Determination of the Fire Resistance of Non-Metallic Materials in the Passenger Compartment of the Fiat MS-90095 Vehicle

The “Fiat MS-90095 Determination of the Fire Resistance of Nonmetallic Materials in Vehicle Passenger Compartment Parts” standard, developed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) (now Stellantis), an Italian-American automotive company, is an internal automotive material and safety specification developed within the FCA engineering standards system to evaluate the fire resistance (flammability) of nonmetallic materials used in vehicles. This standard is widely referenced in FCA material specifications for plastics, elastomers, PVC coatings, interior components, and polymer blends.

This standard specifically defines the requirements for how materials behave when exposed to flame or high heat conditions inside or around a vehicle.

The primary objective of the Fiat MS-90095 standard is to ensure that internal and external non-metallic components meet the following requirements:

• They are not easily flammable.
• They should not allow the flames to spread rapidly.
• They must comply with passenger safety regulations.
• They reduce the risk of smoke and fire inside the vehicle.
• They must comply with automotive fire safety expectations.

This specification is particularly important for the following:

• instrument panels
• Door trims
• Ceiling tiles
• Seat foams
• Cable sheathings
• PVC films
• Rubber components
• Thermoplastic parts
• Interior decorative surfaces

Many FCA material standards explicitly state that the material must meet the vehicle interior combustion resistance requirement according to the MS-90095 standard.

The Fiat MS-90095 standard is not typically a standalone material description standard. Instead, it is often referred to in conjunction with other FCA specifications such as the following:

• LP-7M005 Light resistor
• LP-7M021 Chemical Resistance
• LP-7M029 Color requirements
• ISO 3795 Burn rate test
• SAE J2527 Weather resistance rating

The Fiat MS-90095 standard typically evaluates the following:

• Flame spread: Measures how quickly a fire spreads.
• Combustion rate: Determines the rate of combustion.
• Self-extinguishing behavior: Evaluates whether the material automatically stops burning.
• Dripping behavior: Checks whether molten particles continue to spread the fire.
• Smoke formation: Evaluates concerns about visibility and toxicity.

Various automotive polymers and upholstery materials are referenced under this standard. Materials typically evaluated under the Fiat MS-90095 standard include:

• Polycarbonate (PC) / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blends
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds
• Polyoxymethylene (POM) engineering plastics
• elastomers
• Flexible vinyl materials
• Interior soft-touch finishes
• Thermoplastic composites

In particular, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends and polyoxymethylene materials must comply with the Fiat MS-90095 standard combustion requirements before being approved for vehicle use.

The Fiat MS-90095 standard is conceptually compatible with internationally accepted flammability standards such as:

• ISO 3795 Road vehicles, tractors and agricultural and forestry machinery - Determination of the combustion behavior of interior materials.
• FMVSS 302 Flame retardancy of automotive materials
• DIN 75200 Determination of the combustion behavior of interior materials of motor vehicles.
• SAE J369 Flammability of polymeric interior materials - Horizontal test method

In some FCA documents, older Fiat combustion specifications have been later harmonized or modified with ISO-based methods, but the Fiat MS-90095 standard is still referenced as the current internal requirement.

Tests related to the Fiat MS-90095 standard generally include the following:

• Horizontal combustion test
• Controlled flame exposure
• Measurement of combustion length and combustion rate.
• Observing the flame extinction time.
• Conditioning at specific temperature and humidity levels.

Materials that fail to achieve the required combustion rate or continue to burn excessively are generally rejected for use in vehicles.

The Fiat MS-90095 standard defines two different flammability test procedures, Method A and Method B, used for different vehicle material applications:

• Method A Interior passenger compartment materials: This is a horizontal combustion test method. It measures the rate of flame spread through the interior upholstery materials.

Method A is typically compared to the following standards:

• ISO 3795
• FMVSS 302
• DIN 75200

When this method is applied,

• A sample is placed horizontally.
• A small flame is applied for the specified time.
• Burning distance and burning speed are measured.

The material passes the test under the following conditions:

• If the flame spread remains below the specified limit
• If the material extinguishes itself quickly

This method is commonly used for the following:

• Dashboard plastics
• Door panels
• Upholstery materials
• PVC films
• Interior trim pieces

Method B is generally considered a more rigorous burn assessment method and is used in the following areas:

• Engine compartment materials
• Electrical coatings
• Insulation materials
• Components exposed to higher thermal risk.

This method includes the following:

• Vertical flame exposure
• Longer flame times
• Observation of dripping particles
• Spontaneous extinction performance

The main purpose of this method is as follows:

• To determine whether the material continues to burn after the flame is extinguished.
• To determine whether the material produces flaming droplets.
• To determine whether the material contributed to the spread of the fire.

The main difference between these two methods is the intensity and direction of the flame test:

• Method A: Horizontal internal material burn rate test
• Method B: Assessment of more severe vertical or high-risk burns.

Method A focuses primarily on limiting flame spread within the chamber, while Method B focuses more on preventing sustained combustion in harsher thermal environments.

The Fiat MS-90095 standard is necessary because modern vehicles contain large amounts of polymer-based materials. Without combustion control standards,

• Cabin fires can spread rapidly.
• Exposure to toxic fumes increases.
• Passenger evacuation time is shortened.
• Electrical failures can become more dangerous.
• Compliance with legal regulations fails.

Therefore, this standard directly contributes to the following:

• Passenger safety
• Vehicle homologation
• Material availability
• Supplier approval processes
• Long-term product reliability

In conclusion, the Fiat MS-90095 standard is a critical FCA automotive flammability specification focusing on the combustion resistance of non-metallic vehicle materials. This standard serves as a crucial safety benchmark for plastics, elastomers, upholstery systems, and interior components used in FCA vehicle platforms. By controlling flame spread and fire behavior, it helps improve passenger safety, regulatory compliance, and material durability in automotive applications.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its customers, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the Fiat MS-90095 standard.