RR222 - Tests for the ignition and flame spread of clothing fabrics subjected to angle grinder sparks - Results from ten generic fabrics and variants
Test methods for measuring the time to ignition and rate of flame spread of fabrics subjected to sparks from hand angle grinders are required by the HSE as they are a regular cause of burns. Ten fabrics were tested (sixteen, including variants), many fabrics could ignite after less than a minute with one fabric igniting after ten seconds. Natural fabrics tended to form a protective carbonaceous char whereas synthetic fabrics tended to melt and form a hole around the stream of sparks, preventing or reducing the likelihood of ignition. Most fabrics showed a well-defined rate of flame spread which was usually significantly faster in the inclined position, overall rates between 9mm/min and 891 mm/min were measured.
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