SUMMARY A series of evaluations were performed on different types of barrier fabrics (BFs) used in soft furnishings. Fundamental properties that influence the heat transfer characteristics of barrier material as it relates to thermal protection of cushioning components in upholstered products are discussed. This is important to enable a priori selection of BFs such that a final upholstered product complies with flammability regulations. Heat transfer measurements are used to determine effectiveness of materials to be used as barrier materials. A new bench‐scale composite test method is also described to assess qualitative fire blocking performance of BFs. When tested for heat transfer characteristics, the area density and thickness of BFs show strong influence. However, when tested as a composite in a mock‐up assembly, the BFs considered in this study showed a clear distinction between active and passive BFs. In the case of chemically active BFs, the construction parameters and material properties such as thickness, air permeability, and heat transfer were of little significance. In the case of passive BFs, however, these parameters became decisive. Results from this study suggest that if the BF is not an active fire barrier, then the amount of heat transferred through BF is critical. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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The objective of this study was to provide guidelines to quantify heat transfer characteristics of fire blocking barrier fabrics (BF) used in soft furnishings. Fundamental BF properties that influence the heat transfer characteristics as it relates to thermal protection of cushioning components in upholstered products are discussed. This is important to enable a priori selection of BFs such that a final upholstered product complies with full-scale, open-flame flammability regulations. The report provides a brief review of existing test methods which generally use char length and/or mass loss as "pass/fail" criteria for assessing performance of BFs to be used in finished products. Generally, in these test methods, BFs are tested in mock-up configuration as opposed to individual components as considered in this study. Basic heat transfer measurements are used to determine effectiveness of materials to be used as BFs. The document includes descriptions of flammability test methods used to characterize the ignitability, heat release rate, and heat transfer properties of BFs. Selected BFs have been examined for the aforementioned properties, and results are discussed. A new bench-scale composite test method is also described to assess qualitative performance of BFs. When tested for heat transfer characteristics, the area density and thickness of BFs show strong influence. However, when tested as a composite in a mock-up assembly, the BFs considered in this study showed a clear distinction between active and passive BFs. In the case of chemically active BFs, the construction parameters and material properties such as thickness, air permeability, and heat transfer were of little significance. In the case of passive BFs, however, these parameters became decisive. Results from this study suggest that if the BF is not an active fire barrier, then the amount of heat transferred through BF is critical, i.e, the material should be thermally thick to protect the underlying cushioning layers. This document is intended to be a technical resource that provides a holistic approach to quantify the fire performance properties of BFs used in soft furnishings. As such, it does not provide a minimum standard for barrier materials.

In this study, the mechanical properties critical to the protective performance of firefighter turnout gear were evaluated in environmentally stressed outer shell (OS) fabrics containing melamine fiber blends. Environmental stress factors that affect the durability of turnout gear include temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, moisture, abrasion, and laundering. The effect of fiber blend, fabric construction, and finishing processes including water repellent coatings and pigmented melamine-containing OS fabrics were also studied. Melamine-containing OS fabrics show comparable thermal protective performance and have superior tear resistance when compared to the traditionally used polyaramid blends.This study reveals that the thermal protective protection (TPP) rating of fabric assemblies incorporating environmentally stressed OS fabrics containing melamine fiber blends is well above the NFPA minimum TPP requirement of 35 Cal/cm 2 . However, the tear strength (measured using ASTM D 5587 standard test method ) of all melamine-containing OS fabrics exposed to environmental stresses was observed to have significantly deteriorated, and most OS fabrics, depending on fiber blend and fabric structure, would fail to meet requirements of NFPA 1971 standard. The study thus suggests that environmental stressing has a more detrimental impact on the tear strength than the thermal protective performance of OS fabrics. Deterioration in tear strength of all UV exposed OS fabrics is largely due to photodegradation of constituent fibers. Changes in tear strength of OS fabrics subjected to thermal exposures and laundering is cumulative effect of loss in tensile strength of single yarns and dimensional stability of the fabric itself. Furthermore, finishing treatments affect performance properties of fabric by increasing fiber packing factor in yarn, changing yarn crimp and yarn spacing thereby making dimensional changes to the fabric. Surface coatings alter tear resistance of fabric by influencing yarn slippage and fabric rigidity. Fabrics dyed with black and dark blue dyes cause less UV degradation of fibers than bright yellow and brown dyes.

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