CAN/CGSB-4.2 No 27.7 Textile Test Methods for Burning Resistance of Mattresses - Cigarette Test

The standard “CAN/CGSB-4.2 No 27.7 Textile test methods for combustion resistance of mattresses - Cigarette test,” published by the Canadian government, describes how to evaluate a mattress’s resistance to ignition when exposed to a smoldering cigarette.

This standard applies only to smoldering from cigarettes, not to flames or other heat sources. This standard was developed to address fire-related injuries and property damage from mattresses, and compliance with this standard is mandatory under the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act and Mattress Regulations (SOR/2016-183 ).

The latest update to this standard includes several updates. For example, the standard adds terms such as charring and melting, optional smoking criteria based on percentage burn length, clarifications on sample selection and hardness testing, specified still air conditions (air velocity not exceeding 0,3 m/s), and tolerance specifications for the 50 mm marking template.

For claims of compliance with mattress regulations, the CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27.7 standard must be used. This standard is considered necessary for reasons relating to consumer safety, product regulation, and fire prevention. The main reasons why this standard is important are as follows:

• Smouldering fire safety: This standard tests a mattress's resistance to ignition from a lit cigarette, one of the most common real-world sources of bedroom fires. Mattresses made of flammable materials can ignite slowly and smolder before igniting, providing little warning and producing toxic fumes.
• Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection: This standard supports mattress regulations under the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA). It provides legal criteria for determining whether a mattress is safe for sale in Canada. Without it, there is no unified method for assessing or enforcing product safety. Additionally, many countries require mattress manufacturers to meet specific flammability standards. Compliance helps ensure products are safe for consumers and reduces manufacturers' legal liability.
• Standardized testing method: This standard ensures that all manufacturers are evaluated under the same conditions, using defined sample sizes, cigarette types, weather conditions, and ignition measurements. This uniform testing establishes consistency and reliability in safety claims.
• Preventing injuries and deaths: Cigarette-related bed fires can be fatal, especially if they occur while people are sleeping. This standard helps reduce fire-related deaths, injuries, and property damage by ensuring that beds are resistant to cigarette ignition.
• Supports product innovation: It encourages manufacturers to use safer materials, such as flame-retardant fabrics or protective barriers. It also enables continuous improvements through revisions that reflect advances in materials and fire science. Burn resistance testing increases product safety by encouraging manufacturers to use non-toxic, flame-retardant materials.

The test method defined in CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7 is a smoldering cigarette ignition test designed to evaluate the combustion resistance of mattresses. This method simulates a scenario in which a lit cigarette is accidentally dropped onto the surface of a mattress. The test is performed as follows:

• Sample preparation: Ten mattress samples, each measuring 300 mm x 300 mm, are taken. If the mattress can be used on both sides, five samples are taken from each side.
• Assembly: Each sample is placed in a flame retardant test box and compressed with a weight to simulate mattress hardness (a hardness meter or equivalent is used).
• Conditioning: Immediately before starting the test, the samples should be conditioned for at least 24 hours at a temperature of 21 degrees plus/minus 3 degrees and a relative humidity of 35 to 50 percent.
• Cigarette placement: A standard, lit and smoldering unfiltered cigarette is placed flat in the center of the sample. A 50 mm circular area is marked around the cigarette.
• Observation period: The cigarette is allowed to burn completely and the sample is observed for 10 minutes during and after extinguishing.
• Pass/fail criteria: A sample is deemed to fail if:
  • If carbonization or melting exceeds the 50 mm zone
  • If after-flame or afterglow persists for more than 10 minutes after extinguishing

A mattress passes the test if no more than one in ten samples meets the ignition resistance criteria.

In this standard, the test equipment and conditions are specified as follows:

• Cigarettes: Must be unfiltered, of a specific length and burning characteristics (according to standards).
• Air conditions: The room should be in a still air condition (air velocity not exceeding 0,3 m/s).
• Weighting device: Used to compress the sample to simulate body weight and hardness.
• Timing device: Required to monitor burn time and afterglow.
• Template: A 50 mm radius marker is used to assess the charring or melting zone.

Our organization, which has been supporting businesses across all sectors for years through a wide range of testing, measurement, analysis, and evaluation activities, has a strong team of employees who closely follow global developments in science and technology and are constantly improving themselves. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the "CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7 Textile test methods for the combustion resistance of mattresses - Cigarette test" standard.