ISO 10047:2025

Overview

ISO 10047:2025 - Textiles - Determination of surface burning time of fabrics specifies a laboratory method to measure surface burning time for textile fabrics with a raised fibre surface (napped, pile, tufted, flocked or similar). The second edition (2025) updates the original 1993 standard and was prepared by ISO/TC 38 (Textiles). The method times flame propagation from a defined ignition point to a reference line on a vertical specimen and includes required apparatus, specimen conditioning and test reporting.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies only to fabrics with a raised surface (pile, nap, tufted, flocked).
• Specimen dimensions: Standard specimen size 150 mm × 75 mm (full width for fabrics <75 mm); exposed test area 125 mm × 50 mm in the frame.
• Number of specimens: Minimum of eight specimens per surface orientation (four lengthwise, four crosswise), with re-test provisions if only one specimen burns.
• Conditioning and drying: Dry specimens in a circulating air oven at 105 °C ± 2 °C for ≥1 h; cool in a desiccator for ≥30 min; test within 1 min of removal.
• Test environment: Ambient temperature 10 °C to 30 °C, relative humidity 15 % to 80 %, and air movement <0.2 m/s at test start.
• Ignition and timing: Use a gas burner (Annex A) with flame height adjusted to 40 mm ± 2 mm; apply flame for 1.0 s ± 0.1 s; measure time for pile/nap to burn down 75 mm to the reference mark.
• Apparatus and accessories: Includes a stainless steel specimen holder (with reference mark), a specified burner (Annex A), a brushing device for raising fibres (Annex B), timing device (±0.2 s), oven and desiccator, and recommended bottled gas (propane, butane or blends).
• Health & safety: Burning textiles can generate smoke/toxic gases; tests require suitable ventilation and safe laboratory practice.
• Test report content: Must reference ISO 10047:2025 and include specimen state, number failing to burn, individual burn times and directions, ambient conditions, deviations, and an explanatory statement that results alone do not represent overall fire hazard.

Applications

• Performance testing of pile and napped textiles used in apparel, upholstery, carpets, curtains and soft furnishings.
• Quality control and product development to compare surface flammability across fabric constructions and finishing treatments.
• Supporting fire-safety assessments where surface burning time is one of several properties considered.

Who should use this standard

• Textile test laboratories and quality control departments
• Product safety and compliance teams in upholstery, carpet and soft-furnishing manufacturers
• Textile researchers and material developers evaluating surface flammability of napped or pile fabrics

Related standards

• ISO 4880 (Burning behaviour of textiles - Vocabulary) - referenced for terms and definitions.
• Consult additional national or sector-specific fire-safety standards when using these results for regulatory compliance or hazard assessment.