FR TextilesSafe Public Places thro’ FR Textiles

Suggestion fromMinistry of Textiles

to

Ministry of Home AffairsGovernment of India

they would have been with us….had there been FR Textiles…

83 children killed in school fire in Kumbakonam

Victims of Uphaar Tragedy

Protective FabricsIntroduction to Flame Retardant FabricsInternational standards & regulatory

measuresBIS standardsRecommendations

Fabric flammability is an important issue, especially for stage drapery that will be used in a public space such as a school, theatre or special event venue.

Although all fabrics will burn, some are naturally more resistant to fire than others. Those that are more flammable can have their fire resistance drastically improved by treatment with fire retardant chemicals.

Importance of FR Textiles For Public Safety

• Recent studies have revealed that in 24 % of fire accidents, the first item to catch fire is textiles– 28 % casualties were due

to burns;– 48 % due to smoke/gas;– 13 % due to combined

effects of burns, gas and smoke;

– 11 % due to other causes.

These emphasize the role of textiles in limiting the spread of fire and casualties due to it.

Importance of FR Textiles For Public Safety

• Heavy damage to property and loss to valuable lives due to fire• Fire safety in public places/buildings has assumed paramount importance• Fires in exhibition (Meerut), marriage pandal (Hissar), Uphar Cinema are

living examples

• Record loss of life due to fires in India is amongst the worst in the world

• Fires are second largest cause of unnatural deaths in India

• In terms of insurance claim also, fires account for losses of Rs. 1 Crore and above

• In view of violation of public safety norms in India, fire safety legislation is the need of the hour

• Strong need to implement latest standards on fire retardant textiles by enacting and enforcing fire safety legislation and guidelines specially for the public places/buildings and for children wears.

Standards- Protective Textiles

Compiled by Pawan Sharma

L I F E S A V I N G S E C O N D S….

SYNTHETIC

BLENDED FABRIC

COTTON BLENDED FABRIC

PYROGUARD

FABRIC

COTTON BLENDED FABRIC

SYNTHETIC

BLENDED FABRIC

SYNTHETIC

BLENDED FABRIC

COTTON BLENDED FABRIC

PYROGUARDFABRIC

PYROGUARDFABRIC

AFTER 5 SECS AFTER 15 SECS AFTER 30 SECS

Technology of FR Textiles

• Specialty fibers– not manufactured in India

& expensive

• Chemical finishing on conventional fibers – less expensive– Additional cost of Rs 30 to

100 per mt depending upon the quality requirement

Flame RetardantFlame RetardantA substance applied to or incorporated in a combustible A substance applied to or incorporated in a combustible

material to reduce or eliminate its ability to ignite when exposed to material to reduce or eliminate its ability to ignite when exposed to a low energy flame resource (i.e. match or cigarette).a low energy flame resource (i.e. match or cigarette).

Flame ProofFlame ProofA material which is totally resistant to fire or flame (i.e. A material which is totally resistant to fire or flame (i.e.

asbestos).asbestos).

Flame ResistantFlame ResistantA material which does not continue to burn or glow once the A material which does not continue to burn or glow once the

ignition source has been removed.ignition source has been removed.

After GlowAfter GlowSmouldering ambers present when primary ignition source has Smouldering ambers present when primary ignition source has

been removed.been removed.

Fire Terminologies

Evaluation Parameters for FR Textiles

• Ease of Ignition• After Glow Time• Extent of After Glow• Char Length• Flame Spread Time, Debris or Drips• Smoldering Time• Limiting Oxygen Index• Heat Transmission Factor• Heat Transfer Index• Molten Metal Splash Index• Smoke Opacity• Toxicity

Standardization

• Why Standardization Required:

– The users need to be certain that they are sufficiently protected.

– The manufacturers want to show to the users that their product fulfils their needs of protection.

– The test laboratories want to have approved and standardized test methods in order to get reproducible results and standardized performance requirements as a guideline for the certification of products.

• The problem of standardized tests is that the test conditions are far away from the conditions in real use (Zimmerli, 1996). In the last few years due to better understanding of the subject, it is said that the complete protective clothing has to be tested, either in a practice test with test persons or with an instrumented mannequin (Zimmerli, 2000).

• In addition, it will be necessary to assess the protective and the comfort properties simultaneously, because in most cases there is a strong interaction between the two properties.

Organizations to set standards

• ISO standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.

• CEN- The European Committee for Standardization it's 30 National Members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs)

• ASTM- American Society for Standardisation and Materials, in US it develops standards on protective clothing

• NFPA - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) writes performance standards for fire fighters’ clothing, based on test methods standardized by ASTM.

• BIS is the Official National Standards Body of India covers product quality certification, consumer affairs and development of technical standards .

US Regulations on

FR Fabrics

US Flammable Fabrics Act

(codified at 15 U.S.C 1191-1204)

• Legislation is to keep away the use of dangerously inflammable textiles out of commerce in USA

• The act covers trading of fabrics meant for wearing apparel or interior furnishing when they are traded with importers in USA

• Manufacture, sale, importation into USA, introduction of flammable fabrics shall be prohibited

• Importers are advised to buy from a supplier issuing a guarantee and a test report

• Consumer Products Safety Commission is vested with the powers of determination of – authority to test, testing standards & prosecution powers

• Enforcement mechanism:– Consumer Products Safety Commission administers the

enforcement mechanism– Imported fabrics are not allowed to be cleared out of customs

warehouse unless it is FR– In case imported fabrics are released against bond by customs

ware house, they can order for return to customs warehouse– Can seize and send for testing– File civil suit based on lab report– Levy fine up to $ 100,000– Penalty is based on gravity of injury that would have caused or

likely to have caused– In the event of misrepresentation, the merchant is liable for

imprisonment up to 5 years.

USA Flammable Fabrics Act

Developed by the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA), titled NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films. 

There are no “official” federal regulations regarding FR

of drapery fabrics used in public spaces. However,Under NFPA 701, drapery fabric is tested by burning asmall sample and measuring the flame, char length & flaming residue

– if a fabric meets these three areas, it is considered as flame retardant.

National Standards(Test methods)

State and Local Regulations

• Though NFPA 701 is the national standard, it is not a law or regulation in itself. 

• Authority to make and enforce laws and regulations in this area is granted to state and local governments.

• Many state and local governments have not developed their own standards.  Instead, they require that draperies used in public spaces meet the NFPA 701 standard.

• The 2005 Florida Fire Prevention Code, for example, specifies in Chapter 20 that fabric used in places of assembly must meet NFPA 701 standards.

State and Local Regulations

Some states and cities, however, have developed their own standards and/or procedures. These requirements are separate and distinct from NFPA 701 standards.  

State and Local Regulations

In California, for example, drapery used in public spaces must be made of fabric that has been registered with the State Fire Marshal, documenting compliance with Title 19 (Division 1, Chapter 8) of California Code of Regulations. 

While the State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts both accept NFPA 701 certification, New York City requires certification that fabrics meet requirements outlined in Title 27 (Chapters 1 and 4) of the New York Administrative Code,

while the City of Boston requires that end users submit an application for a use permit, in advance, for each fabric to be used in a public space.

State and Local Regulations

Venue Requirements

Even specific venues have developed their own requirements for drapery to be utilized within the venue.  Radio City Music Hall, in addition to requiring that all fabrics be certified compliant with New York City regulations, also requires the Certificate of Flame Retardancy include not just basic information on the fabric utilized, but specific information about each sewn drapery piece, including quantity and size.

European Standards

Guide list & web site

Protection Function Standard Code

Protective Clothing

Against Heat & Flame EN 531

For use in welding and allied processes EN 470-1

Against mechanical impact EN 510

For users of hand-held chainsaws EN 381- series

Firemen’s Protective clothing EN 469

Against cold EN 342

Against foul weather (Moisture, wind, cold) EN 343

Against radioactive contamination EN 1073

Against electric hazards/electrostatic charges EN 1149

Against thermal hazards of an electric arc (technical specs)

CLC/TS 50354

High visibility warning clothing EN 471

For working in environment of machines EN 510

Against chemical hazards EN 465,, EN 466, EN 467

http://www.cen.eu/cenorm/standards_drafts/onlinecataloguewithlinkstomembers/index.asp

Great Britain

The Consumer Protection Act (1987), the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, 1989 & 1993 set levels of fire resistance for upholstered products.

Standards Mentioned : BS 5852, BS 7177, BS EN 1021-2, BS 7176

Italy

• The first Regulation in Italy concerning fire behaviour of Textiles e.g. Furnishings, had come in the existence in 1984 for the public assembly places like cinema halls, theaters etc.

• Then restrictions for schools, fairs and hotels followed

Upholstered Furniture in French public buildings has to meet ERP Article AM 18 which, since 2006, requires a finished testing as per the standard EN 1021 and French Standards NF D60 – 013 & NF D60 – 015.

FRANCE

Protective clothing Protective clothing EN 533, NF P92 503 (M1)EN 533, NF P92 503 (M1)

UpholsteryUpholsteryBS 5852BS 5852EN 1021EN 1021BS 7176BS 7176

FlameFlameCigaretteCigaretteCrib 5Crib 5

Mattress tickingMattress tickingBS 6807-1/2BS 6807-1/2EN 597-1/2EN 597-1/2BS 7175BS 7175BS 7177 BS 7177

FlameFlameCigaretteCigaretteCrib 5Crib 5

CurtainsCurtainsBS 5867BS 5867

type Atype Atype Btype Btype Ctype C

NF P92 503NF P92 503

CarpetCarpetDIN 4102 (B1), FAR25-853DIN 4102 (B1), FAR25-853

Non wovenNon wovenNF P92 503NF P92 503

Black –outBlack –outNF P92 503NF P92 503

BeddingBeddingTB-604TB-604

ToysToysEN 71/2EN 71/2

Application field and Fire standards

JAPANFire Service Law of Japan requires that Flame Retardant items e.g. Carpets, Curtains etc. should have flame retarding treatment before going to the end users.

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

BIS standardson

FR Textiles

Standardization of FR Textiles

• BIS has brought out a series of standards for FR textiles - curtains, drapes, upholstered furniture materials, protective clothing for industrial workers and fire fighters etc along with test methods for evaluation of the above items.

• These standards are for 3 hazard categories– low hazard– moderate hazard &– high hazard categories

International Scenario Material Specification Conformance to

USA / Britain

Tent fabric - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 701

- British Standard 7157

Mandatory in some States

Carpet -Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (MVSS) 302

-ASTM D 2859

-ASTM E 648

Mandatory

Furnishing materials

California Technical Bulletin 116

BS 5852 ( Ignition Source 0,1,5&7)

BS EN 1021

BS 7176

Mandatory

BIS Standards on Tent Cloth

• IS 12990, IS 7609, IS 8758, IS 7613, IS 12991, IS 10321 are available on tent cloth

BIS Standards on Carpet

• IS 12722, IS 10466, IS 2331, IS 7878, IS 4391, IS 5641, IS 5884, IS 10921, IS 7877, IS 13188, IS 15764 are on textile floor coverings.

BIS Standards on Upholstered Furniture

• IS 12467 Pt.1&2 ,IS 577, IS 7864 deal with

testing of upholstered furniture .

– Out of these, two mention ignitability test wherein ignition sources are smouldering cigarette and match flame equivalent.

Common FR Test Methods

BS 5852 Part 1 "Match - test"(on finished / unfinished CO - fabric)

Flame retardant against burning cigarettes

Length : ± 68mm

Diameter : ± 8mm

Mass : 1g nominaligniting not less than 5mm not more than 8mm

smouldering rate : 12 ± 3min / 50mmpass if :not more than 50mm damage

within 60min : no flaming, smoke, heat, glowing

Flame retardant for upholstery fabric

Flame Length : 35mm (vertical); Ignition Time : 20s; Pass if : Flaming : max. 2min after removal of the burner, Smoke, heat, glowing : max. 15min after removal, Max. 100mm damage ↔↕

German Railway - "Upholstery - Test"

Work ClothesEN 533

• Flame length : 40mm (vertical); Ignition time : 10s• Criteria : -after flame time; afterglow time; not charred area;

formation hole; molten / flaming debris; borders reached

• Methenamine tablet• Steel plate : Æ 205mm• Pass if :

charred area

<= 25.4mmfrom inner edge : OK

CarpetASTMD 5859-76

Rate of spread of flame test: Flame length : 35mm (vertical)Ignition : 30 times 5s with 3s intervals M1 if :- after flame time max. 1s; no flaming debris; burning speed max. 2mm/s

NF P 92-504

Criteria : formation hole <20”; if yes ®NF P 90-504; M1 if : After flame time max.5 - damage afterglow max. 250mm; no molten / flaming debris

NF P 92-503

Center of ExcellenceTo provide infrastructure support at one place for the technical textile

manufacturer the government has set up four Centers of

Excellence(COE) in the thrust areas of technical textiles. The details

are given below:

The four COEs have been sanctioned Rs.43.31 crore by the MOT

Segment Agency

Meditech SITRA with AC college of technology,Chenai

Protech NITRA with IIT delhi

Geotech BTRA with ATIRA

Agrotech SASMIRA with MANTRA and Navsari agriculture University

Centre of Excellence Protech

NITRA has been sanctioned Rs. 10.95 crore for

setting up of COE for Protech. So far an amount of Rs

4.318 crores has been released to the COE : NITRA.

Centre of Excellence

:

The NITRA-COE Protech is in the process of creating the following facilities:Facilities for testing and evaluation of products of segments of technical textiles.

Develop as a national and international accreditation center

Development of Resource Centre with I.T. infrastructure

Facilities for training of core personnel and regular training of personnel from the industry

Centre of Excellence

:

The NITRA-COE Protech has already purchased following equipments:

Sr.No. Name of Item Purpose

1Toxicity Tester

To test toxicity in flame resistance fabric in protech

2Snagging Tester

To determine pullout tendency of yarn3

Water cooled Xenontest ( weather meter) For evaluation of colour change due to weathering

4Abrasion Resistance Tester To assess the surface change on the fabric

due to abrasion5

DSC & TGATo analyse Raw Materials

NITRA also purchased Books and Standards related to Protective Textiles.

Recommendations…

• In view of public safety and property loss as well as high environmental pollution involved in fires, it is necessary that relevant Indian standards are made mandatory for textiles used in public places / buildings - hospitals, schools, airports, theaters, shopping complexes, railways, civil aviation, automobiles etc.

• Legislation for FR textiles are already in force in many of the developed countries of the world and India should be no exception to this.

RECOMMENDATIONS…

• Standards on FR textiles - IS15741:2007, IS15742:2007, IS15748:2007 & IS15768:2007could be made mandatory under the BIS Act.

• Subsequently, standard for resistance to ignition of mattresses, divans and bed bases to be made mandatory after publication.

• Standards developed by BIS on FR textiles need to be included in National Building Code of India 2005 immediately as a separate chapter.

• In order to prevent the import of sub-standard and hazardous FR textiles, the relevant Indian standards could be made mandatory for imports also.

CONCLUSION

• All out efforts by all stake holders required to minimize fire hazards by use of FR textiles and enforcing suitable fire safety legislation for safety in public places/buildings.

• Role of standards in minimizing fire losses is of paramount importance.

• Awareness of latest developments at International level is required.

• With the pace of globalization, infra structural growth and changing public safety concepts, any neglect in public safety including use of FR textiles shall cost us dearly.

• The opportunities thrown open by the growing market for FR fabrics need to be thoroughly exploited by India.