ASTM Standardization News: Safer Children's Clothing

As Halloween approaches, let's take a lookASTMTo ensure children's clothingEfforts made towards safety.

Author: Jack Maxwell

In many countries around the world, it's this time of year again. Clothing manufacturers have unveiled their new designs, hoping to capture the imagination of young customers. Parents may plan gatherings or devise routes to take their children in search of candy and snacks. Where are the children? They eagerly dressed up and began waving their lightsabers.

Of course, we are talking about Halloween, which is celebrated in countries such as Mexico, Ireland, and Italy. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly affect certain aspects of this popular festival, there is one thing that may not affect the wishes of girls and boys, which is to unleash their imagination and turn themselves into fantasy animals and characters.

Although this annual festival is fun, one element of this festival is extremely serious: safety. Some communities will specifically play the game of "trick or treat" for children in the late afternoon to reduce the risk of children running onto the streets after dark. Parents usually accompany their children to check around, and many also inspect candy bags to ensure that everything is safe to eat.

for you：Safer toys and children's products

Then there is the clothing itself, which is the entry point of ASTM. Testing method for flammability of clothing and textiles（D1230）It is one of the commonly used standards for determining the flame retardancy of various fabrics.This standard is established by the Textile Committee（D13）Developed, updated in 2017, currently undergoing review and revision to reflect new developments in the industry and align with mandatory regulatory updates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Flammable fabric method

The history of flammability standards for clothing in the United States can be traced back to 1953, when Congress passed the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA). This regulation stipulates a test to determine whether fabrics or clothing are "flammable to the point of danger when worn by individuals".

The enforcement of this law was initially the responsibility of the Federal Trade Commission in the United States, but with the establishment of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1972, the enforcement of this law was transferred to the commission. This transformation empowers the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue and modify mandatory flammability standards, including clothing flammability standards. In 1975, the committee incorporated the combustion performance standards for clothing textiles into federal law, namely Chapter 16, Part 1610 of the Federal Code. Its effectiveness is reflected in serving as the basis for ASTM D1230 and as a criterion for textile flammability screening in regulations of other countries.

This standard, abbreviated as "1610" in the industry, includes a description of the instruments and procedures that must be followed when testing textiles used for clothing and finished garments. It also distinguishes between two basic types of fabrics - plain surface and raised surface (i.e. concave convex surface), and identifies three types of combustibility (see figure below).

Ellen Roaldi, Chair of the Flammability Subcommittee (D13.52) and Senior Technical Consultant at Bureau Veritas in France, emphasized the importance of this testing. She said, "This is an effective tool for removing dangerous and flammable fabrics

Pass the test

Most fabrics are inherently susceptible to the effects of fire. However, variables such as fiber content, weight, structure, and finishing determine the flammability of a fabric, what happens when ignited, and the speed at which it burns. It is necessary to conduct tests in order to observe and quantify how the different characteristics of fabrics exposed to open flames affect their performance, and to determine whether the fabrics are suitable for use in clothing.

The test used to evaluate the flame resistance of clothing is called the flammability of clothing textiles, which is specified in the commercial standard (191-53) in the initial FFA legislation. The program used became part of federal law as 16 CFR 1610 in 1975, and was last updated in 2008.

The testing itself was conducted using 5 50 x 150mm (2 x 6 inches) fabric samples, which must be tested twice: first in their original state, and then in what is known as "refurbishment", which involves dry cleaning and washing. The samples are evaluated in a special flammability testing chamber that is windproof, ventilated, and equipped with a shelf to place them at a 45 degree angle. The flame burns on the surface near the lower edge of the fabric for one second, and then records the time it takes for the flame to spread 127 millimeters (5 inches) above the sample.

The result was determined by the average time it took for the flame to propagate over five samples. If the time for the concave convex surface sample is less than 4 seconds, or the time for the plain surface sample is less than 3.5 seconds, an additional 5 samples must be tested and the average flame spread time of these 10 samples or samples with the same amount of combustion must be calculated. The final classification of fabrics is based on the lower value of two results obtained from testing before and after refurbishment.

Learn more：Regarding consumer safetyStandards andCPSIA

The ASTM method for testing the flammability of clothing textiles (D1230) is very similar to that specified in 1610, which is not surprising as members of ASTM have contributed to the development of federal standards. One difference is that at D1230, the fabric sample is dried in an oven for 30 minutes, and then placed in a dryer for 15 minutes before testing.

However, despite many similarities between these two testing methods, it must be pointed out that D1230 cannot be used for acceptance testing of commercial textile and clothing materials. The Consumer Product Safety Commission stipulates that these materials must comply with the 1610 standard. The ASTM method does provide a faster and more cost-effective option that companies can use for their own research and product development activities. Some fabrics that have reached a certain weight or fiber composition do not require testing to demonstrate compliance with the federal mandatory flammability requirements specified in 16 CFR 1610 of the Federal Code.

New equipment and regulations

One reason why this standard is being scrutinized again is as simple as looking at a calendar. The review cycle of ASTM standards is five years, and D1230 was last revised in 2017. The subcommittee is currently working to prepare for the approval and adoption of the next version before 2022.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has requested an update to the current 1610 testing method, which further drives this routine procedure. Roaldi said, "This requirement is part of the standard review, but it also addresses the need for standard updates for new washing equipment used by consumers, new solvents for dry cleaning, washing procedures, and possible exemptions within the standards." "Basically, we are reviewing it to make it more in line with consumer habits

John Crocker is the chairman of the D13 Textile Committee. He is also the Business Development Manager of SDL Atlas, a supplier of textile testing, quality control, and laboratory equipment. He said, "Due to regulations implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy, modern washing equipment and conditions have undergone significant changes compared to those selected and approved by committees a few years ago. Over the years, temperature settings, mixing speed and type, rotation speed, washing and rotation time have all changed. Although some changes may not seem as important as others, when you try to determine which results are correct from different devices, the final outcome is uncertain. ”

Another change that may affect the revision of D1230 is vinyl chloride, one of the common detergents in the dry cleaning industry. *Perc will be gradually phased out in California by 2023, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that dry cleaners in residential buildings must stop using Perc machines by the end of this year. Some states provide financial and technical assistance to shop owners to help them find less toxic alternatives.

Croke explained, "The cessation of the use of vinyl chloride was driven by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and approved based on its potential carcinogenic effects. The downside of doing so is that there are many emerging green technologies that the committee is not very familiar with. The washing industry needs a standardization process so that the labeling and testing committee can develop standards to replicate consumer practices

The standards set by the Textile Committee help make children's clothing safer.

Children and Fire

On October 31st, millions of children running around in cloaks and princess dresses did not consider safety issues, which is important. That's why reducing the likelihood of errors is so important.

Unfortunately, things can sometimes go wrong. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were at least 16 cases of clothing related burns in children under the age of 15 in the United States between 1980 and 2003, including one death. Among them, 8 victims were 7 years old or younger, and the other 5 were between 8 and 12 years old.

Roaldi said, "Children walk on the street - they wear loose and flowing clothes, they don't pay attention to whether there are candles burning on the sidewalk. Or they may come into contact with a pumpkin lantern that may have a candle burning. They often don't know what to do, and when exposed to a fire source and a fire occurs, they feel panic. In some cases, they hide, thinking that if they can't see the flames, they will be protected

The fabric on the clothing is only part of the problem. "Although the clothing may meet the requirements from the perspective of basic fabric, some additional ingredients can make the clothing more flammable," Luo Yaerdi pointed out. For example, glitter or foam adhered to the product. Manufacturers must be very clear that if these products are additional components, they should be tested together with them; There are also some things that can be glued or layered on top. Essentially, products with additional components and decorations are different items with varying degrees of flammability. They should not only test the bottom layer in the initial stage of fabric procurement, but also conduct more tests to make the finished product more representative. ”

The arduous and significant task of integrating 16 CFR 1610 and D1230 into the current market and aligning them more closely with reality has just begun. However, each stakeholder has firmly established their commitment to ensuring the safety of Halloween costumes and all clothing items.

Crocker said, "Various standard committees around the world are doing their best to develop methods that fully represent what customers can see in the field. Customers rarely know all the details of their purchases, but ultimately, this can be traced back to whether the original fabric manufacturer met the product specifications. They need to know how to manufacture materials to meet end use performance. If something slips through the cracks, failure will follow. That's why standards exist: to ensure that products meet end use requirements

Jack Maxwell is a freelance writer from Westmont, New Jersey.

This article was published in the September/October 2020 issue of Standardization News.