I received the following obsevations on the new guides regarding fire tests for carpets. I wonder if anyboby who fully understand the subject, could give thier response.
"I am a director of Gradus Ltd and we are a manufacturer of quality contract carpets. I have recently purchased copies of the Fire safety risk assessment guides to reinforce the RRO. I have noticed that the guides appear to only reference the hot metal nut test for the flammability of carpets. No mention of the Euroclasses whatsoever!
I am under the impression that the Construction Products Directive has been implemented throughout Europe, including the UK. Within the UK, a supplier is only allowed to sell products that are fit for their intended use, as defined in the Construction Products Directive. The requirements for floor coverings have been transposed in to BS EN 14041 which specifies the health, safety and energy saving requirements for resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings. Reaction to fire requirements shall be in accordance with EN 13501-1:2002. There is no reference to the hot metal nut test in BS EN 14041. I am led to believe that the hot metal nut test will be withdrawn at some stage. Yes, i acknowledge that the UK does not have any legislative requirements for the flammability of floor coverings. But surely, under the Construction Products Directive, all requirements, particularly for flammability, should be in European language i.e Euroclasses! I am concerned that the Fire risk assessment guides only reference the hot metal nut test for the flammability of carpets, with no mention whatsoever of the Euroclasses. I am sure that as a manufacturer, based on the Fire risk assessment guidance, we will be asked to provide test results for the hot metal nut test and also for the Euroclasses! Absolute madness!!
From January 2007, CE marking will be mandatory for most of Europe (not yet in the UK) and to claim flammability, testing to the Euroclasses will be required. We will have competitors based both in UK and in Europe that will be marketing products under the CE mark and claiming flammability to the Euroclasses. Whether CE marking is mandatory or otherwise in the UK, i believe is irelevant. There will be a perception by specifiers, architects, designers etc, that priority must be given to CE marked products, market forces will dictate.
The hot metal nut test has been used for the flammability testing of carpets for years. But we now have the Euroclassess, A to F.
I am not aware of any comparitive work that has been conducted to determine the equivalent performance for a hot metal nut test result with the Euroclassess? When Responsible Persons conduct their risk assessements, on what basis will they decide on the flammability performance requirement for textiles using the Euroclasses? I am concerned that in the absence of any guidance, the highest performance requirement will be demanded (just in case - cover bums!).
We are already picking up that Euroclass E will perhaps be used for domestic carpets, with contract carpets requiring at least a Euroclass C?
What does that mean for carpets manufactured from polypropylene? Are you aware of any guidance for the flammability requirements for carpets used in public buildings or contract applications?
I would welcome your comments. Thank you
Keith Oakes"
