Fire safe, sustainable loose furnishing

The aim of this exploratory study has been to investigate the fire properties and environmental aspects of different upholstery material combinations, mainly for domestic applications. An analysis of the sustainability and circularity of selected textiles, along with lifecycle assessment, is used to qualitatively evaluate materials from an environmental perspective. The cone calorimeter was the primary tool used to screen 20 different material combinations from a fire performance perspective. It was found that textile covers of conventional fibres such as wool, cotton and polyester, can be improved by blending them with fire resistant speciality fibres. A new three-dimensional web structure has been examined as an alternative padding material, showing preliminary promising fire properties with regard to ignition time, heat release rates and smoke production.

Automated summary

This exploratory study aims to investigate the fire properties and environmental aspects of different upholstery material combinations, particularly for domestic applications. Sustainability and circularity of selected textiles were analyzed qualitatively through lifecycle assessment, while the cone calorimeter was used to screen 20 material combinations for fire performance. The study found that blending conventional fibers with fire resistant specialty fibers can improve the fire properties of textile covers, and a new three-dimensional web structure as an alternative padding material shows promising fire properties in terms of ignition time, heat release rates, and smoke production.