An overview of the U.S. CPSC and its Flammable Fabric Act (FFA) regulations.

1. CPSC and Its Textile
Flammability Regulations
Jacqueline Campbell
AATCC Fall 2014 Committee Meetings
November 12, 2014
This presentation was prepared by CPSC staff, has not been reviewed
or approved by, and may not reflect the views of, the Commission.

2. Overview
• What is the CPSC?
• Textile Flammability Regulations
• Other Requirements for Textiles
• Recent Activity
• Resources

3. What Is the CPSC?

4. U. S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission
• Independent, federal agency
• Created in 1972
• 5 Commissioners
• Over 500 staff
• Headquarters in Bethesda,
MD
• Laboratory in Rockville, MD

5. Organization

6. What Do We Regulate?

7. What Do We Not Regulate?
• Alcohol, tobacco
products, firearms (ATF)
• Drugs, cosmetics, food
(FDA, USDA)
• Motor vehicles for road
use (NHTSA), aircraft
(FAA), boats (USCG)
• Pesticides (EPA),
medical devices (FDA),
workplace products
(OSHA and others)

8. Jurisdictional Authority
• Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)
• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)
• Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)
• Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA)
• Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
(VGBA)
• Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA)
• Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)

9. Jurisdictional Authority
• Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)
o As amended in 2008 by the CPSIA and 2011 by HR 2715
• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)
• Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)
• Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA)
• Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
(VGBA)
• Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA)
• Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA)

10. Flammable Fabrics Act

11. Flammable Fabrics Act
• Codified at 15 U.S.C. Sections 1191-1204
o https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/107013/ffa.pdf
• Promulgated by Congress in 1953
• Transferred to CPSC in 1973
• Prohibits the introduction or movement in interstate
commerce of any product, fabric, or related
material that fails to conform to an applicable
standard or regulation issued or amended under
the provisions of Section 4 of the Act

12. Flammable Fabrics Act
• 16 C.F.R. part 1610
Clothing Textiles
• 16 C.F.R. part 1611
Vinyl Plastic Film
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1615/1616
Children’s Sleepwear
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1630/1631
Carpets and Rugs
• 16 C.F.R. part 1632
Mattresses and Mattress Pads
(smoldering ignition)
• 16 C.F.R. part 1633
Mattress Sets (open-flame
ignition)

13. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Wearing Apparel
• Applies to all adult and children’s wearing
apparel.
o Some exceptions and exemptions
• Specifies testing procedures used to
determine the relative flammability of
textiles used in apparel as one of three
classes of flammability.
• Fabrics that meet a specific exemption do
not require testing.

14. §1610.1(c): Exceptions
• Interlining fabrics
• Most hats, gloves, and footwear
• Examples that are not exempt:
o Gloves longer than 14 inches and/or attached to
a garment
o Hats that cover the neck, face, or shoulders
o Footwear that consists in whole or in part of
hosiery or is part of another garment

15. §1610.1(d): Specific Exemptions
• Plain surface fabrics ≥88.2 g/m2 (2.6 oz/yd2),
regardless of fiber content
• Plain and raised surface fabrics made of:
o acrylic,
o modacrylic,
o nylon,
o olefin,
o polyester, wool, or any combination of these fibers,
regardless of weight.

16. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Test Summary
• 16 mm (5/8 in) flame impinges on specimen
mounted at 45-degree angle for 1 second
• Allowed to burn full length or until stop thread
breaks
• Results of several tests are averaged and a
Class designation is assigned

17. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Test Summary
• Determine fiber and fabric
type
• Conduct preliminary test
• Prepare and condition
specimens
• Test specimens
• Make preliminary
classification
• Refurbish and repeat test
• Make final classification
• Report results

18. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Classifications
• Class 1 – plain and raised surface fabrics that have no
unusual burning characteristics and are acceptable for
use in clothing
• Class 2 – raised surface fabrics only, intermediate
flammability- use with caution
• Class 3 – fabrics are dangerously flammable and CANNOT
be used in wearing apparel
Classification Plain Surface Raised Fiber Surface
Class 1 Average burn time > 3.5 s Average burn time > 7.0 s OR Average
burn time is 0-7 s with no base burns
(SFBB)
Class 2 N/A Average burn time is 4-7 s with base
burn (SFBB)
Class 3 Average burn time < 3.5 s Average burn time < 4.0 s with base
burn (SFBB)

19. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610: Classifications
Code
Description Time
Reported
SF uc Surface flash, under stop thread, but does not break thread. None
SF pw Surface flash, part way; does not break thread. None
SF poi
Surface flash, at point of impingement only; equivalent to
DNI for plain surface fabrics.
None
_._ sec
Actual burn time (sec) measured and recorded by the timing
device.
Yes
_._ SF Time (sec), surface flash only; no damage to the base fabric. Yes
_._SFBB
Time (sec), surface flash base burn starting at places other
than the point of impingement as a result of surface flash.
Yes
_._SFBBpoi
Time (sec), surface flash base burn starting at the point of
impingement.
Yes
_._SFBBpoi*
Time (sec), surface flash base burn possibly starting at the
point of impingement; the asterisk is accompanied by the
following statement if there is a question as to the origin of
the base burn: Unable to make absolute determination as to
source of base burns.
Yes
Note:
A result of SFBBpoi or SFBBpoi* does not qualify as a base burn under the
current interpretation of 16 CFR Part 1610.

20. 16 C.F.R. Part 1610:
Common Noncomplying Fabrics
• Sheer 100% rayon skirts and scarves
• Sheer 100% silk scarves
• 100% rayon and rayon/nylon chenille
sweaters
• Long animal hair sweaters
• Polyester/cotton and 100% cotton fleece
garments
• 100% cotton terry cloth robes

21. 16 C.F.R. Part 1611: Vinyl Plastic Films
• Covers non-rigid, unsupported, vinyl plastic
film
o transparent, translucent, and opaque material
o plain, embossed, molded or otherwise surface treated
• Shall not burn faster than 1.2 in/sec
• Recent recalls have included Halloween
costume capes and masks
21

22. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Children’s Sleepwear
• Any product of wearing apparel intended to be
worn primarily for sleeping or activities related to
sleep in sizes larger than 9 months through size
14.
o Nightgowns, pajamas, robes, and similar or related
items, such as loungewear
• Several factors determine if a garment is
sleepwear:
o Suitability for sleeping, likelihood of garment to be used
for sleeping
o Garment and fabric features
o Marketing, merchandising/display, intended use

23. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Exceptions
• Diapers and Underwear (exempt)
o Must comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1610
o http://www.cpsc.gov/pagefiles/126618/diaper
s01242012.pdf
• Infant garments (exempt)
o Sizes 9 months or younger
o One-piece garment does not exceed 64.8 cm
(25.75”) in length
o Two-piece garment has no piece exceeding
40 cm (15.75”) in length
o Must comply with 16 CFR Part 1610

24. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Exceptions
Tight-Fitting Sleepwear (exempt)
• Tight-fitting garments (defined by the Standards)
are exempt from testing to the sleepwear
requirements.
• Must:
o Not exceed specified dimensions.
o Comply with 16 C.F.R. part 1610.
o Meet labeling requirements.

25. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• Children’s sleepwear (that is not tight-fitting)
must pass the flammability
requirements.
o All fabrics and garments must be flame
resistant and self-extinguish (not continue to
burn) when removed from a small, open-flame
ignition source.

26. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• Multiple stages of testing are required,
following prescriptive sampling plans

27. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Summary
• Test fabric, seams, and
trim
• Test sample of five
specimens
• Orient vertically
• Test in original state and
after 50 laundering
cycles

28. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616: Summary
• Prepare five 8.9 cm x 25.4 cm
(3.5 inches x10 inches)
specimens of fabric, seams,
and trim.
• Condition specimens before
testing.
• Apply a gas flame of 3.8 cm
(1.5 inches) to the bottom
edge of the specimen for 3
seconds.
• Measure char (burn) after the
flame/afterglow has ceased.
Preparing to apply ignition
source to specimen

29. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616:
Requirements
• The average char length of 5 specimens
cannot exceed 17.8 cm (7.0 inches).
• No individual specimen can have a char
length of 25.4cm (10.0 inches).
o No individual specimen may burn its full length.
• Production testing and recordkeeping
requirements are required.
o Tested samples must be retained.

30. 16 C.F.R. Parts 1630 & 1631
(Carpets and Rugs)
• Intended to protect
consumers from surface
ignition of carpets and
rugs
• Must pass specified
flammability tests
o The char does not extend to within
1 inch of the flattening frame
• Labeling provision under
16 C.F.R. part 1631
30

31. 16 C.F.R. Part 1632:
Smoldering Ignition of Mattresses
• Must pass specified flammability tests
o The char does not extend beyond 2 inches from the
ignition source, a lit cigarette
• Mattresses and mattress pads are included
• Includes component tests for tickings and tape
edges
31

32. Recent Activity
• Current ANPR to amend or revoke the standard
(2005)
• Updated to specify SRM cigarette designed by NIST
• Compliance stay of enforcement with testing
decreased to two surfaces
• Recent project evaluated effect of reduced
ignition propensity (RIP) cigarettes on soft furnishings
32

33. Summary of 16 C.F.R. Part 1633:
Open-Flame Ignition of Mattresses
• Covers mattress sets
• Outlines testing, labeling, and recordkeeping
requirements
• Open-flame ignition source (two propane burners)
• Specifies two performance criteria:
o Cannot exceed peak heat release rate (HRR) of 200kW
during a 30 minute test
o May not exceed total heat release (THR) of 15 MJ in first 10
minutes of test
33

34. Recent Activity
• July 2007
• 2008 Technical amendments
• ISO/FDIS 12949
o Standard for Measuring the Heat Release Rate of Low Flammability
Mattresses and Mattress Sets
34

35. Other Requirements for
Textiles

36. Drawstring Requirements for
Children’s Clothing
• CPSC issued guidelines (1996) later adopted by
ASTM in 1997 (ASTM F1816-97)
o May 2006 letter to industry
(http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/135448/drawstring.pdf)
• Substantial product hazard (15(j)) in 2012
• Applies to drawstrings on upper outerwear, such as
jackets, and sweatshirts
• Sizes 2T-12 (or equivalent) with neck or hood drawstrings
• Sizes 2T-16 (or equivalent) with
waist or bottom drawstrings
that do not meet specified
criteria
• Dresses are not upper outerwear
• Belts are not drawstrings

37. The Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act of
2008

38. What’s Required: Adult Clothing
• 16 C.F.R. part 1610 (Flammability)
• GCC Required, including products that are exempt
from testing

39. What’s Required: Children’s Clothing
• 16 C.F.R. part 1610 (Flammability)
• CPC Required, Third Party Testing
• Lead Content
• Lead Surface Coating
• Tracking Labels
• Drawstring Requirements

40. What’s Required: Children’s Sleepwear
• 16 C.F.R. parts 1615 and 1616 (Flammability)
o 16 C.F.R. part 1610 if tight-fitting
• CPC Required, Third Party Testing
• Lead Content
• Lead Surface Coating
• Tracking Labels
• Phthalate Requirements
o Sleepwear for children 3 years old or younger

41. Recent Activity

42. Recent Activity
• Furniture Flammability
o http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/129840/ufmemos.pdf
o http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC/tag/upholstered-furniture
• Bedclothes ANPR
• 16 C.F.R. part 1632 lab manual update
• Cigarette Ignition Risk (CIR) Report
o http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC/nfpa-presentation-s-mehtaapprovedfor-
slideshare-23808922
o http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/139713/CIRProjectMemoApproved.pdf

43. Resources

44. Resource: Small Business Ombudsman
www.cpsc.gov/SmallBiz

45. Helpful Links
• Recent Staff Presentations
o http://www.slideshare.net/USCPSC
o 2013 Safety Academy FFA Session
o 2014 NFPA Conference
• Loungewear letter
o http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/121300/loungewear.pdf
• 1632 Enforcement Policy
o http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/117365/InterimMattress.pdf
• NIST SRM 1196
o https://www-s.nist.gov/srmors/quickSearch.cfm

46. FFA Laboratory Manuals
46
• http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Busi
ness--Manufacturing/Testing-
Certification/Testing/
• 1610 lab manual
• 1615/16 lab manual
• 1632 lab manual
• 1633 lab manual at:
https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/1
17388/labmanual.pdf

47. Resource: Searchable List of Laboratories
http://www.cpsc.gov/labsearch

48. For Further Information:
Jacqueline Campbell
U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission
Division of Combustion and Fire Sciences,
Directorate for Engineering Sciences
301-987-2024
jcampbell@cpsc.gov
www.cpsc.gov