Zur Problematik der Kleiderbrände

Abstract

In 1964 a federal law was enforced in Switzerland which forbids the sale of easily inflammable dress textiles. Nevertheless, several severe clothing fires, six of which were fatal, have since occurred. They have led the author to a reexamination of the situation in Switzerland and of the question whether the legal regulations have really eliminated the sale of easily inflammable dress textiles and clothing. A critical revision of the officially adopted testing method showed that the results obtained are unrealistic, in sofar as the material is ignited fixed in a position at an angle of 45° to the vertical. Practically all fatal or severe clothing fires occur with textiles hanging vertically, i. e. while the wearer is standing up. Flammability tests on textile samples and remains of burnt clothing which hung vertically indicate that the speed of the flame propagation is very much greater than in the 45° angle test. Tissue samples which would pass the official test as save, gave in the vertical test burning times which were estonishingly short and clearly indicated a great danger of accidents. The author therefore comes to the conclusion, that the alarming frequency with which severe clothing fires still occur, is at least partly a result of the insufficiently severe test method.

In order to prevent further clothing fires the author puts forward the following propositions for discussion:

1. Intensified research work on the development and the application of flameproofing chemicals for textiles of all kinds.
2. Discontinuation for the time being, of the officially approved test method using the U.S.A. 45° flammability tester.
3. Introduction of a test method with vertically hanging tissue samples with ignition at the lower edge, and assessment of discriminating limits for the burning time and the speed of flame propagation.
4. Promotion of safety propaganda with the assistance ot the Swiss Association for the Prevention of Accidents.

The above propositions have been submitted to the Federal Health Department in Berne on February 7, 1968.