The Exchange Test Method

A-20: Standard for Flammability of Clothing Textiles, 16 CFR 1610 - 45 Degree

Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993

Revision Date: 08/20/2004

  1. PURPOSE:

    This standard is designed to reduce the danger of injury and loss off life by providing on a national basis, standard methods of testing and rating the flammability of textiles and textile products for clothing use, thereby discouraging the use of any dangerously flammable clothing textiles.
  2. PRINCIPLE:

    Specimens are mounted on specimen holders and placed in a test chamber and subjected to flame to determine the burn rate of the fabric. Specimens are classified in accordance with three classes of flammability specified in Sec. 1610.3. 16 CFR 1610 regulation requires that a piece of fabric, which is placed in a holder at a 45 degree angle and exposed to flame for 1 second, should not ignite and spread flame up the length of the sample in less than 3.5 seconds for smooth fabric and 4.0 for napped fabrics.
  3. REFERENCE:

    16 CFR Part 1610, Standard for Flammability of Clothing Textiles.
  4. APPARATUS:

  5. PROCEDURE:

  6. EVALUATION AND REPORTING:

  7. NOTE: