CPSC and Its Textile Flammability Regulations
Jacqueline Campbell
AATCC Fall 2014 Committee Meetings
November 12, 2014
This presentation was prepared by CPSC staff, has not been reviewed
or approved by, and may not reflect the views of, the Commission.
Overview• What is the CPSC?
• Textile Flammability Regulations
• Other Requirements for Textiles
• Recent Activity
• Resources
What Is the CPSC?
U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Independent, federal agency
• Created in 1972
• 5 Commissioners
• Over 500 staff
• Headquarters in Bethesda,
MD
• Laboratory in Rockville, MD
Organization
What Do We Regulate?
What Do We Not Regulate?• Alcohol, tobacco
products, firearms (ATF)
• Drugs, cosmetics, food
(FDA, USDA)
• Motor vehicles for road
use (NHTSA), aircraft
(FAA), boats (USCG)
• Pesticides (EPA),
medical devices (FDA),
workplace products
(OSHA and others)
Jurisdictional Authority• Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)
• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)
• Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)
• Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA)
• Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
(VGBA)
• Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA)
• Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)
Jurisdictional Authority• Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)
o As amended in 2008 by the CPSIA and 2011 by HR 2715
• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)
• Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)
• Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA)
• Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
(VGBA)
• Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA)
• Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)
Flammable Fabrics Act
Flammable Fabrics Act• Codified at 15 U.S.C. Sections 1191-1204
o https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/107013/ffa.pdf
• Promulgated by Congress in 1953
• Transferred to CPSC in 1973
• Prohibits the introduction or movement in interstate
commerce of any product, fabric, or related
material that fails to conform to an applicable
standard or regulation issued or amended under
the provisions of Section 4 of the Act
Flammable Fabrics Act• 16 C.F.R. part 1610
Clothing Textiles
• 16 C.F.R. part 1611
Vinyl Plastic Film
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1615/1616
Children’s Sleepwear
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1630/1631
Carpets and Rugs
• 16 C.F.R. part 1632
Mattresses and Mattress Pads (smoldering ignition)
• 16 C.F.R. part 1633
Mattress Sets (open-flame ignition)
16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Wearing Apparel• Applies to all adult and children’s wearing
apparel.o Some exceptions and exemptions
• Specifies testing procedures used to determine the relative flammability of textiles used in apparel as one of three classes of flammability.
• Fabrics that meet a specific exemption do not require testing.
§1610.1(c): Exceptions
• Interlining fabrics
• Most hats, gloves, and footwear
• Examples that are not exempt:
o Gloves longer than 14 inches and/or attached to
a garment
o Hats that cover the neck, face, or shoulders
o Footwear that consists in whole or in part of
hosiery or is part of another garment
§1610.1(d): Specific Exemptions
• Plain surface fabrics ≥88.2 g/m2 (2.6 oz/yd2),
regardless of fiber content
• Plain and raised surface fabrics made of:o acrylic,
o modacrylic,
o nylon,
o olefin,
o polyester, wool, or any combination of these fibers,
regardless of weight.
16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Test Summary
• 16 mm (5/8 in) flame impinges on specimen mounted at 45-degree angle for 1 second
• Allowed to burn full length or until stop thread breaks
• Results of several tests are averaged and a Class designation is assigned
16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Test Summary
• Determine fiber and fabric type
• Conduct preliminary test
• Prepare and condition specimens
• Test specimens
• Make preliminary classification
• Refurbish and repeat test
• Make final classification
• Report results
16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Classifications
• Class 1 – plain and raised surface fabrics that have no unusual burning characteristics and are acceptable for use in clothing
• Class 2 – raised surface fabrics only, intermediate flammability- use with caution
• Class 3 – fabrics are dangerously flammable and CANNOTbe used in wearing apparel
Classification Plain Surface Raised Fiber Surface
Class 1 Average burn time > 3.5 s Average burn time > 7.0 s OR Average burn time is 0-7 s with no base burns (SFBB)
Class 2 N/A Average burn time is 4-7 s with base burn (SFBB)
Class 3 Average burn time < 3.5 s Average burn time < 4.0 s with base burn (SFBB)
16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Classifications Code
Description Time Reported
SF uc Surface flash, under stop thread, but does not break thread. NoneSF pw Surface flash, part way; does not break thread. None
SF poiSurface flash, at point of impingement only; equivalent to DNI for plain surface fabrics.
None
_._ secActual burn time (sec) measured and recorded by the timing device.
Yes
_._ SF Time (sec), surface flash only; no damage to the base fabric. Yes
_._SFBBTime (sec), surface flash base burn starting at places other than the point of impingement as a result of surface flash.
Yes
_._SFBBpoiTime (sec), surface flash base burn starting at the point of impingement.
Yes
_._SFBBpoi*
Time (sec), surface flash base burn possibly starting at the point of impingement; the asterisk is accompanied by the following statement if there is a question as to the origin of the base burn: Unable to make absolute determination as to source of base burns.
Yes
Note: A result of SFBBpoi or SFBBpoi* does not qualify as a base burn under the current interpretation of 16 CFR Part 1610.
16 C.F.R. Part 1610:Common Noncomplying Fabrics
• Sheer 100% rayon skirts and scarves
• Sheer 100% silk scarves
• 100% rayon and rayon/nylon chenille
sweaters
• Long animal hair sweaters
• Polyester/cotton and 100% cotton fleece
garments
• 100% cotton terry cloth robes
16 C.F.R. Part 1611: Vinyl Plastic Films
• Covers non-rigid, unsupported, vinyl plastic
filmo transparent, translucent, and opaque material
o plain, embossed, molded or otherwise surface treated
• Shall not burn faster than 1.2 in/sec
• Recent recalls have included Halloween
costume capes and masks
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16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Children’s Sleepwear
• Any product of wearing apparel intended to be
worn primarily for sleeping or activities related to
sleep in sizes larger than 9 months through size
14.
o Nightgowns, pajamas, robes, and similar or related items, such as loungewear
• Several factors determine if a garment is
sleepwear:
o Suitability for sleeping, likelihood of garment to be used
for sleeping
o Garment and fabric features
o Marketing, merchandising/display, intended use
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Exceptions
• Diapers and Underwear (exempt)o Must comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1610
o http://www.cpsc.gov/pagefiles/126618/diapers01242012.pdf
• Infant garments (exempt)o Sizes 9 months or younger
o One-piece garment does not exceed 64.8 cm (25.75”) in length
o Two-piece garment has no piece exceeding 40 cm (15.75”) in length
o Must comply with 16 CFR Part 1610
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Exceptions
Tight-Fitting Sleepwear (exempt)
• Tight-fitting garments (defined by the Standards)
are exempt from testing to the sleepwear
requirements.
• Must:
o Not exceed specified dimensions.
o Comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1610.
o Meet labeling requirements.
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• Children’s sleepwear (that is not tight-
fitting) must pass the flammability
requirements.
o All fabrics and garments must be flame
resistant and self-extinguish (not continue to
burn) when removed from a small, open-
flame ignition source.
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• Multiple stages of testing are required,
following prescriptive sampling plans
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Summary
• Test fabric, seams, and
trim
• Test sample of five
specimens
• Orient vertically
• Test in original state and
after 50 laundering
cycles
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Summary
• Prepare five 8.9 cm x 25.4 cm
(3.5 inches x10 inches)
specimens of fabric, seams,
and trim.
• Condition specimens before
testing.
• Apply a gas flame of 3.8 cm
(1.5 inches) to the bottom
edge of the specimen for 3
seconds.
• Measure char (burn) after the
flame/afterglow has ceased.
Preparing to apply ignition source to specimen
16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• The average char length of 5 specimens cannot exceed 17.8 cm (7.0 inches).
• No individual specimen can have a char length of 25.4cm (10.0 inches).
o No individual specimen may burn its full length.
• Production testing and recordkeeping requirements are required.
o Tested samples must be retained.
16 C.F.R. Parts 1630 & 1631
(Carpets and Rugs)
• Intended to protect
consumers from surface
ignition of carpets and
rugs
• Must pass specified
flammability testso The char does not extend to within
1 inch of the flattening frame
• Labeling provision under
16 C.F.R. part 1631
30
16 C.F.R. Part 1632:
Smoldering Ignition of Mattresses
• Must pass specified flammability tests
o The char does not extend beyond 2 inches from the
ignition source, a lit cigarette
• Mattresses and mattress pads are included
• Includes component tests for tickings and tape
edges
31
Recent Activity
• Current ANPR to amend or revoke the standard
(2005)
• Updated to specify SRM cigarette designed by NIST
• Compliance stay of enforcement with testing
decreased to two surfaces
• Recent project evaluated effect of reduced
ignition propensity (RIP) cigarettes on soft furnishings
32
Summary of 16 C.F.R. Part 1633:
Open-Flame Ignition of Mattresses
• Covers mattress sets
• Outlines testing, labeling, and recordkeeping
requirements
• Open-flame ignition source (two propane burners)
• Specifies two performance criteria:
o Cannot exceed peak heat release rate (HRR) of 200kW
during a 30 minute test
o May not exceed total heat release (THR) of 15 MJ in first 10
minutes of test
33
Recent Activity• July 2007
• 2008 Technical amendments
• ISO/FDIS 12949o Standard for Measuring the Heat Release Rate of Low Flammability
Mattresses and Mattress Sets
34
Other Requirements for Textiles
Drawstring Requirements forChildren’s Clothing
• CPSC issued guidelines (1996) later adopted by
ASTM in 1997 (ASTM F1816-97)o May 2006 letter to industry
(http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/135448/drawstring.pdf)
• Substantial product hazard (15(j)) in 2012
• Applies to drawstrings on upper outerwear, such as jackets, and sweatshirts• Sizes 2T-12 (or equivalent) with neck or hood drawstrings
• Sizes 2T-16 (or equivalent) with waist or bottom drawstringsthat do not meet specified criteria
• Dresses are not upper outerwear
• Belts are not drawstrings
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of
2008
What’s Required: Adult Clothing• 16 C.F.R. part 1610 (Flammability)
• GCC Required, including products that are exempt
from testing
What’s Required: Children’s Clothing
• 16 C.F.R. part 1610 (Flammability)
• CPC Required, Third Party Testing
• Lead Content
• Lead Surface Coating
• Tracking Labels
• Drawstring Requirements
What’s Required: Children’s Sleepwear
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1615 and 1616 (Flammability)o 16 C.F.R. part 1610 if tight-fitting
• CPC Required, Third Party Testing
• Lead Content
• Lead Surface Coating
• Tracking Labels
• Phthalate Requirements o Sleepwear for children 3 years old or younger
Recent Activity
Recent Activity• Furniture Flammability
o http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/129840/ufmemos.pdf
o http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC/tag/upholstered-furniture
• Bedclothes ANPR
• 16 C.F.R. part 1632 lab manual update
• Cigarette Ignition Risk (CIR) Reporto http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC/nfpa-presentation-s-
mehtaapprovedfor-slideshare-23808922
o http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/139713/CIRProjectMemoApproved.pdf
Resources
Resource: Small Business Ombudsman
www.cpsc.gov/SmallBiz
Helpful Links• Recent Staff Presentations
o http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC
o 2013 Safety Academy FFA Session
o 2014 NFPA Conference
• Loungewear lettero http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/121300/loungewear.pdf
• 1632 Enforcement Policyo http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/117365/InterimMattress.pdf
• NIST SRM 1196o https://www-s.nist.gov/srmors/quickSearch.cfm
FFA Laboratory Manuals
46
• http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Busi
ness--Manufacturing/Testing-
Certification/Testing/
• 1610 lab manual
• 1615/16 lab manual
• 1632 lab manual
• 1633 lab manual at:
https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/1
17388/labmanual.pdf
Resource: Searchable List of Laboratories
http://www.cpsc.gov/labsearch
For Further Information:
Jacqueline Campbell
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Division of Combustion and Fire Sciences,
Directorate for Engineering Sciences
301-987-2024
www.cpsc.gov