Let us make a brief introduction to set the subject in context.
Fire prevention laws, fire reaction test methods and related classification systems vary, with a few exceptions, from country to country.
When we talk about reaction to fire, we do not require that items of furniture resist to a fire for a defined period of time, but that, if ignited, they do not contribute to spreading the fire.
Fire reaction tests is therefore not to be confused with fire resistance tests, where the resistance of a product (wall, ceiling, column, beam, fire door) is evaluated in terms of time.
Normally the tests are performed on specimens, of specific dimensions, made of the same materials from which the furniture is made.
Fire reaction norms that required to carry out the test on complete items of furniture are rare. Regarding upholstered furniture, the prevailing orientation is therefore to test a
composite, in other words the combination of cover and filing materials.
But let's answer the initial question: when is a piece of furniture (
Italian market) considered upholstered and what should be tested?
An upholstered piece of furniture is an artefact consisting of cover, “interposti” (a material that is placed between the cover and the filling materials and that has a thickness not more than 40 mm), filling materials and structure. Any of these components may be missing except for the filling materials.
Moreover, an item of furniture to be considered as an
upholstered itemof furniture must have one of these end use:
- upholstered furniture intended for seating;
- mattress;
- sommier (upholstered mattress support);
- sofa-bed;
- pillow;
- cushion.
In order to pass the test (UNI 9175), if a fabric already classified and a class 1.IM polyurethane foam are combined to make an upholstered item of furniture, the resulting upholstered item
cannot be automatically considered class 1.IM.An upholstered item of furniture can be considered class 1.IM only if all the composites, i.e. the “cover + “interposto” + filling materials” combinations with which it is manufactured, have been tested and have achieved the class 1.IM.
It sometimes happens that materials tested by suppliers/manufacturers, even if they have each obtained the best class, when tested together they do not guarantee class 1.IM.
For info:Daniele Barbiero
+39 0432 747256
barbiero@catas.com
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