16 CFR Part 1611 Flammable Fabrics Act Regulations - Part 1611 Vinyl Plastic Film Flammability Standard

The purpose of the standard "16 CFR Part 1611 Flammable Fabrics Act Regulations - Part 1611 Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film" published under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is to promulgate a minimum standard for the flammability of vinyl plastic film subject to the requirements of the Flammable Fabrics Act. The material covered by this standard is nonrigid, unsupported vinyl plastic film, including transparent, translucent, and opaque material, whether flat, embossed, molded, or otherwise surface-treated.

The general requirement for flammability is that when the material is tested with the SPI flammability tester in accordance with the method described in this standard, the burning rate shall not exceed 30,5 mm based on the average of five longitudinal and five transverse determinations relative to the processing direction.

The device used in flammability tests must be installed in accordance with the figure given in the standard and must consist of the following:

• Sample holder: A removable, flat, sample holding rack with separate upper and lower sections shall have the shape and dimensions shown in the standard. The sample is supported by tight sealing of the upper and lower sections around the sides of the sample. The middle section of the rack contains an open “U” shaped area in which the sample is ignited. When the rack is slid into the cabinet on rails mounted at a 45 degree angle, the bent portion of the sample adjacent to the igniter flame is vertical and the remainder at 45 degrees. The switch actuators consist of suitable springs mounted on the side of the rack, one just beyond the curved portion at the open end and the other at the closed end of the “U” shaped holder. The springs are compressed and held in place prior to ignition by means of cotton thread suitably wound across the sample and securely attached to the rack. When the flame reaches these threads, the springs are released, thus activating the micro switches of the chronometers.
• Igniter flame: The igniter flame should be produced at the tip of the No. 22 hypodermic needle jet. The igniter should be placed in the cabinet so that the tip of the needle is 14,3 mm from the surface of the sample with the sample rack in place.
• Cabinet: The cabinet should protect the pilot flame and the sample from drafts during tests, but should include a suitable door or window for visual processing, an arrangement to accommodate the sample holder, and adjustable vents to provide sufficient air for combustion of the sample. It should also be capable of providing rapid ventilation after a test so that all combustion products can be removed between tests.
• Timing mechanism: The burning rate shall be determined by a stop clock via micro switches mounted on the sample holder rack. The clock shall be started when the sample flame burns the first yarn and stopped when the yarn at the upper end of the holder, 152 mm away from the first yarn, burns. The timing mechanism shall be capable of indicating the time interval to 0,1 second.
• Butane: Unless otherwise specified, butane gas must be used for the ignition flame.
• Thread: Heavy duty white cotton thread.
• Micro burner.

Test specimens shall be 76,2 mm wide by 228,6 mm long. They shall be free from folds or wrinkles. Five specimens from each direction (machine and crosswise) of a given material shall be tested. The conditioning procedure shall conform to the requirements of Method B as described in ASTM D618-21, Standard Practice for Preparation of Plastics for Testing.

The burning time should be read from the stopwatch and the burning rate should be calculated. Results deviating from the average value of all tests should be rejected if the deviation of the questionable value is more than five times the average deviation from the average obtained by excluding the questionable value. Such questionable values ​​should be discarded and retests should be performed.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has provided for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services defined in the standard “16 CFR Part 1611 Flammable Fabrics Act Regulations - Part 1611 Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film” with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.