ASTM E2574/E2574M-12
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
In this test method fire test response characteristics of a school bus seat assembly are assessed following ignition by a square gas burner.
This test method is similar in concept to a fire test currently used, and which has been in such use for many years, as the industry standard for flammability testing of school bus seats (see Appendix X1). However, in this test method the paper bag has been replaced by a gas burner as the ignition source.
The US federal government has issued a flammability test applicable to interior materials in road vehicles, FMVSS 302. FMVSS 302 remains the only regulatory test for assessing fire-test-response characteristics of school bus seats.
ASTM has issued Test Method D5132 in order to provide a more standardized way of conducting FMVSS 302.
The test method described in this document provides a significantly higher challenge to school bus seats than the FMVSS 302 federal regulatory test. Therefore, any seat assembly that performs acceptably in this test is likely to meet the requirements of FMVSS 302.
It is clear that those seat assemblies that exhibit little or no flame spread, short times to flame extinction and little mass loss in this test are likely to exhibit improved performance in an actual fire situation compared to seat assemblies that burn vigorously and have high mass loss.
This test is primarily useful to distinguish products that, when exposed to these fire conditions, will become fully involved in fire from other products that will not.
SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method assesses the burning behavior of upholstered seating used in school buses by measuring specific fire-test responses when a school bus seat specimen is subjected to a specified flaming ignition source under normally ventilated conditions.
1.3 The ignition source is a gas burner.
1.4 This fire test is primarily useful to distinguish products that, when exposed to an ignition source, will become fully involved in fire from other products that will not.
1.5 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior of the seat assemblies from a specific ignition source until all burning has ceased.
1.6 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of upholstered seating in fire conditions other than those conditions specified.
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photographic or video recordings, whenever possible.
1.8 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:E2574/E2574M–12
Standard Test Method for
1
Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2574/E2574M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method assesses the burning behavior of
2. Referenced Documents
upholstered seating used in school buses by measuring specific
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
fire-test responses when a school bus seat specimen is sub-
D5132 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Poly-
jected to a specified flaming ignition source under normally
mericMaterialsUsedinOccupantCompartmentsofMotor
ventilated conditions.
Vehicles
1.3 The ignition source is a gas burner.
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.4 This fire test is primarily useful to distinguish products
E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furni-
that, when exposed to an ignition source, will become fully
ture
involved in fire from other products that will not.
E1590 Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses
1.5 Dataareobtaineddescribingtheburningbehaviorofthe
E2061 Guide for Fire HazardAssessment of Rail Transpor-
seat assemblies from a specific ignition source until all burning
tation Vehicles
has ceased.
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
1.6 This test method does not provide information on the
rimetry Fire Tests
fire performance of upholstered seating in fire conditions other
E2257 Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling
than those conditions specified.
Materials and Assemblies
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photo-
F1550 Test Method for Determination of Fire-Test-
graphic or video recordings, whenever possible.
Response Characteristics of Components or Composites of
1.8 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
Mattresses or Furniture for Use in Correctional Facilities
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
after Exposure to Vandalism, by Employing a Bench Scale
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Metric
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
Practice
with the standard.
3
2.2 National Safety Council Standard:
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
School bus seat upholstery fire block test, approved by the
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
National Conference on School Transportation as part of
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
the National Standards for School Buses and National
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
Standards for School Bus Operations
assessment of the materials, products or assemblies under
4
2.3 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards:
actual fire conditions.
FMVSS 222 School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
Protection, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49,
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
Transportation,SubtitleB,ChapterV,Part571,SubpartB.
conducting these tests.
FMVSS 302 Flammability of Interior Material, U.S. Code
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.17 on Transporta- the ASTM website.
3
tion. Available from National Safety Council (NSC), 1121 Spring Lake Dr., Itasca,
Current edition approved April 15, 2012. Published April 2012. Originally IL 60143-3201, http://www.nsc.org.
4
approved in 2011. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2574/E2574M–11. Available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
DOI: 10.1520/E2574_E2574M-12. Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2574/E2574M–12
of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Transportat
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E2574/E2574M–11 Designation:E2574/E2574M–12
Standard Test Method for
1
Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2574/E2574M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method assesses the burning behavior of upholstered seating used in school buses by measuring specific fire-test
responseswhenaschoolbusseatspecimenissubjectedtoaspecifiedflamingignitionsourceundernormallyventilatedconditions.
1.3 The ignition source is a gas burner.
1.4 This fire test is primarily useful to distinguish products that, when exposed to an ignition source, will become fully involved
in fire from other products that will not.
1.5 Data are obtained describing the burning behavior of the seat assemblies from a specific ignition source until all burning
has ceased.
1.6 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of upholstered seating in fire conditions other than
those conditions specified.
1.7 The burning behavior is visually documented by photographic or video recordings, whenever possible.
1.8 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials,
products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting
these tests.
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5132 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Polymeric Materials Used in Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
E1590 Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses
E2061 Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
E2257 Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies
F1550 Test Method for Determination of Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Components or Composites of Mattresses or
Furniture for Use in Correctional Facilities after Exposure to Vandalism, by Employing a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption
Calorimeter
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Metric Practice
3
2.2 National Safety Council Standard:
School bus seat upholstery fire block test, approved by the National Conference on School Transportation as part of the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.17 on Transportation.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2011. Published January 2012. DOI: 10.1520/E2574_E2574M-11.
Current edition approved April 15, 2012. Published April 2012. Originally approved in 2011. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2574/E2574M–11. DOI:
10.1520/E2574_E2574M-12.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from National Safety Council (NSC), 1121 Spring Lake Dr., Itasca, IL 60143-3201, http://www.nsc.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2574/E2574M–12
National Standards for School Buses and National Standards for School Bus Operations
4
2.3 Federal Motor Vehicle Saf
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.