Do open flame ignition resistance treatments for cellulosic and cellulosic blend fabrics also reduce cigarette ignitions?

Abstract

SUMMARYMattresses/bedding and upholstered furniture are subject to ignition by cigarettes (smoulder) and open flames leading to injuries, fatalities and property damage. There are mandatory and voluntary cigarette ignition standards in the USA for mattresses (16 CFR 1632) and upholstered furniture (UFAC voluntary standards) as well as open flame ignition standards in California (TB 117) and the UK (BS 5852). Open flame ignition standards are being considered/developed for these products. Some suggest that fire retardant (FR) treatments to prevent/reduce open flame ignitions also reduce cigarette ignitions. Some reports suggest that the smoulder ignition propensity of some cellulosic fabrics can be affected adversely by open flame ignition resistance treatments. Ignitions caused by cigarettes and open flames result from different types of combustion that are retarded by different mechanisms. Flaming combustion is a gas phase reaction and occurs when heat causes degradation of the polymer releasing volatile products that undergo rapid oxidation in the air, whereas smouldering combustion is a direct oxidation of either the polymer or its char. The results of textile/fibre industry studies with FR treated upholstery fabrics and a critical review of the available published literature indicate that cigarette ignition propensity of cellulose fabrics is complicated and affected by many factors and that smoulder ignition resistance of these fabrics can be affected adversely by open flame ignition resistance treatments.

Assessment of factors affecting fire performance of mattresses: a review

“…For this reason, nonwoven, highloft battings are more commonly used as fire barriers in residential mattresses. Nonwoven cotton battings treated with boric acid have been used for many years as fire barriers in mattresses (Wakelyn et al 2005). However, boric acid treatment may have problems associated with chalking, color change and undesirable texture (Toxicological Risks of Selected Flame Retardant Chemicals 2000).…”

Effect of zinc oxide on flame retardant finishing of plasma pre-treated cotton fabric

“…In general, cotton either burns or smolders in the presence of oxygen and high temperatures, in which the pyrolysis process of cotton can proceed via two different routes: (1) at relatively high temperature, the formation of levoglucosan which will further break down to flammable volatiles, and (2) at relatively low temperature, the process proceeds through dehydration of cellulose and formation of carbonaceous char and water (Siriviriyanun et al 2008). Since cotton fibres are char formers which are inherently flammable, they must be chemically treated to prevent ignition by small flames (Katović et al 2009;Wakelyn et al 2004). An organic phosphorus compound (FR) in combination with a melamine resin (CL) and phosphoric acid (PA) react with 6-hydroxyl groups of cellulose under acidcatalyzed conditions to impart effective flame retardant properties (Well 2008).…”

A review of fire blocking technologies for soft furnishings

“…Active technologies generally use combinations of fibers and/or coatings of fabrics, or PUFs with gas-phase-active FR for flame suppression or quenching. In general, passive technologies are good inhibitors of smoldering combustion, whereas active technologies suppress flaming combustion by altering either decomposition or oxidation reactions (Wakelyn et al 2005).…”

“…Nonwoven cotton battings treated with boric acid have been used for many years as fire barriers in soft furnishings products, especially mattresses (Wakelyn et al 2005). These materials are the least expensive FR barrier materials available on the market, since they usually contain cotton fibers that are procured from textile mills as by-products or waste products.…”