ASTM E1537-02

Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Real Scale Upholstered Furniture

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 Practice E 380 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 of products and materials is inherently hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. This test method may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2002
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 97.140 - Furniture
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.15 - Furnishings and Contents

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1537-01 - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Real Scale Upholstered Furniture
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM E1537-02a - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F1550-22 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Components or Composites of Mattresses or Furniture for Use in Correctional Facilities after Exposure to Vandalism, by Employing a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2335-22 - Standard Guide for Laboratory Monitors
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F1870-22 - Standard Guide for Selection of Fire Test Methods for the Assessment of Upholstered Furnishings in Detention and Correctional Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2280-21 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of the Effect of Upholstered Seating Furniture Within Patient Rooms of Health Care Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2067-22 - Standard Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D5537-23a - Standard Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread, Smoke Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1995-21 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radiant Source in a Single Closed Chamber, With the Test Specimen Oriented Horizontally
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2574/E2574M-17(2021) - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1591-20 - Standard Guide for Obtaining Data for Fire Growth Models
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1822-21 - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: E 1537 – 02
Standard Test Method for
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Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1537; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
burning behavior of upholstered furniture used in public
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
occupancies by measuring specific fire-test responses when the
specimen of furniture is subjected to a specified flaming
2. Referenced Documents
ignition source under well-ventilated conditions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior from
2
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
a specific ignition source until all burning has ceased, a period
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
of 1 h has elapsed, or flashover appears inevitable.
3
Building Materials
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the
3
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
fire performance of upholstered furniture in fire conditions
E 380 Practice for Use of the International System of Units
other than those conditions specified. In particular, this test
4
(SI) (the Modernized Metric System)
method does not apply to smoldering ignition by cigarettes.
E 800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Gener-
See X1.6 for further information.
3
ated During Fires
1.5 The rate of heat release of the burning specimen is
E 1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
measured by an oxygen consumption method. See X1.6.4 for
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
further information.
3
sumption Calorimeter
1.6 The production of light obscuring smoke is measured
2.2 ISO Standards:
and the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the
5
ISO 3261 Fire Tests—Vocabulary
combustion gases are determined. See X1.6.5 for further
ISO 4880 Burning Behaviour of Textiles and Textile
information.
5
Products—Vocabulary
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photo-
ISO 9705 Fire Tests—Full Scale Room Test for Surface
graphic or video recordings, whenever possible.
5
Products
1.8 The system of units to be used in referee decisions is the
2.3 UL Standard:
SI system of units, see Practice E 380 only. The units given in
6
UL 1056 Fire Test of Upholstered Furniture
parentheses are for information only.
2.4 CA Standard:
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
CA Technical Bulletin 133 Flammability Test Procedure for
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
7
Seating Furniture for Use in Public Occupancies
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
2.5 BSI Standard:
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
BS 5852: Part 2: Fire Tests for Furniture, Part 2. Methods of
assessment of the materials, products or assemblies under
Test for the Ignitability of Upholstered Composites for
actual fire conditions.
8
Seating by Flame Sources
1.10 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and prop-
erty shall be employed in conducting these tests. This test
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
method may involve hazardous materials, operations, and
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
equipment. 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
5
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street,
13th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
1 6
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Available from Underwriters Laboratories, 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.15 on Furnishing 60062.
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and Contents. Available from State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, 3485
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2002. Published March 2002. Originally Orange Grove Avenue, North Highlands, CA 95660.
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published as E 1537 – 93. Last previous edition E 1537 – 01. Available from British Standards Institution, 2 Park St., London W1A 2B5, UK.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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