United States mattress regulation is a full-scale fire test, not a bench test. Under 16 CFR 1633, a complete mattress or mattress set is ignited with a pair of gas burners simulating burning bedclothes, in a test room or under a hood where all heat is collected. The set passes if peak heat release stays under 200 kW in the first 30 minutes and total heat release in the first 10 minutes stays under 15 MJ - the limits written into the rule. The Motis large-scale mattress configuration (DI code CFR 1633) is built for this test.
How the Large-Scale Mattress Fire Test (CFR 1633) works
The mattress set is placed on its support in the test space and the two burners are applied to the top and side of the set for the standard exposure. Heat release is measured continuously by the hood calorimetry, and the record is compared with the rule's two limits over the 30-minute test.
Key specifications
| Standard | 16 CFR Part 1633 - standard for the flammability (open flame) of mattress sets |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Complete mattress or mattress set at full scale |
| Limits in the rule | Peak heat release not exceeding 200 kW in the first 30 minutes; total heat release not exceeding 15 MJ in the first 10 minutes |
What the test reports
- Peak heat release rate and time of peak
- Total heat release in the first 10 minutes
- Pass/fail against the 16 CFR 1633 limits
Applications
Mattress manufacturers selling into the United States run or commission this test for every model family. It is a dedicated full-scale arrangement; if you are equipping for the US market, describe your product range and test throughput in your inquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
Can the instrument be installed in an existing laboratory?
Yes, in most cases. Tell us the available floor space, ceiling height, exhaust capacity and gas supplies in your inquiry; large systems such as the SBI and tunnel furnaces need a dedicated exhaust arrangement, which is confirmed in the layout proposal before ordering.
Is the cigarette test (CFR 1632) included?
CFR 1632 smouldering ignition is a separate, smaller test. This page covers the open-flame 1633 configuration; mention 1632 in your inquiry if you need both.
Configuration, installation and support
Every Large-Scale Mattress Fire Test (CFR 1633) is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for 16 CFR 1633. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the Large-Scale Mattress Fire Test (CFR 1633) correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (16 CFR 1633); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.