Flammability Testing of Textiles

Flammability is a critical safety concern in textile and apparel products, particularly for nightwear, children's clothing, sleepwear, and other flame-sensitive garments. Ensuring product safety through flammability testing and regulatory compliance is paramount. Our comprehensive textile flammability testing services are designed to assess fabric ignition resistance, burn rate, and flame spread behavior in accordance with the most recognized international standards and regulatory requirements, including UK Nightwear Regulations, EU EN 14878, US CFR 1610/1615/1616, and Canadian flammability standards. Our team of experts provides valuable advice to help you navigate global textile safety standards effectively.

Why Flammability Testing Matters

Textile flammability testing evaluates how easily a fabric ignites, how quickly it burns, and how it behaves when exposed to an open flame. These assessments are vital to:

• Protect consumers, especially children
• Meet mandatory safety standards
• Avoid costly recalls or penalties
• Demonstrate due diligence in product development and sourcing

Standards and Regulations We Test To

We support compliance with a range of global flammability standards, including:

UK - Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 (as amended)

The regulation applies to children’s nightwear and certain adult nightwear. It requires compliance with BS 5722 flammability performance or labelling, depending on the product.

Particularly applicable to:

• Pyjamas
• Nightdresses
• Dressing gowns
• Babies’ sleepwear

EU/UK - EN 14878:2007 – Nightwear for Children

A European standard for children's nightwear intended to reduce burn risks. It includes requirements for:

• Flame spread
• Design
• Labelling (Non mandatory)

This standard covers children’s garments aged up to 14 years and classifies results based on burning behaviour under controlled flame exposure.

US - 16 CFR 1610 – Flammability of Clothing Textiles

A mandatory U.S. standard for general apparel fabrics. It applies to all clothing textiles except hats, gloves, footwear, and interlinings.

Categorises fabrics into:

• Class 1 – Normal flammability
• Class 2 – Intermediate flammability
• Class 3 – Rapid and intense burning (prohibited from use in clothing)

US - 16 CFR 1615/1616 – Children's Sleepwear

U.S. federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear, covering:

• 1615 – Sizes 0–6X
• 1616 – Sizes 7–14

These standards require:

• Vertical flame tests
• Strict sampling, laundering, and retesting protocols

Canadian Textile Flammability Regulations

Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and associated flammability regulations, key standards include:

• SOR/2016-194 – Children’s Sleepwear Flammability
• SOR/2011-17 – General Textile Flammability

Products not meeting flammability performance may not be sold, advertised, or imported into Canada.

Our Flammability Testing Services

We offer:

• Fully accredited testing services globally
• Pre-compliance assessments
• Full textile safety compliance testing to UK, EU, and US standards (Other also available)
• Support with product development and labelling decisions
• Failure analysis and improvement advice

Who Should Test?

Flammability testing is essential for:

• Brands and retailers
• Importers/exporters
• Manufacturers of apparel and textiles
• Children's product suppliers

Ready to Ensure Compliance?

Contact our team of textile safety experts to schedule your flammability testing or request a quotation.