The Exchange Test Method

A-21: Standard for Flammability of Children's Sleepwear, Sizes 0 through 6X, 16 CFR 1615 - Vertical

Issue Date: 04 Aug 1999

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 children's sleepwear, sizes 0 through 6X and fabric or related material intended or promoted for use in such children's sleepwear as defined in 16.15.1 (c), thereby discouraging the use of any dangerously flammable clothing textiles.

2. PRINCIPLE:

   16 CFR 1615 regulation requires that samples be suspended one at a time vertically in holders in a prescribed cabinet and subjected to a standard flame on the bottom edge for a specified period of time (3 seconds) under controlled conditions. The char length is measured. Samples cannot have an average char length of more than 7 in. and no single specimen can have a char length of 10 in. or a full burn. This applies to finished garments as produced or after one wash/dry as well as after the same garments have been washed and dried 50 times.

3. REFERENCE:

   16 CFR Part 1615, CPSC Standard for Flammability of Children's Sleepwear, Sizes 0 Through 6X.
   

4. APPARATUS:

   • 4.1 Test chamber
   • 4.2 Gas Supply - at least 97% pure methane
   • 4.3 Specimen Holders
   • 4.4 Oven for drying specimens
   • 4.5 Desiccator
   • 4.6 Hood

5. PROCEDURE:

   • 5.1 Launder samples if required.
   • 5.1 Cut 15 specimens (5 from each of three samples) each measuring 3.5 x 10.0 in. using the longest seam type.
   • 5.2 Place specimens in specimen holders so that the bottom edge of each specimen is even with the bottom of the specimen holder. Clamp the specimen to the holder with sufficient number of clamps or tape the specimen.
   • 5.3 Place the mounted specimens in the drying oven in a manner that will permit free circulation of air at 105° C/221° F for 30 minutes.
   • 5.4 Removed the mounted specimens from the oven and place in desiccator along with anhydrous silica gel for 30 minutes to cool and not more than 60 minutes. No more than 5 specimens shall be placed in the desiccator at one time.
   • 5.5 Suspend a specimen in the tester cabinet and the flame shall be impinged on the bottom edge of the specimen for 3.0 +/- 0.2 seconds.
   • 5.6 When afterglow has ceased, remove the specimen from the tester cabinet and measure the amount of burn from the bottom edge of the fabric to the highest burn mark.
   • 5.7 If necessary, take the proper amount of weight and attach to fabric and hold one side of the fabric while the weight pulls the other side to see if there is a tear. Measure to the tear

6. REPORTING:

   Report the value of char length in inches for each specimen as well as the average char length for each set of five specimens. Five specimens represent one sample. Take the average of the three sample averages to get the total average.
   • The average char length of five specimens shall not exceed 17.8 cm. (7 in.).
   • No individual specimen shall have a char length of 25.4 cm. (10 in.).