ASTM F3214-23

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F3214 − 18 F3214 − 23
Standard Practice for
Characterization of Fire Properties of Materials Specified
Seating, Upholstery, and Padding Materials for Vehicles
Associated with Amusement Rides and Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3214; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers material properties related to flammability, smoke products and heat release rates for materials
specifieddescribes the required smoldering ignition fire properties for seating, upholstery, and padding materials used for vehicles
associated with amusement rides and devices.
1.2 This practice includes an annex with an example of an optional open flame test method for padding materials.
1.3 This practice also defines specific requirements for standardized test methods for determining material properties related to
flammability, smoke production and heat release rates for materials specified for vehicles associated withcontains a non-mandatory
appendix with optional guidance for the procedure to follow in the event that an optional fire hazard analysis is to be conducted
for vehicles used on amusement rides and devices.
1.3.1 In the event that such a fire hazard analysis is to be conducted, it needs to include considerations related to heat release,
smoldering, and flaming ignition, flame spread and smoke release.
1.3.2 The appendix contains specific recommendations of standardized fire test methods that are suitable (but not required) for
determining material properties related to heat release rates, smoldering, and flaming ignition, flammability, and smoke release for
materials.
1.4 This practice defines acceptance criteria for the material properties of flammability, smoke production and heat release rates
for seating, upholstery and padding materials specified for vehicles on amusement rides and devices.is not a fire test method.
1.5 This practice does not require the conduction of a fire hazard analysis.
1.6 This practice does not address the use of active fire protection measures, such as fire sprinklers, or smoke, fire, or heat
detectors.
1.7 This practice includes an appendix (non-mandatory), which provides additional information (for example, rationale,
background, interpretations, drawings, commentary, and so forth) to improve the user’s understanding and application of the
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F24.10 on Test
Methods and Component Parts.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2018March 1, 2023. Published March 2018April 2023. Originally approved in 2018. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as
F3214 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/F3214-18.10.1520/F3214-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3214 − 23
criteria presented in this practice. The appendix information shall not be interpreted as mandatory design criteria.does not address
the probability of any fire scenario associated with amusement rides or devices resulting in a hazardous event. Thus, this practice
does not address the potential risk associated with any fire scenario. Practice F2291-21 includes general requirement to assess and
mitigate hazards for all rides and devices.
1.8 This practice shall not apply to:
1.8.1 Materials specified for amusement rides or devices not associated with the vehicle.other than those associated specifically
with the ride vehicle assembly.
1.8.2 Materials used for the construction of facilities.
1.8.3 Fluids and lubricants.
1.8.4 MatsVehicles used on water slides or other aquatic devices.
1.9 The values stated in SI units, see IEEE/ASTM SI-10-16, are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses, if
any, after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
D1929 Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics
D2843 Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics
D2859 Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials
D6413/D6413M Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E136 Test Method for Assessing Combustibility of Materials Using a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750 °C
E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
E662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
Calorimeter
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
F747 Terminology Relating to Amusement Rides and Devices
F2291 Practice for Design of Amusement Rides and Devices
IEEE/ASTM SI-10-16 American National Standard for Metric Practice
2.2 BSI Standards:
BS 5852 Methods of test for assessment of the ignitability of upholstered seating by smouldering and flaming ignition sources
(2006)
2.3 CPSC Standards:
16 CFR 1615 Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear Sizes 0 through 6X (FF-3-71) (2017)
16 CFR 1640 Standard for the Flammability of Upholstered Furniture (2021)
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from British Standards Institution (BSI), 389 Chiswick High Rd., London W4 4AL, U.K., http://www.bsigroup.com.
Available from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 4330 East West Hwy., Bethesda, MD 20814, http://www.cpsc.gov.
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2.4 DIN Standard:
DIN 4102 Fire behavior of building materials and building components
2.5 EN Standards:
EN{1021-1 Assessment of the Ignitability of Upholstered FurnitureFurniture – Assessment of the ignitability of upholstered
furniture – Part 1: Ignition source smouldering cigarette (2014)
2.6 ISO Standards:
ISO 5659-2 Plastics — Smoke generation — Part 2: Determination of optical density by a singlechamber test (2017)
ISO 5660{1 Fire tests – Reaction to fire – Part 1: Rate of heat release from building products – (Cone calorimeter method)
ISO 5660{2 Reaction{to{fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate, Part 2: Smoke produc-
tion rate (dynamic measurement)
2.7 NFPA Standards:
NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
NFPA 260 Standard Methods of Tests and Classification System for Cigarette Ignition, Standard Methods of Tests and Clas-
sification System for Cigarette Ignition, Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture
NFPA 275 Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers (2017)
NFPA 286 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth
(2019)
NFPA 289 Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages (2019)
NFPA 701 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films (2019)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology F747-21.
3.2 SeeFor 5.1 for definitions applicable to thisdefinitions of terms used in this practice and associated with fire issues, refer to
ε1
Terminology E176standard.-21a .
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice is intended for use whenever the characterization of fire properties for materials specifiedrequires that seating,
upholstery, and padding materials used for vehicles associated with amusement rides and devices are to be determined. The
existence of this practice is not intended to imply that there is a requirement to perform specific testing on amusement rides or
devices.exhibit adequate smoldering ignition properties.
4.1.1 Noncombustible materials are permitted to be used as seating, upholstery, and padding materials, and do not require testing
for smoldering ignition.
4.2 The structural components or framing associated with a vehicle or ride are not considered seating, upholstery, or padding
materials.
4.3 Annex A1 provides an optional open flame test suitable for seat padding materials.
4.4 Appendix X1The purpose of this provides non-mandatory guidance for conducting an analysis of fire scenarios associated with
the operation of vehicles associated with amusement rides and devices. The conduction of a fire hazard analysis is not a
requirement of this practice. The purpose of Appendix X1 practice is to provide designers, engineers, manufacturers, owners, and
operators with criteria and references for materials specified for vehicles associated with amusement rides and devices or a major
modificationfire properties of materials used in vehicles either following construction or major modifications of an amusement ride
or device.
4.5 This practice does not address the probability of occurrence of a hazardous event in any fire scenario associated with
Available from Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.(DIN), Am DIN-Platz, Burggrafenstrasse 6, 10787 Berlin, Germany, http://www.din.de.
Available from European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium, http://www.cen.eu.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,
Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
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amusement rides or devices. Thus, this practice does not address the potential risk associated with any fire scenario. Practice
F2291-21 includes general requirement to assess and mitigate hazards for all rides and devices.
4.6 The requirements in this practice are not intended to supersede any additional or alternate requirements provided by the
authority having jurisdiction.
5. Fire Properties of Seating, Upholstery, and Padding Materials
5.1 When required by this practice, the following definitions shall apply:Seating, upholstery, and padding materials used in
vehicles associated with amusement rides or devices shall be resistant to smoldering ignition by complying with any one of the
following:
5.1.1 vehicle, n—device that directly carries or conveys person(s).
5.1.2 open vehicle, n—vehicle which is open such that smoke and products of combustion will not collect inside the vehicle and
riders are directly exposed to the ambient environment through which the ride vehicle passes.
5.1.1 unrestrained vehicle, n—Exhibiting a vehicle with restraints conforming to Class 1, 2 or 3Class I classification when tested
in accordance with PracticeNFPA F2291, and designed in a way that allows riders to leave the vehicle and move away from the
ride envelope, allowing the riders to self-evacuate under emergency conditions where practicable.260 (2019).
5.1.2 restrained vehicle, n—Passing vehicle with restraints conforming to Class 3, 4 or 5 in accordance with Practice F2291, and
designed in a way that does not allow riders to leave the vehicle and move away from the ride envelope, precluding the riders from
self-evacuation under emergency conditions, where practicable.the requirements of EN 1021 Part 1 (2006).
5.1.3 Passing the requirements of 16 CFR 1640 (2021).
5.1.4 enclosed vehicle, n—Being noncombustible materials.restrained vehicle which is enclosed such that it may be possible for
smoke or products of combustion to collect inside of the vehicle compartment and riders are considered restrained.
NOTE 1—Combustible materials used for the production of upholstered furniture sold in the United States are required to comply with 16 CFR 1640. The
16 CFR 1640 smoldering ignition test is similar to the tests in NFPA 260 (2019) and in EN 1021 Part 1 (2006). Therefore, materials complying with any
of those tests are commercially available and would not need to be retested to a similar standard.
5.2 Material Selection: For the purposes of this practice, noncombustible materials are those that pass Test Method E136-22.
5.2.1 Materials should be selected in the following order:
5.2.1.1 Select Noncombustible Materials—For the purposes of this practice, non-combustible materials shall be defined as
materials that pass Test Method E136.
5.2.1.2 Fire Retardant Materials—For the purposes of this practice, fire retardant materials shall be defined as a material so
constructed or treated that it will delay ignition, inhibit flame spread or not support flame. The required level of fire retardancy and
verification method shall be documented in the ride analysis as specified in Practice F2291.
5.2.1.3 Materials that meet the specific pass/fail criteria as defined in Table 1.
5.2.1 When material selection does not follow the process outlined in Noncombustible materials 5.2.1, or if the criteria in 5.2.1.2
or 5.2.1.3are not met, materials shall be selected based upon a fire hazard analysis of the material to demonstrate an acceptable
level of safety which is supported by the ride analysis.required to be tested for smoldering ignition.
5.2.2 Materials that are inherently noncombustible, such as most metals, are not required to be tested in accordance with Test
Method E136-22.
5.3 Materials specified for vehicles associated with amusement rides and devices shall conform to the specific fire tests in Table
1. If specific criteria for a material specified for a vehicle associated with an amusement ride or device is not included in Table
1, refer to 5.2.
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5.4 When a fire hazard analysis is required, test specimen(s) shall be tested in accordance with Test Method E1354 or ISO-5660.
Specimens shall be tested with a retainer frame. Test specimens shall be fabricated in the sample size required (100 by 100 mm).
Specimens shall be configured to substantially reflect the end-use configuration. The testing shall provide the following data:
5.4.1 Time to Ignition, Tig (seconds)—If Time to Ignition is greater than or equal to the unsupervised ride cycle time, then the
material is acceptable and need not meet the other criteria in 5.3. The unsupervised ride cycle time is the time which patrons are
out of the direct line of sight of an operator during one ride cycle.
5.4.2 Maximum 30 s (sliding) average Heat Release Rate, HRR30 maximum (kW).
5.4.3 Average Smoke Production Rate, SPRave (m /kg).
5.4.4 Time to Peak Heat Release Rate, T (seconds).
p
5.4.5 Peak Heat Release Rate, PHRR (kW/m ).
5.4.6 Total Heat Released, THR (MJ/m ).
5.4.7 Average Heat Release Rate 180 s, HRR180s (kW/m ).
5.4.8 Specific Smoke Extinction Area, SEA (m /kg).
6. Report
6.1 Report the following information for each material assessed for response to smoldering ignition:
6.1.1 Description of the material being tested, including its composition or generic identification, thickness, and any relevant
additional details.
6.1.2 The smoldering ignition test used.
6.1.3 If the material was tested to NFPA 260 (2019), whether the material achieved a Class I classification.
6.1.4 If the material was tested to EN 1021 Part 1 (2006) or to 16 CFR 1640 (2021), whether the material complied with the test
requirements.
6.1.5 Any relevant test observations.
7. Keywords
7.1 amusement ride; device; fire; fire propertieshazard analysis; heat release; ignition; smoke release; smoldering
ANNEX
(Mandatory Information)
A1. OPEN FLAME TEST FOR PADDING MATERIALS
A1.1 Fire policy caveats, associated with this annex:
A1.1.1 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials,
products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
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A1.1.2 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
A1.2 Summary of Test Method—The vertical flame test of padding materials is used to determine the flame propagation of
paddings in the vertical orientation. The small open flame ignition source represents a match, candle, or cigarette lighter or similar
size ignition source.
NOTE A1.1—This test method is based on the open flame test in the 2000 edition of the CA Technical Bulletin 117, “Requirements, Test Procedures, and
Apparatus for Testing the Flame Retardance of Resilient Filling Materials Used in Upholstery Furniture.”
A1.3 A small open flame is applied to the lower edge of the test specimen. The burning of the test specimen is observed, and the
char length and after-flame times are recorded and averaged, along with any flaming melts or drips.
A1.4 Conditioning—Condition test specimens prior to the test for a minimum of 24 6 1 h at 70 6 5 °F and less than 55 % relative
humidity. If conditions in the test area are not the same as in the conditioning area, tests shall begin within 10 6 1 min of removal
from conditioning area.
A1.5 Test Apparatus:
A1.5.1 Gas Flame Ignition Source—The burner shall have a tube of 11 6 0.5 mm (0.43 6 0.02 in.) inside diameter. The input
line to the burner shall be equipped with a needle valve. It shall have a variable orifice to adjust the height of the flame. The burner
shall be equipped with an adjustable stop collar, to allow it to be positioned quickly under the test specimen. The burner shall be
connected to the gas source by rubber or other flexible tubing. The gas used shall be methane, of at least 97 % purity. The flow
–3 3
rate of methane shall be 45 6 2 mL/min (1.6 6 0.1 × 10 ft /min) at 23 6 2 °C (73 6 4 °F), which produces a flame height of
approximately 38 mm (1 ⁄2 in.) (measured from the center end of the burner tube when held horizontally and the flame allowed
to burn freely in air).
A1.5.2 Test Chamber—The test chamber shall be a steel cabinet with inside dimensions of approximately 32.9 cm (12 ⁄16 in.)
wide, 32.9 cm (12 ⁄16 in.) deep, and 76.2 cm. (30 in.) high. It shall have a frame which permits the suspension of the specimen
holder over the center of the base of the cabinet at such a height that the bottom of the specimen holder is 1.7 cm ( ⁄4 in.) above
the highest point of the barrel of the gas burner and perpendicular to the front of the cabinet. The front of the cabinet shall be a
close-fitting door with a glass insert to permit observation of the entire test. The cabinet floor shall be permitted to be covered with
a removable noncombustible surface, whose length and width are approximately 2.5 cm (1 in.) less than the cabinet floor
dimensions. The test chamber to be used in this test method is illustrated in Fig. A1.1.
NOTE A1.2—This test chamber is the one described in 16 CFR 1615, Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear Sizes 0 through 6X (FF-3-71)
(2017).
A1.5.3 Specimen Holder—A stainless-steel specimen holder fabricated in accordance with Fig. A1.2 shall be used. This holder is
designed for testing padding specimens 12 mm (0.5 in.) thick.
A1.5.4 Additional items to be provided:
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FIG. A1.1 Test Cabinet
FIG. A1.2 Specimen Holder
A1.5.4.1 A stopwatch, accurate to 0.01 s and capable of measuring for at least 1 h.
A1.5.4.2 A steel measure (ruler or tape), graduated to 1 mm (0.04 in.) intervals and at least 300 mm (12 in.) in length.
A1.6 Test Specimens—Cut each test specimen to size: 305 6 5 mm by 75 6 5 mm by 12 6 2 mm (12 6 0.2 in. by 3 6 0.2 in.
1 1
by ⁄2 6 0.08 in.). Specimens less than 12 mm ( ⁄2 in.) in thickness shall be permitted to be used if the full 12 mm thickness is
not available.
A1.7 Test Procedure:
A1.7.1 Age each test specimen in a forced air circulating oven for 24 6 1 h at 104 6 2 °C (220 6 5 °F), suspending specimens
so that they do not contact each other. Then remove all samples from the oven and suspend on a conditioning rack for 24 6 1
additional hours, before testing.
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A1.7.2 Suspend each test specimen vertically in the test cabinet in such a manner that the lower end of the specimen is
approximately 19 mm (0.75 in.) above the top of the burner.
A1.7.3 Adjust the burner flame with the needle valve in the base of the burner to a flame height of approximately 38 mm (1 ⁄2
in.). Obtain the flame height by adjusting the valve so that the uppermost portion (tip) of the flame is at the correct level.
A1.7.4 After inserting the test specimen, apply burner flame vertically at the middle of the lower edge of the specimen for 12 6
1 s, and then remove burner. Keep cabinet door closed during testing.
A1.7.5 Record the char length of each test specimen to the nearest 2 mm (0.1 in.) and calculate and record an average char length.
A1.7.6 Record the after-flame time of each test specimen to the nearest 0.1 s and calculate and record an average after-flame time.
A1.7.7 Determine the maximum and average char length and after-flame time for each test specimen tested.
A1.7.8 Test a minimum of 5 padding specimens of each material.
A1.7.9 Test Criteria:
A1.7.9.1 Char Length—The char length shall be the distance from the end of the specimen, which was exposed to the flame, to
the upper edge of the void area. In the measurement of char length all readily removable portions of carbonaceous char shall be
removed prior to measurement.
A1.7.9.2 After-Flame Time—The after-flame time shall be the time the specimen continues to flame after the burner flame is
extinguished. It shall include after-flame of molten drops of material.
A1.7.9.3 Afterglow—The afterglow time shall be the time the specimen continues to glow after it has ceased to flame. It shall
include afterglow of molten drops of material.
A1.7.10 Test Requirements:
A1.7.10.1 The average char length of all specimens shall not exceed 150 mm (6 in.).
A1.7.10.2 The maximum char length of any individual specimen shall not exceed 200 mm (8 in.).
A1.7.10.3 The average after-flame, including after-flame of molten material or other fragments dropping from specimens, shall not
exceed 5 s.
A1.7.10.4 The maximum after
...