What are the testing methods used to determine compliance with open flame flammability standards for mattresses?

There are three test methods used to determine if a mattress meets the open flame flammability criteria:

1. Standard Test Methods

Currently, commonly used test standards at home and abroad include the U.S. CPSC 16 CFR Part1633 standard, the European EN 597-1 standard, and the Chinese GB/T 18253 standard. These standards provide for specific test methods and experimental conditions, such as the use of heating sources (e.g., natural gas torches or butyl wood plugs) formulated within the laboratory, test time, temperature, and loading, etc., in order to simulate the fire situation in a real scenario.

2. Combustion chamber test method

The Combustion Chamber Test Method is a test method conducted in a laboratory environment to assess the open-flame flammability performance of a mattress by placing it in a specific combustion chamber, applying a certain amount of loading and heat source, and observing the combustion process and smoke emission of the mattress.

3. Actual Fire Test Method

Actual fire test method is a method to evaluate the fire resistance of mattresses in real scenarios by conducting fire tests in the field. The test method needs to be conducted in a specific experimental site, through the simulation of a real fire situation, to observe the burning situation and smoke emission of the mattress to assess its open flame flammability. Due to its hazardous nature and high cost, this test method is not commonly used, and is mainly used for testing and evaluation by official regulatory bodies and industry associations.

It should be noted that all the above three testing methods need to be conducted in professional laboratories or venues and operated by professionals. Consumers are not advised to conduct the tests on their own to prevent accidents. When purchasing mattresses, consumers should choose brands or products that have passed the appropriate tests and certifications to ensure that their open-flame flammability complies with the standards.