BS 5852:Part 2:1982
Fire test of uphostered furnitures.Standard
Fire tests for furniture – Part 2. Methods of test for the ignitability of upholstered composites for seating by flaming sources.
Why test according to this standard?
The standard is used to assess the ignitability of material combinations, such as covers and fillings used in upholstered seating, when subjected to different ignition sources of gas flames and small wooden cribs. The thermal output of the ignition sources shall approximate a burning match to four sheets of a full size newspaper.
In United Kingdom all items of domestic upholstered furniture must meet the “Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988” with amendments. BS 5852:Part 1 and BS 5852:Part 2 has been withdrawn by BSI (British Standards Institution) but are still used as the regulations mentioned above refers to the standards.
Example of materials that can be tested according to this standard
Combinations of covering and filling materials that are used in upholstered furniture.
Covers/fabrics can also be tested in combination with standard fillings.
Sample dimensions
| Complete test (2 tests with every ignition source) |
Cover, 3 samples with dimension 1100 x 650 mm.
Inner covers, interliners etc, 3 samples with dimension 1100 x 650 mm.
Filling (back), 3 samples with dimension 450 x 450 x 75 mm.
Filling (seat), 3 samples with dimension 450 x 300 x 75 mm. |
| One test for informative purpose |
One part of each cover and filling described above. |
Short test description
The tests are performed in a test cabinet with a calibrated air flow. The cover fabric and the filling are put in a test rig to create a small sofa with a 90º angle between seat and back. The ignition sources are located in the junction between seat and back. There are six different ignition sources, numbered 2-7. ignition sources 2-3 are gas flames and ignition sources 4-7 are wooden cribs (the higher number the larger gas flame/crib).
During the gas flame tests the test assembly is not allowed to smoulder for more than 30 minutes from the start of the test (60 minutes for wooden cribs). The test assembly is not allowed to show evidence of charring more than 100 mm in any direction apart from upwards from the ignition source. The gas flames are removed after 40 seconds (ignition source 2) or 70 seconds (ignition source 3). No flaming is allowed to continue for more than 120 seconds after removal of the burner tube. No flaming is allowed to continue for more than 10 minutes after start of the test with ignition source 5 (13 minutes with ignition source 6-7).