Flammability Test — RTCA DO-160 Part 26 · Furniture Testing

What Is Flammability?

This test is carried out to evaluate the ignition, burning rate and self-extinguishing behavior of equipment materials within the scope of Chapter 26 (“Fire, Flammability”) of the RTCA DO-160 “Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment” standard. DO-160 is the exact same text as EUROCAE ED-14 and is recognized by ISO as ISO 7137.

Purpose of Flammability

The aim is to certify that aviation equipment meets the requirements regarding the evaluation of ignition, burning rate and self-extinguishing behavior of equipment materials in flight and ground conditions and to complete equipment qualification.

Which Products Is Flammability Applied To?

Avionics units and displays
In-flight electronic equipment
Communication and navigation devices
Cabin and cargo compartment equipment
Sensors and actuators

In Which Sectors Is Flammability Used?

FurnitureConsumer ProductsRetail

Standards Related to Flammability

RTCA DO-160Environmental conditions and test methods in aviation equipment test
EUROCAE ED-14
ISO 7137

Flammability Conditions

Method: Vertical or horizontal burning test; by category
Flame application time: Defined in standard
Assessment: Burning time, burning length and flaming drop
Specimen: Material sample or actual part

Equipment for Flammability

Flammability test cabin
burner and timer
Numune tutucu
ventilation pattern

Sample Requirements for Flammability

Malzeme listesi belgelenmeli
Sample thickness should represent the most unfavorable use
Conditioning must be applied

Duration of Flammability

It is short per sample; one set is typically completed in one business day.

Flammability Procedure

1The method and flame duration are determined.
2The sample is placed in the holder.
3Flame defined time is applied.
4Burning time and length are measured.
5Flaming drop behavior is observed.

Flammability Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance criteria are maximum burning time, maximum burning length and flaming drop limits defined in the standard.

Evaluation of Results

Aviation flammability requirements for cabin interior materials also apply.

Flammability Report

Applicable standard, revision and Part 26
Selected equipment category and justification
Applied conditions and measurement results
Function monitoring method and observations
Environmental Qualification Form (DO-160 Environmental Qualification Form) entry

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Aviation equipment qualification requirements
EASA/FAA certification principles

Mobilya Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Flammability test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Furniture testing shows that a product stays safe and functional throughout its expected service life. Tests are run with loading cycles representing real use: sitting, leaning back, opening and closing drawers, loading doors, loading shelves and tipping.

The logic of the field rests on the NUMBER OF CYCLES. Sitting on a chair once shows nothing; repeating it tens of thousands of times reveals structural weaknesses. Furniture tests therefore combine static loading with fatigue cycles and define different levels according to intensity of use: domestic use, commercial use and heavy commercial use mean different cycle counts for the same product.

TIP-OVER SAFETY carries particular weight in this family. Because storage furniture tipping onto a child has caused serious injuries and deaths, product standards define separate tests for it: loading with drawers open, hanging from a door and climbing scenarios are simulated. In the United States this subject has become a legislative heading of its own and has produced a mandatory specification.

The second axis is chemical and concerns indoor air quality. Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels and volatile organic compound emissions from coatings and textile components are measured. For formaldehyde, a restriction regulation applies on the EU side and CARB Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI limits in North America; these limits differ and export requires assessment against the destination market.

The third axis is flammability. In upholstered furniture the filling material and the upholstery fabric are assessed together; real ignition sources such as a cigarette and a match flame are simulated. The United Kingdom has historically applied the strictest national regime on this subject.

Surface durability is the fourth axis: abrasion, scratching, stain resistance, heat and moisture resistance, light fastness. These tests show how well the product will keep its appearance and shape commercial expectations particularly for kitchen and office furniture.

There is NO sector-specific CE regime for consumer furniture; safety is demonstrated under the general product safety framework using EN durability standards. For furniture permanently fixed into a structure, construction products legislation may come into play. This distinction matters in project work: a kitchen cabinet and a built-in system fabricated in place can fall under different regimes.

Method groups in this field

Seating
Seat and back loading cycles, arm strength, drop test, tipping resistance, leg and joint strength.
Tables and work surfaces
Static and cyclic loading, horizontal strength, tipping, surface durability.
Storage furniture
Shelf and door loading, drawer cycles, tip-over safety and climbing scenarios.
Beds and mattresses
Durability cycles, edge strength, loss of thickness after loading.
Emissions
Formaldehyde release (chamber, perforator and gas analysis methods), VOC emission test chamber measurements.
Surface and flammability
Abrasion, scratching, staining, heat and moisture resistance; ignitability in upholstered furniture.

Commonly confused in this field

A result obtained for domestic use does not support a claim of commercial use; the cycle counts and levels are different.
Tip-over safety is a separate test; passing the durability cycles does not demonstrate tip-over safety.
Formaldehyde limits differ by market; EU compliance does not mean CARB/TSCA compliance.
Flammability in upholstered furniture is valid for the COMBINATION of fabric and filling; a change of fabric requires reassessment.
A result obtained on one model does not cover the whole range; differences in size, material and joints may require separate assessment.

Which decisions these results support

Determining the durability class for commercial and domestic use
Tip-over safety and child safety conformity
Compliance with formaldehyde and VOC emission limits
Meeting tender and project specification requirements
Determining destination market requirements for export

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Flammability

How is the equipment category determined?

The category is selected based on the equipment's mounting location on the aircraft (pressurized/non-pressurized, heated/unheated area) and aircraft type. Category selection directly determines the test conditions and is declared in the qualification form.

Is there any difference between DO-160 and ED-14?

No. RTCA DO-160 and EUROCAE ED-14 are exactly the same text; the two are considered equivalent.