Potential Alternative Methodology for Evaluating Flammability of Interior Automotive Materials

NHTSA-Vehicle Safety Research2021PDFTech ReportHuczek, JasonJanssens, Marc L.Cabiness, SpringFriedman, KeithMattos, GarrettStephenson, RhoadsSouthwest Research InstituteUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Vehicle Safety ResearchUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesFlammable materialsInterior designChild restraint systemsPassenger vehiclesFlamesTransportationFMVSS No. 302motorcoachflamespreadASTM D7309DOT HS 812 091Final ReportThis paper describes results of an ongoing research program conducted at Southwest Research Institute for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The purpose of the research is to improve the repeatability and reproducibility of evaluating the flammability of interior materials that are difficult to test according to FMVSS No. 302 (e.g., rigid non-planar materials, parts smaller than the FMVSS No. 302 specimen size, etc.). The goal is to identify an alternative existing small-scale fire test method for which FMVSS No. 302 equivalent pass/fail cri-teria can be established. Three alternative small-scale test methods were considered. The microscale combustion calorimeter as described in ASTM D7309 was found to be the most promising.111