This test method provides a means of measuring a variety of fire-test-response characteristics resulting from burning a test specimen, mattress or mattress with foundation. After ignition using a propane gas burner, the test specimen is permitted to burn freely under well-ventilated conditions. The most important fire-test-response characteristic measured in this test method is the rate of heat release, which quantifies the intensity of the fire generated.
The rate of heat release is measured by the principle of oxygen consumption. Annex A3 discusses the assumptions and limitations.
This test method also provides measures of other fire-test-response characteristics, including smoke obscuration (as the rate of smoke release, total smoke released, or optical density of smoke), combustion gas release (as concentrations of combustion gases), and mass loss, which are important to making decisions on fire safety.
In the majority of fires, the most important gaseous components of smoke are the carbon oxides, present in all fires. They are indicators of the toxicity of the atmosphere and of the completeness of combustion. Measurement of concentrations of carbon oxides are useful for two purposes: (1) as part of fire hazard assessment calculations and (2) to improve the accuracy of heat release measurements. Other toxic combustion gases, which are specific to certain materials, are also indicators of the toxicity of the atmosphere, but are less crucial for determining combustion completeness and are optional measures; however, fire hazard assessment often requires their measurement.
The type of ignition chosen (flaming source) is common in both accidental and intentional fires in public occupancies. The test method is thus applicable to mattresses in public occupancies. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, health-care facilities, old age convalescent and board and care homes, and college dormitories and residence halls.
One of the following three configurations is to be used in this test method:
Test Configuration A8212;A test room with the following dimensions: 3.66 by 2.44 by 2.44 m (12 by 8 by 8 ft) high.
Test Configuration B8212;A test room with the following dimensions: 3.66 by 3.05 by 2.44 m (12 by 10 by 8 ft) high.
Test Configuration C8212;An open calorimeter (or furniture calorimeter).
Rooms of other dimensions are acceptable where it has been shown that equivalent test results are obtained.
Measurements in the three test configurations listed in 5.6 have been shown to give similar results for heat release in the duct, and mass loss, up to a rate of heat release of 600 kW (1).
Measurements of temperatures, gas concentrations, and smoke obscuration in the room are dependent on room size.
This test method has been designed to provide details for the means to build and operate equipment capable of running tests as required by CA TB 129. However, this test method is more general than that technical bulletin.
Studies on the flammability performance of mattresses indicate that bench scale fire tests are useful for preliminary evaluations of component materials for substitution purposes (see Appendix X3).
Limitations:
This test method is not applicable to ignition by cigarettes, or by any other smoldering source.
The ignition source in this test method is a flaming source, and it has been shown that mattresses, particularly in public occupancies, are involved in fires with flaming ignition sources. Moreover, this particular ignition source has been shown to be able to pro.........
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