BS 7176 Testing

BS 7176 is the UK standard for fire performance testing of non-domestic upholstered seating furniture. It aims to ensure the safety of products in different fire risk environments through graded testing.

1. Differences in test fire sources and test methods

The test fire sources of BS 7176 are divided into two categories: basic fire sources and additional fire sources. Different hazard levels require superimposed tests:

ØLow risk level: Test according to BS EN 1021-1 (smoldering cigarette test) and BS EN 1021-2 (match flame test) standards.

Smoldering cigarette test: Place a lit cigarette on the surface of the furniture to observe whether it ignites the material

Simulated match flame test: Use a butane flame to simulate a match igniting the material

ØMedium risk level: On the basis of the low risk test, add pine wood fire 5 (BS 5852 ) ignition source

ØHigh risk level: On the basis of the low risk test, add pine wood fire 7 (BS 5852 ) ignition source. Pine wood fire 7 has a larger wood groove and a higher burning intensity.

Extremely high risk level: Superimpose multiple fire sources or customized fire sources on fire 7

2. Differences in judgment criteria

Different tests have different judgment criteria

Smoldering cigarette test: simulates cigarette ignition scenario, carbonization length must be ≤50mm (low/medium risk) or ≤100mm (high/extremely high risk)

Match flame test: open flame must self-extinguish within 120 seconds

Fire type 5/fire type 7 test: medium risk requires fire type 5 to burn for ≤10 minutes, high risk requires fire type 7 to burn for ≤13 minutes