Carpets are floor coverings made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, and grass yarns, or from synthetic fibers, woven or tufted by hand or machine. They are one of the traditional craft art forms with a long history worldwide. Carpets are used in various settings including homes, hotels, conference rooms, entertainment venues, sports arenas, exhibition halls, vehicles, ships, and airplanes, providing benefits such as noise reduction, thermal insulation, improved foot comfort, slip resistance, and air pollution prevention. The areas of use within residential spaces include kitchens, bedrooms, bedside areas, coffee tables, sofas, bathrooms, and living rooms. Carpets exported to the United States require GCC certification.
The U.S. carpet testing standards are primarily based on regulations issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and are divided into two main standards:
1. 16 CFR 1630 Standard (Applicable to Large Carpets)
(1) Scope
- Applicable to large carpets that are not mechanically fixed (e.g., with nails) and have a single dimension ≥ 1.83 meters (6 feet) or an area ≥ 2.23 square meters (24 square feet), primarily used in homes, offices, or hotels.
(2) Core Requirements
- Must pass vertical burning tests, requiring the carpet to self-extinguish within a specified time after the flame source is removed, with flame spread limits that meet the standards, and no burning in the surrounding area of the test sample.
(3) Labeling Requirements
- Compliant products must be labeled with the letter “T”; non-compliant small carpets must be permanently labeled “FLAMMABLE (FAILS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STANDARD FF 2-70)”.
2. 16 CFR 1631 Standard (Applicable to Small Carpets)
(1) Scope
- Applicable to small carpets with a single dimension ≤ 1.83 meters and an area ≤ 2.23 square meters, also requiring no mechanical fixing.
(2) Core Requirements
Using larger test samples, multiple tests must be conducted simultaneously:
- Flame Contact Test: Observe burning behavior;
- Flame Spread Test: Measure flame spread rate;
- Ember and Drip Test: Assess the condition of embers and drips after burning.
(3) Labeling Requirements
- Non-compliant small carpets must be labeled “FLAMMABLE (FAILS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STANDARD FF 2-70)”.
3. Other Relevant Notes
(1) Additional Requirements for Children’s Carpets
- The surface coating must comply with lead content ≤ 90 ppm (0.009%) and phthalate content restrictions;
- Must pass additional testing items to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
Thank you for following our public account “Morning Testing”, we appreciate your support.
