Furniture Flammability Testing

Ensure your furniture products meet essential safety requirements and market access with comprehensive flammability testing from Element. Our specialized testing helps you navigate complex regulations, minimize liability risks, and expedite your path to market compliance with confidence in the safety and quality of your products.

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What is Furniture Flammability Testing at Element?

Furniture flammability testing evaluates how furniture products and components respond to potential ignition sources, measuring flame spread, smoke production, and overall fire safety performance. At Element, we provide comprehensive flammability testing services for furniture manufacturers and suppliers, helping you meet regulatory requirements and ensure consumer safety through advanced testing methodologies and expert guidance.

Element fire safety engineer in protective gear conducting building materials flammability testing

What Can Element Offer You For Furniture Flammability Testing?

Products and materials we test

Element tests a wide range of furniture and materials to ensure compliance with strict fire safety regulations. We evaluate full furniture items, mock-ups, and individual components to assess their reaction to fire, ensuring safety in various environments.

We test:

Bedding systems (healthcare facilities, convalescent homes, college dormitories, nursing homes, hotels)
Mattresses & pads (residential, institutional, high-risk facilities)
Seating furniture (public spaces, auditoriums, offices, jails, stadiums)
Upholstered chairs, decking materials, filling & padding components

Key tests offered

We conduct furniture flammability testing using industry-standard methods to evaluate fire resistance, including ignition risk, flame spread, and smoke/toxic gas emissions. Our testing ensures compliance with CAL TB 117, NFPA 260, and other major regulations.

Our key tests include:

Open flame ignition resistance (to assess fire exposure risks)
Smoldering ignition resistance (cigarette ignition tests)
Heat release rate measurement
Smoke and toxic gas emission analysis

Methods and solutions offered

Element provides a comprehensive approach to fire testing, using both standard test methods and customized solutions to address unique product requirements. Our experts guide manufacturers through the testing process, ensuring fast compliance and product safety.

Our methods include:

Reaction-to-fire testing (ignition, flame spread, heat release)
Full-scale and small-scale fire testing
Steiner Tunnel Test (for furniture used in building interiors)
Custom test programs (tailored to unique product designs)

Cutting-edge equipment we use

Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art fire testing technology, enabling precise assessment of furniture flammability. We utilize advanced instruments to measure ignition resistance, flame behavior, and hazardous emissions.

Our equipment includes:

Cone calorimeters (for heat release rate analysis)
Smoke density chambers (to assess visibility hazards)
Open flame ignition sources (for fire exposure simulations)
Custom-built test rigs (for unique product testing)

Standards we test to and products we test

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!

Our fire testing laboratories are accredited to conduct furniture flammability testing against many national and international standards including:

16 CFR Part 1632, 16 CFR Part 1633
ASTM E 84
CAL TB 117, CAL TB 121, CAL TB 129, CAL TB 133
CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7
CAN/ULC-S137, CAN/ULC-S102, CAN/ULC-S102.2
UFAC (NFPA 260)
UL 723

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Complex regulations

Navigate the complexity of furniture fire safety standards with our expert guidance. Our dedicated team brings in-depth knowledge of CAL TB 117, NFPA 260, and numerous other regulations, helping you understand exactly which requirements apply to your specific products and markets.

Product safety & liability risks

Minimize potential liability risks with comprehensive testing that thoroughly evaluates your furniture's fire safety performance. Our testing protocols assess reaction to fire properties including ease of ignition, flame spread, evolution of smoke and toxic gases, and heat release rate.

Speed to market

Expedite your path to market with testing services that efficiently validate compliance with all relevant standards. Element's furniture flammability testing provides the documentation you need to demonstrate safety compliance and gain market access without unnecessary delays.

Demands of high-risk environments

Access specialized testing for furnishings destined for high-risk environments like healthcare facilities, prisons, hotels, and public venues. Our experts understand the unique requirements for these settings and provide targeted testing to address the specific safety demands.

Why Choose Element

Element building products testing engineer in front of glass panel in industrial facility

Nearly 190 years of certainty

Our long history of materials testing gives you confidence in our methodologies and expertise for your furniture flammability testing needs.

Comprehensive testing capabilities

From component testing to full furniture evaluation, we offer complete assessment against both open flame and smoldering ignition sources.

Dedicated fire testing experts

Our specialized team brings in-depth knowledge of fire safety regulations to ensure your products meet all applicable requirements.

Advanced testing methodologies

We conduct specialized tests like the Steiner Tunnel for office dividers and other significant interior surface materials.

Frequently asked questions

What fire properties does Element evaluate?

Our testing evaluates key reaction to fire properties including ease of ignition, flame spread, evolution of smoke and toxic gases, and the burning material's heat release rate. We test for resistance to both open flame ignition sources and smoldering ignition sources such as cigarettes.