IMO 2010 FTPC Part 9 - Fire testing of mattresses in ships

Purpose

The standard is used for maritime safety to assess the ignitability of mattresses, upholstered bed bases, quilts, blankets, pillows etc., when subjected to smouldering cigarettes and a flame similar to a burning match as ignition source.

This test method only evaluates the ignitability of mattresses, upholstered bed bases, quilts, blankets, pillows etc. To evaluate the burning behavior, the object needs to be tested in full scale with larger ignition sources.

Products and materials for maritime use is fire tested according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) code, IMO 2010 FTP Code. The results from fire testing according to the FTP-code can be used as a basis for type approval (also called the wheel mark).

Type approval is regulated in accordance with European Parliament Directive 2014/90/EU. RISE can perform the fire tests, issue the certificates and perform the production control required in order to gain the wheel mark.

Method

The tests are performed in a test cabinet with a calibrated air flow. Mattresses are located directly on a test steel rig while quilts, blankets, pillows and thin light mattresses are located on a mineral wool board, placed on the test rig. Depending on the finish of the mattress, ignition sources are located on flat surfaces,  tape edges,  quilted locations, tufts etc. Two ignition sources are used; a smouldering cigarette covered with a cotton wool pad and a small gas flame.

The cigarette is allowed to smoulder its full length. During the test the  specimen is not allowed to smoulder after one hour from the beginning of the test. The specimen is not allowed to char through the full thickness of the product (materials thinner than 25 mm are excluded) or more than 25 mm in any horizontal direction from the nearest part of the original position of the edge of the cotton wool pad . Open flame ignition is also not allowed.

The test specimen is subjected to a gas flame equivalent to a match flame for 20 seconds. No flaming is allowed to continue for more than 150 seconds after removal of the burner tube.

Deliveries

A test report, in Swedish or English, is delivered with the test results after testing.