Probably the last thing one notices in clothing is its flammability performance. But the potential risk of clothing fire is far too serious to be taken lightly.
To heighten consumer awareness of this hazard, the Consumer Council has conducted a flammability test focusing on nightwear - a random sample of 19 pajamas.
The samples comprising 7 men and 12 women sleepwear made of a variety of fabrics - 100% cotton, 100% polyester, cotton-polyester blended, and 100% silk - and styles were put to the test.
Specifically, a flammability test is designed to determine the rapidity - or time of flame spread - with which the clothes will burn once alight. The more rapid the fire, the more hazardous it is.
According to the standard (ASTM 1230), the flammability of textile fabrics fall into 3 categories: Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3.
Class 1 textiles are considered by the industry to be generally acceptable for wearing apparel. Their average time of flame spread ranged from 3.5 seconds or more (for plain surface fabrics) to more than 7 seconds (for raised fiber surface).
Class 3 textiles are considered to be unsuitable, with an average time of flame spread of less than 3.5 seconds (for plain surface) and less than 4 seconds (for raised fiber surface).
Class 2 textiles are applicable to only raised fiber surface fabrics with a flammability (of an average time of flame spread of 4 to 7 seconds) between Class 1 and 3.
The results of the test put all the pajama samples in the Class 1 category. Nonetheless, given the vast quantity of sleepwear in the marketplace, the sample size is far too small to draw the conclusion that all garments of sleepwear are safe from flammability.
It should be borne in mind that most clothing can catch alight and will burn. Though meeting a standard of flammability does not mean that the clothes will not burn, it does assure a measure of consumer safety.
Clothing fires cause about 80 deaths a year in the UK, not to mention the many more severe burns requiring extensive treatment and plastic surgery, according to the Home Safety Network there.
Sleepwear is of particular concern because people are less alert when sleepy; some people might smoke in bed or get too near to heaters on cold nights.
Besides children, the incidence of burn injury is also high among the elderly especially those who lack the agility to remove themselves from flame sources, and to put out a fire once alight.
Consumers must therefore be vigilant about the risk of clothing fire, and exercise due care.
Besides flammability, the test also examined the claimed and actual fiber content of the pajama samples.
It was found that 5 of the samples had cotton content lower than that of the labelled composition. In the most severe case, the discrepancy reached a high of 63.5% less cotton than claimed. The findings have been brought to the notice of the Customs and Excise Department.
In addition, the test also assessed the degree of comfort of the sleepwear by means of air permeability and water vapour permeability. Variations were found and consumers are advised to consult the test report in this October issue of CHOICE.
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