ASTM E1537-22
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method provides a means to measure a variety of fire-test-response characteristics resulting from burning a specimen of upholstered furniture. The upholstered furniture specimen is allowed to burn freely under well-ventilated conditions after ignition using a propane gas burner. The most important fire-test-response characteristic measured is the rate of heat release, which quantifies the intensity of the fire generated.
5.2 The rate of heat release is measured by the principle of oxygen consumption. The assumptions and limitations of oxygen depletion calorimetry are discussed in Annex A4, and in particular in A4.1.2.
5.3 Other fire-test-response characteristics are measured, namely smoke obscuration and combustion gas release, as they are also important in making decisions on fire safety.
5.4 The most important gaseous components of smoke are the carbon oxides, present in all fires. They are indicators of the toxicity of the atmosphere and of the completeness of combustion. Measurement of concentrations of carbon oxides are useful for two purposes: as part of fire hazard assessment calculations and to improve the accuracy of heat release measurements. Other toxic combustion gases, which are specific to certain materials, are less crucial for determining combustion completeness and are optional measures, but fire hazard assessment often requires their measurement.
5.5 The type of ignition chosen (a flaming source) is common in both accidental and intentional fires in public occupancies. This test method is thus applicable to upholstered furniture in public occupancies. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, jails, prisons, nursing care homes, health care facilities, public auditoriums, hotels, and motels.
5.6 It has been shown that if the gas burner is used at a flow rate of 13 L/min for 80 s (equivalent to 19.3 kW), as is the case in California Technical Bulletin (CA TB) 133, it approximates the ignition propensity of five cru...
SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the burning behavior of upholstered furniture used in public occupancies by measuring specific fire-test responses when the specimen of furniture is subjected to a specified flaming ignition source under well-ventilated conditions.
1.3 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior from a specific ignition source until all burning has ceased, a period of 1 h has elapsed, or flashover appears inevitable.
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of upholstered furniture in fire conditions other than those conditions specified. In particular, this test method does not apply to smoldering ignition by cigarettes. See X1.6 for further information.
1.5 The rate of heat release of the burning specimen is measured by an oxygen consumption method. See X1.6.4 for further information.
1.6 The production of light obscuring smoke is measured and the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the combustion gases are determined. See X1.6.5 for further information.
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photographic or video recordings, whenever possible.
1.8 The system of units to be used in referee decisions is the SI system of units, see IEEE/ASTM SI-10 only. The units given in parentheses are for information only.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its us...
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1537 − 22 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1537; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
conducting these tests.
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the
burning behavior of upholstered furniture used in public
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
occupanciesbymeasuringspecificfire-testresponseswhenthe
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimen of furniture is subjected to a specified flaming
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
ignition source under well-ventilated conditions.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.12 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.3 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior from
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
a specific ignition source until all burning has ceased, a period
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
of 1 h has elapsed, or flashover appears inevitable.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
fire performance of upholstered furniture in fire conditions
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
other than those conditions specified. In particular, this test
method does not apply to smoldering ignition by cigarettes.
2. Referenced Documents
See X1.6 for further information.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.5 The rate of heat release of the burning specimen is D123Terminology Relating to Textiles
measured by an oxygen consumption method. See X1.6.4 for E84Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
further information. Building Materials
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
1.6 The production of light obscuring smoke is measured
E603Guide for Room Fire Experiments
and the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the
E800GuideforMeasurementofGasesPresentorGenerated
combustion gases are determined. See X1.6.5 for further
During Fires
information.
E1354Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photo-
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
graphic or video recordings, whenever possible. sumption Calorimeter
E2067Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
1.8 Thesystemofunitstobeusedinrefereedecisionsisthe
rimetry Fire Tests
SI system of units, see IEEE/ASTMSI-10 only. The units
E2257Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling
given in parentheses are for information only.
Materials and Assemblies
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
IEEE/ASTMSI-10International System of Units (SI): The
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
Modern Metric System
3
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
2.2 ISO Standards:
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
ISO 4880 Burning Behaviour of Textiles and Textile
assessment of the materials, products or assemblies under
Products—Vocabulary
actual fire conditions.
ISO 9705Fire Tests—Full Scale Room Test for Surface
Products
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.15 on Furnishings contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
and Contents. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published May 2022. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E1537–16. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/E1537-22. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1537 − 22
ISO 13
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1537 − 16 E1537 − 22 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1537; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the burning behavior of upholstered furniture used in public occupancies by
measuring specific fire-test responses when the specimen of furniture is subjected to a specified flaming ignition source under
well-ventilated conditions.
1.3 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior from a specific ignition source until all burning has ceased, a period of 1
h has elapsed, or flashover appears inevitable.
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of upholstered furniture in fire conditions other than
those conditions specified. In particular, this test method does not apply to smoldering ignition by cigarettes. See X1.6 for further
information.
1.5 The rate of heat release of the burning specimen is measured by an oxygen consumption method. See X1.6.4 for further
information.
1.6 The production of light obscuring smoke is measured and the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the combustion
gases are determined. See X1.6.5 for further information.
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photographic or video recordings, whenever possible.
1.8 The system of units to be used in referee decisions is the SI system of units, see IEEE/ASTM SI-10 only. The units given in
parentheses are for information only.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials,
products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.15 on Furnishings and
Contents.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2016April 1, 2022. Published January 2017May 2022. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20152016 as
E1537 – 15.E1537 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/E1537-16.10.1520/E1537-22.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1537 − 22
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.12 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
E800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
Calorimeter
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
E2257 Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 4880 Burning Behaviour of Textiles and Textile Products—Vocabulary
ISO 9705 Fire Tests—Full Scale Room Test for Surface Products
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
4
2.3 UL Standard:
UL 1056 Fire Test of Upholstered Furniture (withdrawn)
5
2.4 CA Standard:
CA Technical Bulletin 133 Fla
...
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