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Forensic evaluation of clothing flammability

  1. M. M. Hirschler1,*,
  2. J. B. Zicherman2,
  3. Peter Y. Umino2,†

Article first published online: 14 APR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/fam.997

Issue

Fire and Materials

Fire and Materials

Volume 33, Issue 7, pages 345–364, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hirschler, M. M., Zicherman, J. B. and Umino, P. Y. (2009), Forensic evaluation of clothing flammability. Fire and Materials, 33: 345–364. doi: 10.1002/fam.997

Author Information

  1. 1

    GBH International, 2 Friar's Lane, Mill Valley, CA 949491, U.S.A.

  2. 2

    Fire Cause Analysis, 935 Pardee Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, U.S.A.

  1. †

    Boeing Aircraft, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.

*GBH International, 2 Friar's Lane, Mill Valley, CA 949491, U.S.A.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 14 APR 2009

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Keywords:

  • apparel;
  • cellulosics;
  • clothing;
  • cotton;
  • fabric areal density;
  • fabric blends;
  • fabrics;
  • fire;
  • flammability regulation;
  • lightweight fabrics;
  • textile;
  • thermoplastics

Abstract

A set of 17 commercial garments were purchased, categorized based on their fabric composition and fire tested. Three fire exposures were used: (a) a simile of the United States regulatory test for apparel fabrics (16CFR1610), (b) a small vertical candle on a small swatch of fabric and (c) a candle applied to a full garment, placed on a mannequin. Comparisons were made between the results of the various tests and of the various fabrics tested. A general correlation was observed whereby increased fabric areal density [weight/unit fabric area] resulted in improved fire performance. Where outliers to this generalization were observed the improved fire performance was due to the superior inherent fire performance of specific fabric types such as silk. Overall, the quantitative behavior with regard to flame spread rate observed after ignition of cellulosic, thermoplastic and blended fabrics was more heavily dependent on fabric areal density than on their chemical composition. Two key conclusions are that very lightweight fabrics constitute a potential danger and that the United States regulatory value, set at 88.3g/m2 (2.6oz/yd2), represents an essentially arbitrary cut-off in this regard. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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