ISO 8191-1 and ISO 8191-2 standards

The ISO 8191 series of standards, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), aims to evaluate the flammability of material combinations (such as upholstery and filling) in upholstered furniture by simulating common ignition sources in daily life (e.g., cigarettes and matches), in order to reduce fire risks caused by textile flammability. The series is divided into two parts:

ISO 8191-1:1987: Uses a smoldering cigarette as the ignition source to simulate unintentional ignition scenarios.

ISO 8191-2:1988: Uses a simulated match flame as the ignition source to assess open flame ignition risks.

ØSimilarities between ISO 8191-1 and ISO 8191-2:

Test Object

The ISO 8191-1 and ISO 8191-2 test standards only evaluate the flammability of material combinations (upholstery and filling) in upholstered furniture and do not measure the flammability of finished furniture products.

Test Principle

Both ISO 8191-1 and ISO 8191-2 tests must be conducted in a test chamber with calibrated airflow. The upholstery and filling are placed in the test apparatus, forming a small sofa with a 90° angle between the seat and the backrest. The ignition source is applied to the crevice formed between the seat and the backrest for testing.

ØDifferences between ISO 8191-1 and ISO 8191-2:

Different Ignition Sources

ISO 8191-1: Uses a smoldering cigarette to simulate cigarette butt ignition scenarios in daily life, testing the material's resistance to slow combustion.

ISO 8191-2: Uses a burning tube to simulate a match flame, focusing on evaluating the material's flame-retardant performance under open flame conditions.

Different Ignition Source Exposure Times

ISO 8191-1: Continuous smoldering until self-extinguishment (approximately 1 hour).

ISO 8191-2: The burning tube is applied for 20 seconds and then removed.

Different Result Criteria

ISO 8191-1: No sustained smoldering within 1 hour; charring ≤ 100 mm.

ISO 8191-2: Self-extinguishment within 120 seconds after flame removal; charring ≤ 100 mm.