Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Clothing Standards Committee (CLM/-) to Technical Committee CLM/11 upon which the following bodies were represented:

Association of British Launderers and Cleaners Ltd.
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances
British Clothing Industry Association
British Lace Federation
British Leather Manufacturers’ Research Association
British Retailers’ Association
British Textile Rental Association
Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd.
Confederation of British Wool Textiles Limited
Consumer Standards Advisory Committee of BSI
Consumers’ Association
Drapers’ Chamber of Trade
Furnishing Fabrics Association
Home Laundering Consultative Council
International Wool Secretariat
Knitted Textile Dyers’ Federation
Knitting Industries Federation Ltd.
Mail Order Traders’ Association of Great Britain
Man-made Fibres Producers’ Committee
Ministry of Defence
National Association of Teachers of Home Economics Ltd.
National Children’s Wear Association
Soap and Detergent Industry Association
Society of Dyers and Colourists
Textile Institute
Textile Research Council

The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard, through subcommittees and panels:

British Burn Association
British Nonwoven Manufacturers’ Association
British Textile Employers’ Association
Chemical Industries Association
Co-operative Union
Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Trade and Industry (Consumer Safety Unit, CCS Division)
Home Office
Institute of Trading Standards Administration
Medical Research Council
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Clothing Standards Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 31 August 1984

First published January 1979

First revision August 1984

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:

Committee reference TCM/41

Draft for comment 83/37998 DC

Foreword

This revision of this British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Clothing Standards Committee and the 1979 edition of this standard is now withdrawn. The scope of BS 5722 has been extended to include fabrics for dressing gowns and other changes have been introduced as a result of discussions concerning current UK legislation. The performance specification in BS 3121 is cited in the Nightdresses (Safety) Regulations 1967 (SI 1967 No. 839), and it is expected that BS 5722 will form a basis for a revision of those Regulations.

The committee responsible for the publication of BS 5438 has strongly indicated that general performance specifications are not appropriate, may possibly be misleading and should not be prepared. Instead of such specifications, it has recommended that individual performance specifications for defined end uses be produced. For that reason, this standard is limited in application to fabric and fabric assemblies for use in sleepwear and dressing gowns. It is essential that both professional and home makers of garments are aware that the use of certain trims, accessories and sewing threads can have an adverse effect on the flammability of a garment. The use of different fabrics to produce a multi-layer garment can also have a similar effect and if such a design is to be used, it is important to test the fabrics in the same combination as they will be used. If a degree of protection from flame is required, as much care is necessary with the design of the garment as with the main fabric. The importance of design is stressed in Shirley Institute Publication S17 “The flammability of apparel fabrics and assemblies”, in PD 2777, and in the Standards Association of Australia publication AS 1249 “Children’s night clothes having reduced fire hazard”.

It should be noted that this standard is intended to apply to fabrics and fabric assemblies used in the manufacture of sleepwear for use in normal circumstances. Where the sleepwear is intended for use in circumstances in which garments are frequently worn during daytime by wearers who are partially or completely immobile, different performance levels will often be more appropriate.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the following statement is required to be an item of the test report specified in BS 5438.

“The results may not apply to situations where there is restricted air supply or prolonged exposure to large sources of intense heat as in a conflagration”.

This statement should be borne in mind when use is made of this standard. A fabric complying with the requirements of the standard may not give protection against exposure to large sources of heat but it is intended to give protection against rapid flame spread arising from accidental contact with small sources of ignition.

Attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the need to ensure that the tests specified in this standard are carried out under suitable environmental conditions to provide adequate protection to personnel.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

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

1 Scope

This British Standard specifies flammability performance requirements for fabrics, including multi-layer fabrics and fabric assemblies, for use in the production of sleepwear and dressing gowns.

NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

2 Definitions

3 Flammability performance

3.1 General

3.2 Performance requirements

4 Identification

Publications referred to

BS 5722:1984

Specification for flammability performance of fabrics and fabric assemblies used in sleepwear and dressing gowns

Current

Published:

31 Aug 1984