Standard
- Furniture – Assessment of the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases – Part 1: Ignition source smouldering cigarette.
- Furniture – Assessment of the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases – Part 2: Ignition source match flame equivalent.
Why test according to this standard?
The standard is used to assess the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases, when subjected to a smouldering cigarette and a match flame equivalent as ignition source.
In Sweden, upholstered mattresses for domestic use shall not ignite when subjected to a smouldering cigarette according to EN 597-1. In public spaces, like, hotels, hostels etc, we recommend that the mattress should be able to resist both a smouldering cigarette and a match flame equivalent.
These test methods only evaluate the ignitability of mattresses. To evaluate the burning behaviour, the mattress needs to be tested in full scale with larger ignition sources.
Example of materials that can be tested according to this standard
Mattresses, upholstered bed bases, mattress pads, divans, top mattresses etc.
Sample dimensions
The tests can be performed either in full scale or in small scale. For a full scale test a mattress with scale 1:1 is required.
For a small scale tests, a minimum of 3 test specimens is required. The test specimen shall be rectangular in shape and of minimum size 450 mm x 350 mm x nominal thickness of the finished mattress. The type of proposed edge finishing system shall be incorporated, e.g. plain, piped or tape edged. Representative tension shall be maintained in the cover. The proposed mattress finish shall be represented in the test specimen, e.g. tufted or quilted.
Short test description
The tests are performed in a test cabinet with a calibrated air flow. The test specimen is located on top of a steel rig. Depending on the finish of the mattress, ignition sources are located of the flat surface, at tape edges, at quilted locations, tufts etc.
During the cigarette test the mattress is not allowed to smoulder after one hour from the beginning of the test. The mattress is also not allowed to char more than 50 mm in any horizontal direction from the nearest point of the original position of the source.
The test assembly is subjected to a gas flame equivalent to a match flame for 15 seconds. No flaming is allowed to continue for more than 120 seconds after removal of the burner tube. The mattress is also not allowed to char more than 50 mm in any horizontal direction from the nearest point of the original position of the source.
The test specimen is located on top of a steel rig. Depending on the finish of the mattress, ignition sources are located of the flat surface, at tape edges, at quilted locations, tufts etc.