FR fabrics standards: understanding German DIN 4102

June 17th, 2023

Decorative fabrics can help ensure fire safety in the contract interiors sector, where it is hugely important.

As we discussed before in Fire-Retardant Textile Design: an introduction, commercial buildings are at greater risk for fire due to electrical equipment and high occupancy levels.

As a result of these dangers, fire safety regulations have become more stringent for spaces like this. Today we' guide you through the technicalities of FR standards with this spotlight into the German DIN 4102.

Fire protection is a complicated process with many elements, so it can be difficult to figure out how they all fit together. That's why we're doing this series of informative articles about fire-resistant textiles and the biggest regulations that govern them—in order to get you up to speed on FR materials.

European fire safety regulations: this is Germany

The German DIN 4102 is a fire safety standard that determines the flammability properties of textiles and other materials used in various applications. It focuses on how materials behave when exposed to fire and aims to assess their ability to resist ignition and slow down the spread of flames.

To meet the DIN 4102 standard, textiles must exhibit certain characteristics.

First, they should have a low ignition propensity, meaning they should be difficult to ignite. When exposed to a flame, they should resist catching fire easily and should self-extinguish once the ignition source is removed.

Secondly, textiles should have limited flame spread. This means that if a fire starts on a particular part of the textile, it should not rapidly spread across the fabric or to nearby materials. Slowing down the flame spread is crucial in preventing the rapid escalation of fires.

How the vertical flame test works

Under this standard, textiles are subjected to different tests to evaluate their fire behaviour.

One of the most common tests is the vertical flame test. In this test, a vertical strip of the textile material is exposed to a controlled flame for 15 seconds. The time to reach a marked point is measured. Burning droplets are also measured by setting paper below the specimen to observe any run-off.

The material is then observed for various parameters such as ignition time, flame spread, and the production of flaming droplets or particles.

The results we look for: The controlled burner flame takes 20 seconds at the very least to reach the marked point. The droplets burn for a maximum of 2 seconds on the paper below without the paper igniting.

How the fire shaft test (the ‘brandschacht’ test) works

In this test, the fabric sample is hung vertically in a test cabinet. The test cabinet is set up as a ‘fire shaft’, like a chimney around a square gas burner and exposed to a defined flame treatment. It is subjected to a flame for 10 minutes along with a constant flow of air from below. The temperature of the smoke and the undamaged length of the fabric are measured.

The results we look for: The undamaged length of fabric is minimum 150mm. The temperature of the smoke is maximum 200°C.

German DIN 4102: the tech specs

As a result of these textiles tests, materials can fall under a certain category, which we're unpacking here:

CLASS A:

A1 and A2 are classed as 'Fireproof Materials'. The 'Fireproof Materials' classification of a fabric is determined by how well it will react in the event of a fire.

CLASS B:

B1: Not easily flammable
B2: Flammable
B3: Easily flammable

It's important to note that complying with the DIN 4102 (B1) standard does not mean that textiles are "completely fireproof" or that they will not burn at all. Instead, it indicates that they have been tested and classified as having a certain level of fire retardancy, providing a higher level of safety compared to materials that do not meet the standard.

As a textiles student, understanding the DIN 4102 (B1) standard will help you select and design textile materials that meet the required fire safety regulations for specific applications, such as upholstery, curtains, or other products where fire hazards need to be minimised.

Learn more and grow your passion for fabrics

Commercial interior designers have a responsibility to create environments that are both visually appealing and safe. By incorporating fire-resistant textiles into our designs, we can achieve this balance between aesthetics and safety.

Designers no longer need to sacrifice style for safety, as advances in fire-resistant textile design now make it possible for them to meet regulations without compromising on aesthetics.

Our blog posts and other resources will help you learn about the exciting world of textile design. Thanks for reading!