Big Rugs and Carpets Won’t Burn: Little ones, Yes
By: Keith
I have two little rugs in my downstairs bathroom. Yesterday, I went to hang them up on the towel rack to dry, and wound up reading the tags attached to them. 
I took a picture of the tag, which I ripped off (didn’t say I wasn’t allowed to) so I could investigate this mysterious FF 2-70 Flammability test. The rugs failed the test yet found their way onto my bathroom floor anyway. Curious. I know I didn’t buy them from a hobo – I could have sworn they came from a reputable place. Well, they came from Target, and they’re perfectly within regulations. That’s good because I was thinking they were going to burst into flames at any moment. They could, I guess, if I lit them on fire or decided to use them next to my fireplace; I haven’t done that yet. My bathroom is probably one of the more flame resistant places in my house.
FF 2-70:
It’s a flammability standard (not a test) that applies to rugs and carpets less than 24 square feet. All it says is that the rug in question is smaller than 24 square feet and didn’t pass the FF 2 -70 standard. The Department of Flammable Fabrics at the Department of Commerce (I guess there’s a department for everything) has decided that small rugs don’t pose the same danger as big ones. They are still subject to the same test, but only require to be labeled, by the manufacturer, whether or not they passed. The test given to all carpets and rugs is called the pill test. The Department of Commerce has a helpful PDF all about it, which states…
“The tablet, or “pill,” is placed on top of the pile in the center of the specimen and ignited with a match, providing a standardized flame source for a period of about 2 minutes. If the flame spread on the carpet is more than 75 mm from the point of ignition, the specimen fails; and if more than one specimen of eight fails, the style of carpet cannot be legally manufactured for sale.”
Isn’t that interesting? So, all rugs have to go through the same testing. Only the big ones have to pass the test (7 times out of 8). I’m betting if you do a quick inspection of all your small rugs that you’ll find they have a tag like mine. I suppose the word of caution here is not to put these things next to any ignition sources. Be careful buying stuff to put next to the fireplace, and be sure to read the tag. Oh, and don’t buy that 1 specimen out of 8 that failed! That would be unlucky.
No related posts.
Who the heck thinks this stuff up? I’m safe because I have no rugs.
Wow. I find this completely bizarre and sort of scary.
.-= BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..K and coffee, midnight weary =-.
Wolf, It’s totally Bizarre
Don’t know what possessed me to post that. But, I figured it would probably be unique!
yes, and you have to be careful of the ones with the flame retardant stuff on them because they may pose health risks if consumed…IE don’t let the baby chew on the rugs that don’t burst into flames only the ones that do LOL
Isn’t this life with all of our advancements wonderful
.-= Native Momma´s last blog ..Turnip Soup =-.
HAHAHHA, Native Momma. I’ll be sure not to let any babies eat my flame retardant carpets! But, they can gnaw away all they want at the other ones
LOL
Well you get an A for effort on the uniqueness of this. I guess you learn something everyday, and today I learned some funny stuff about area rugs. Good To Know!
.-= Area Rug Cleaning Services´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.
This rule was enacted after the MGM fire in Las Vegas, and was meant to stop the production of carpeting which would act as an accelerant in a fire. Hence the requirement for flame retardance is limited to rugs greater than 24 sq ft, or has a side longer than 5 feet.
All rugs that fail the test, under 24 sf, are required to have a permanent warning sewn in, and the warning must say to keep away from sources of ignition.
Just because the rug says it failed, it might not necessarily failed. Many rug manufacturers automatically label small rugs as flammable, because they do not have to have the rug tested to state that.
Certain rugs are inherently non flammable (and are not treated by the way), and those are rugs made from polypropylene, olefin, or nylon, with a latex backing. Acrylic rugs are always flammable.
Typical of the government, the regulations are overkill. Your bath room rug is regulated, but the towel, shower curtain, and window curtains are not. Similarly, mattress pads must be fire resistant, yet sheets do not.
Very few rugs produced today are flammable, and very few are treated either, so rest assured your baby can gnaw away. If the rug is in treated, it must be labeled as such.
Wow! Pat, that was a great explanation. Thank you!