🧵 Ignitability of upholstery material combinations (cover fabric, interliner, filling) by a smouldering cigarette — assembly on a steel test rig of two frames 450 × 300 mm and 450 × 150 mm set at right angles (seat–back junction), criteria of progressive smouldering (five cases, including smouldering after one hour) and flaming ignition (any flame), PN-EN 1021-1

Materials and NDT PN-EN 1021-1

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 1021-1:2014-12 (English version; the field on the card breaks off in the list of annexes; our translation of the Polish card text): “This European Standard specifies a test method for assessing the ignitability of material combinations, such as covers and fillings used in upholstered seating, when subjected to a smouldering cigarette as the ignition source. The test measures only the ignitability of the combination of materials used in upholstered seating and not that of a particular finished item of furniture incorporating these materials. It gives an indication of ignitability but does not guarantee the behaviour of the finished item. This standard contains four Annexes: Annex A (informative) Guidance for designers and specifiers, Annex B (informative) Model test report form, Annex C (informative) Cleaning of the test apparatus, Annex D (informa…”. We read the text of the standard in the sample extract of SIST EN 1021-1:2014 (EN 1021-1:2014) from the cover to the beginning of subclause 6.2 (test enclosure, page 9); we do not have the rest — subclauses 6.2–6.4 (enclosure, timer, cigarette as ignition source), Clauses 7–10 (preparation and conditioning, assembly, test procedure, test report) and Annexes A–D (including normative D — water soak).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 1021-1:2014 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–6.1). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 207 “Furniture” (secretariat UNI); it replaced EN 1021-1:2006. Main changes according to the foreword: a change in the mass specification of the ignition source and a change in the procedure allowing a third ignition source to be placed if one of the first two goes out by itself before the end of the test. Introduction: the standard belongs to a series on the ignitability of upholstered furniture with various ignition sources; here the source is a smouldering cigarette. Scope (Clause 1): a method for assessing the ignitability of material combinations, such as covers and fillings of upholstered seating, with a smouldering cigarette; only the ignitability of the material combination is measured, not of the finished furniture. Definitions (Clause 2): progressive smouldering — exothermic oxidation without flame, self-propagating (independent of the ignition source), with or without incandescence; flaming — combustion in the gaseous phase with emission of light; flammability; ignitability — measure of the ease with which a material, product or element can be ignited to flaming or progressive smouldering; ignition source; cover — outermost layer of the upholstery; interliner — layer between the cover and the filling with a nominal thickness of up to 2 mm (thicker layers are regarded as filling); filling — the main upholstery material under the covers, it may consist of several materials. Ignition criteria (Clause 3): progressive smouldering is any of the following cases: a) an assembly in which combustion escalates so that continuing the test is unsafe and extinguishing is required; b) an assembly that smoulders until it is largely consumed during the test; c) an assembly that smoulders to the edges of the specimen (upper or lower margin, side or through the full thickness) during the test; d) an assembly that is still smouldering one hour after application of the ignition source; e) an assembly that on final examination (9.3) shows evidence of progressive smouldering; note: in practice there is usually a clear difference between materials that char but in which smouldering does not develop and those in which smouldering spreads. Flaming ignition is the occurrence of any flame initiated by the smouldering source. Principle (Clause 4): an assembly of upholstery materials is subjected to a smouldering ignition source; the assembly reproduces in stylized form the junction of seat and back (or seat and arm); the test measures the ignitability of the whole combination (cover, interliner, filling) as built on the rig; it gives an indication but not a guarantee of the behaviour of the finished furniture; the results must not be applied to an individual component (see Annex A); note: specimens from used furniture can give different results than the same materials before use. Safety (Clause 5): the method involves a considerable hazard; the test is preferably carried out in a non-combustible fume cupboard or in a separate enclosure protecting against smoke; extinguishing means must be available — a hand-held or fixed water spray, extinguishers, a fire blanket, a bucket of water; smouldering can be difficult to extinguish completely, and it is sometimes necessary to immerse the assembly in water. Test rig (6.1): two rectangular frames hinged together and locked at right angles; sides and hinge edges of steel flat bar 25 mm × 3 mm; steel meshes (approx. 15–150 mm² opening, in Figure 2 expanded metal 28 mm × 6 mm) set (6 ± 1) mm below the upper edge of the frames; face plates 450 mm × 65 mm × 3 mm on the upper edge of the vertical frame and the front of the horizontal frame; internal dimensions of the back frame (450 ± 2) mm × (300 ± 2) mm, of the seat frame (450 ± 2) mm × (150 ± 2) mm; hinge rod 10 mm, axis (22,5 ± 0,5) mm behind the rear member of the frames; locking with an M10 bolt or pin; legs giving at least 50 mm clearance under the base; the rig in an enclosure providing air supply and smoke removal. Figure 1: cover with a 20 mm overlap, wrapped under the frame to the mesh and fastened with clips. This is where the extract we read ends (beginning of 6.2: enclosure — a room with a volume of more than 20 m³ or a smaller enclosure with air flow).

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 1021-1:2014-12 (English version) has no “Withdrawn” header — the standard is CURRENT: published 15-12-2014, 23 pages, price group L, Consumer Products Sector, KT 100 Wood Products and Wood-Based Materials, ICS 13.220.40 and 97.140, “Introduces: EN 1021-1:2014 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 1021-1:2007 – Polish version”. PN-EN 1021-1:2007 (Polish version, introduced EN 1021-1:2006) — withdrawn 15-12-2014 and replaced by the 2014-12 edition. The PKN search for “PN-EN 1021-1” (02.10.2026) also shows PN-EN 1021-1:2006 (English and German) and PN-EN 1021-1:1999 (Polish). There is no Polish version of the 2014 edition.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 1021-1 appears in 11 records at 8 laboratories: AB 053 (4 — the same position at several locations), AB 023, AB 029, AB 225, AB 304, AB 1280, AB 1501, AB 1897 (1 each). In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 16.07.2025 to 01.09.2026) the number appears at all 8: with the year “2014-12” at AB 029, AB 053 and AB 225; without a year at AB 023, AB 304, AB 1280 and AB 1501; at AB 1897 as “EN 1021-1:2014” and still “EN 1021-1:2006”. No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches entries BEGINNING WITH the text entered: under “PN-EN 1021-1” it shows 6 laboratories and 9 positions (AB 023, AB 029, AB 053, AB 225, AB 304, AB 1280), under “EN 1021-1” — AB 1897 — checked with the tab queries on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026. AB 1501 is not visible: in its record the entry “BS 5852 PN-EN 1021-1 PN-EN 1021-2 Kodeks FTP…” stands in one field and the number is not at the beginning.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (positions in PCA). Cover materials and fillings of upholstered seating, armchairs, seats, furniture and upholstery assemblies — “ignitability”: flaming and progressive smouldering, spread of combustion, destruction of the tested assembly, smouldering to the specimen limits. At all 8 the same or an adjacent position includes PN-EN 1021-2; at AB 304 and AB 1501 also BS 5852, at AB 1501 the FTP Code Part 8 (IMO), at AB 029 and AB 1897 mattress standards (EN 597-1, EN 597-2), at AB 225 and AB 029 PN-EN 13772 (curtains).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. In the conclusion: the result applies to the material combination assembled on the rig — not to finished furniture and not to a single fabric or foam; “fabric compliant with EN 1021-1” without stating the filling is not a result of this standard. In the criteria: ignition also includes smouldering continuing one hour after application of the cigarette and evidence of progressive smouldering at the final examination — the cigarette going out by itself does not mean a positive result (since 2014 a third source is then placed). In the interliner: a layer thicker than 2 mm is already filling — the assembly is built differently. In materials from used furniture: results can differ from the same materials when new. In the rig: the frame dimensions and the distance of the mesh from the edge (6 ± 1) mm affect the contact of the cigarette with the assembly.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have subclauses 6.2–6.4 (enclosure requirements beyond the 20 m³ volume, timer, cigarette parameters — including its mass changed in 2014), Clauses 7–10 (conditioning, assembly, positions and time of cigarette application, final examination, test report) or Annex D (water soak) — we therefore give no parameters of the ignition source, conditioning conditions or test procedure.

Method principle

From the materials under test (cover, interliner if any, filling) an assembly is built on a steel rig of two frames at right angles, reproducing the seat–back junction, and a smouldering cigarette is placed in the junction; it is observed whether progressive smouldering occurs (escalating combustion, consumption, smouldering to the specimen edges, smouldering after one hour or evidence at the final examination) or any flame.

Applications

• Cover materials and fillings of upholstered seating, armchairs, chairs, seats — assessment of the ignitability of the material combination (8 laboratories)
• Tests of upholstered furniture together with Part 2 (match flame), BS 5852 and, on ships, the FTP Code Part 8 (IMO)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 1021-1:2014-12 (wersja angielska; EN 1021-1:2014 IDT)

Title (PL)

Meble — Ocena zapalności mebli tapicerowanych — Część 1: Źródło zapłonu: tlący papieros

Title (EN)

Furniture — Assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture — Part 1: Ignition source smouldering cigarette

Step-by-step procedure

1. Materials and conditioning

   Cover, interliner if any (≤ 2 mm) and filling; conditioning according to Clause 7 — NOT GIVEN. PN-EN 1021-1:2014-12 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Building the assembly

   Filling and cover on the rig of frames at right angles; cover with a 20 mm overlap wrapped under the frame and fastened with clips (Figure 1).

3. Application of the cigarette

   Smouldering cigarette in the seat–back junction; since 2014 a third source if one of the two goes out before the end — details (Clause 9) NOT GIVEN.

4. Observation

   Criteria of progressive smouldering (a–e, including smouldering after 1 h) and flaming ignition (any flame); extinguishing when escalating combustion threatens safety.

5. Final examination and result

   Examination for evidence of progressive smouldering (9.3); the result applies to the material combination, not to the furniture; test report according to Clause 10 — NOT GIVEN.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard warns that the method involves a considerable hazard: test in a non-combustible fume cupboard or an enclosure protecting against smoke, water spray, extinguishers, fire blanket, bucket of water; smouldering can be difficult to extinguish — sometimes the assembly has to be immersed in water (Clause 5)
• TECHNICAL NOTE: the result applies to the material combination assembled on the rig — not to finished furniture or a single component; materials from used furniture can give different results

Frequently asked questions