An assembly of upholstery materials for maritime use is subjected to 2 ignition sources: a smoldering cigarette and a flaming source equivalent to a burning match.
A test assembly using the fabric to be tested is made. - A smoldering cigarette is placed along the joint of the seat and back. Any evidence of progressive smoldering and flaming is observed within a period of 1 hour of the placement of the rig; - A burner is placed along the joint of the seat and back for 20 seconds. Any evidence of progressive smoldering and flaming is observed.
This includes: IMO Res. A563 (14) - amendments to the recommendation on test method for determining the resistance to flame of vertically supported textiles and films; IMO Res. A471 (XII) - recommendation on test method for determining the resistance to flame of vertically supported textiles films.
This includes: IMO Res. A652 (16): test for upholstered furniture smouldering cigarette test and butane flame test
The fabric passes the test if there is no evidence of progressive smoldering or flaming observed in any of the cases.
On 5th December 1996 IMO/MED introduced under MSC. 61(67) a new International Code for application of Fire test procedures to be implemented on 1st January 2010. The new code is named IMO FTPC (short for Fire Test Procedure Code). The required tests are listed under those Fire Test Procedure Codes: IMO FTPC Part 1: Non-combustibility test; IMO FTPC Part 2: Smoke and toxicity test; IMO FTPC Part 3: Test for “A”, “B” and “F” class divisions; IMO FTPC Part 4: Test for fire door control systems; IMO FTPC Part 5: Test for surface flammability (test for surface materials and primary deck coverings); IMO FTPC Part 7: Test for vertically supported textiles and films; IMO FTPC Part 8: Test for upholstered furniture; IMO FTPC Part 9: Test for bedding components; IMO FTPC Part 10: Test for fire-restricting materials for high-speed craft; IMO FTPC Part 11: Test for fire-resisting divisions of high-speed craft; Annex 2 Products which may be installed without testing and/or approval; Annex 3 Fire protection materials and required approval test methods; Annex 4 SOLAS, chapter II-2, regulation 5.3 and 6.2, (MSC/Cir.1120).
