11 November 2024

BS 5852 Fire safety All about Source 0, 1 and Crib 5 tests for Furniture and Upholstery

The British Standard BS 5852 is one of the main standards for fire safety within the furniture industry in the UK and many other countries. This standard specifies test methods to assess the flammability of upholstered furniture. Setting these norms or standards for testing ensures that all tests are carried out in the same consistent manner. This standard was developed to minimise the risk of fire spread. This is obviously especially important in environments where people stay, whether for long periods of time or not, such as homes, offices, hotels and hospitals.

Different fire sources are defined within BS 5852, such as cigarettes, matches and so-called "Crib 5" tests. These test methods are used to measure the reaction of materials to different potential ignition sources. For this blog article, we focus on Source 0 (cigarette), Source 1 (match) and Crib5. These are some of the most common test levels within BS 5852. At Finipur, we can give your materials a fire-retardant property through various applications. In our in-house lab, we can perform all the tests below.

What do the BS 5852 tests entail?

Within the BS 5852 standard, the different "Sources" are intended to mimic different levels of potential risk. Each source represents a different way in which fire can ignite a material. The most common tests are:

- Source 0

- Source 1

- Crib 5

They test the resistance of furniture upholstery to a smouldering cigarette, a flame from a match and a more complex flame front, respectively. Below, we briefly explain what each of these tests entails.

Source 0: Cigarette test

Source 0 is the test in which a smouldering cigarette is used as an ignition source. This simulates a scenario where a forgotten or extinguished cigarette is left on a piece of furniture. Here, the aim is to start testing how a substance reacts to prolonged exposure to low heat without open flames. This test is crucial for domestic environments, where most house fires are caused by smouldering objects such as cigarettes.

How does the cigarette test work?

- A smouldering cigarette is placed on the test material.

- The material is monitored for a certain time to see if flame formation occurs or smouldering spreads.

- To pass the test, the material must not ignite or smoulder persistently.

Source 1: Match test

Source 1 simulates the effect of a match or similar open flame on the textile material. This examines whether the furniture fabric material ignites when exposed to a small flame. The match test is important for areas where open flames such as candles or lighters occur, such as catering establishments and residential environments.

How does the match test work?

- A small flame, like that of a match, is held briefly against the test material.

- The reaction of the material is observed, including whether the flame spreads or extinguishes on its own.

- In order to pass the test, the material must be able to extinguish without further flame spread as soon as the ignition source is removed.

Crib 5: High-risk test

Crib 5 is a more demanding test mainly used in commercial environments where there is a higher risk. Here we mainly think of hotels, healthcare facilities and all kinds of public spaces. "Crib" refers to a specific wooden construction used as a fire load. This specifically designed construction creates more intense flames and consequently produces more heat than a cigarette or match. Crib 5 is designed to simulate a more intense flame and higher heat.

How does the Crib 5 test work?

- A special "crib" of wood is lit and placed on the test material.

- The material must be able to resist the intense flame front without the flames spreading beyond the test surface.

- The textile material passes this test if it shows no self-sustaining flames after removing the crib and no further spread of fire occurs.

Why is BS 5852 important?

BS 5852 helps ensure consumer safety and reduce fire risks, especially in rooms where people are present for long periods of time. This standard ensures that materials used in furniture provide a basic level of fire safety by thoroughly testing them for various ignition sources