This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 30 November 1988.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard: Committee reference TCM/3 Draft for comment 87/42255 DC

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Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Textiles and Clothing Standards Committee (TCM/-) to Technical Committee TCM/3 upon which the following bodies were represented:

British Carpet Manufacturers' Association

British Indian Coir Mats Association

Carpet Cleaners' Association

Chartered Society of Designers

Consumer Policy Committee of BSI

Contract Flooring Association

Crown Suppliers

Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment (Fire Research Station))

Department of Trade and Industry (CTPS Division)

Fibre Bonded Carpet Manufacturers' Association

Home Office

Institute of Trading Standards Administration

International Wool Secretariat

London Institute

London Scientific Services

Man-made Fibres Producers' Committee

National Association of Retail Furnishers

National Association of Workshops for the Blind

National Institute of Carpet Fitters

Power Loom Carpet Weavers' and Textile Workers' Association

Royal Institute of British Architects

Textile Research Council

Wholesale Floorcovering Distributors' Association

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Committee. It is a revision of BS 5287:1976 which is withdrawn. Assessment of the behaviour of textile floor coverings tested in accordance with BS 4790 is valuable in determining the ease with which the textile floor covering would ignite under practical conditions, e.g. when a burning cigarette, a hot coal, or a similar source of ignition is dropped on it.

It is emphasized that the method of test described in BS 4790 is not intended to give an overall indication of the potential tire hazard presented by a textile floor covering under actual conditions of use. Other methods of test, such as the radiant panel test^* described in ASTM-E648: 1978^†, may be used to assess the performance of textile floor coverings in a fire situation. This test is intended to indicate the spread of flame under conditions of controlled heat flux and may lead to a further British Standard.

In this revision two forms of giving information on the performance of textile floor coverings when tested according to BS 4790 are specified. In the first a pass criterion is specified for textile floor coverings for domestic use. In the second three more detailed categories of performance for contract use are specified on the basis of the radius of the effects of ignition. Both forms of providing this information take account of the specimen mounting method used in the test. Information relating to the practical meaning of 'radius of ignition' is given in appendix A.

As a result of these considerations, very careful attention should be given to the statement made on the textile floor covering label and in sales literature in regard to flammability. It should be simple, unambiguous and authoritative.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This British Standard specifies the form of assessment of the behaviour of textile floor coverings when subjected to the small source of ignition test described in BS 4790; and gives requirements for conveying the information obtained to domestic and contract users. It is applicable to all types of textile floor coverings used in the horizontal position.

NOTE 1 The test method described in BS 4790 is used in this standard to provide some assessment of the potential hazard of textile floor coverings being ignited from a small ignition source such as a lighted match, a burning cigarette or a glowing coal. In no circumstances should the test results thus obtained be used to assess the contribution the textile floor coverings will make to an established fire.

NOTE 2 The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on page 3.

2 Testing and labelling

Publications referred to

BS 5287:1988

Specification for assessment and labelling of textile floor coverings tested to BS 4790

Current, Under Review

Published:

30 Nov 1988