Overview
ISO 16502-1:2024 - Furniture - Assessment of the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases - Part 1: Ignition source: smouldering cigarette specifies a laboratory test method to assess the ignitability of mattresses, upholstered bed bases and mattress pads when exposed to a smouldering cigarette. The document defines test scope, safety precautions, apparatus, specimen preparation, test atmospheres and pass/fail criteria. This part excludes air mattresses and water beds and is one part of the ISO 16502 series addressing different ignition sources.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & purpose: Measure resistance to smouldering cigarette ignition of mattress and bed-base constructions to inform design, safety and certification.
- Ignition criteria: Defines progressive smouldering (self‑propagating charring or consumption, smouldering > 1 h, or smouldering through full thickness) and flaming ignition (any flames initiated by smouldering).
- Apparatus: Includes a mesh test rig (minimum platform dimensions tied to specimen size), a test enclosure or room (room volume > 20 m3 or controlled through-flow), and an accurate clock.
- Ignition source: Un‑tipped cylindrical cigarettes required to specified dimensions (length 68 ± 2 mm, diameter 8 ± 0.5 mm, mass 0.85 ± 0.15 g) and a defined smouldering rate (7.5 ± 2 min/40 mm).
- Conditioning & test atmospheres: Conditioning at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) % RH for at least 24 h. Testing permitted between 10 °C–30 °C and 15 %–80 % RH.
- Specimen requirements: Small‑scale specimens minimum 450 × 450 mm with nominal finished thickness, representative cover tension and edge finishing; full‑size procedures also specified.
- Safety & testing protocol: Tests present fire hazards - use non‑combustible fume cupboards or enclosures, provide extinguishers and protective equipment. Test report and final examination procedures are standardized.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO 16502-1:2024 is used by:
- Manufacturers and product designers to evaluate mattress and bed‑base designs and materials for smouldering cigarette resistance.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies conducting ignitability testing for compliance, product labeling and safety verification.
- Regulators and procurement teams specifying safety requirements for furniture in residential, hospitality and institutional settings.
- Fire safety engineers and risk assessors for hazard assessment and materials selection.
Practical benefits include improved consumer safety, informed material selection, and consistent test data to support compliance and market access.
Related standards
- ISO 16502 series (other parts address different ignition sources). Users should consider complementary flaming ignition tests because protection against flaming does not guarantee resistance to smouldering sources.