Interpretation ID: aiam0502
Jr.
Project Leader
Kendall Company
P. O. Box 1828
6300 Carmel Road
Charlotte
NC
28201;
Dear Mr. Fouche': This is in reply to your letter of November 2, 1971, concerning th application of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302, 'Flammability of Interior Materials,' to synthetic fabrics. You state that certain of these fabrics do not ignite when tested with a stationary flame as they melt and shrink away from the flame, but burn faster than the 4-inch-per-minute rate if the flame is moved to keep it in contact with the fabric. You ask whether materials that behave in this manner comply with the standard.; The standard requires that the vehicle components specified in S4.1 o the standard meet the burn rate requirements when tested as provided in S5.3 of the standard. This procedure specifies a stationary flame. Consequently, we would consider materials which melt and shrink away from the flame, but do not ignite, as long as the other aspects of the test procedure were followed, to comply with the standard.; Sincerely, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel