ﻟﻠ  اﻟ  واﻟ واﻟ 
Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org. (SAS O) 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
Final Draft Standard   
 
  
 
 
SASO /FDS/31842/2020  
   
 
 
 
Road vehicles - Flammability of interior materials 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
ICS: 43.020 - 13.220.40 
 
This document is a draft Saudi Standard circulated for comments . It is, therefore, 
subject to alteration and modifi cation and may not be referred to as a Saudi 
Standard until approved by SASO . SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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Conte nts 
 
 
1- Scope and field of the application ............... ................ ................ ................ ............ ......... 2 
 
2- Terms and definitions  .............................................................. ......................................... 2 
 
3- Test equipm ent .............................................................. ..................................................... 2 
 
4- Technical requirements  ............................................................... ..................................... 3 
 
5- Preparation of specimens  .............................................................. ................................... 4 
 
6- Test procedures ............................................................... ................................................... 4 
 
7- Results  .............................................................. ............................................................... ..... 4 
 
 
Bibliography   ............................................................. .............................................................. 6 SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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Road vehicles - Flammability of interior materials 
 
 
1- Scope and field of the appl ication 
This standard specifies the technical requirements and test pro cedures for the resistance to 
burning, of materials used in the vehicle occupant compartments . 
 
This standard applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger  vehicles, trucks, and buses. 
 
2- Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and defi nitions are applied: 
2.1 Passenge r car 
A motor vehicle with motive power, designed for carrying 10 per sons or less including the 
driver and their luggage., except a low-speed vehicle, multipur pose passenger vehicle, or trailer. 
2.2 Multipurpose passe nger vehicle 
A motor vehicle with motive power, designed to carry 10 persons  or less or goods equivalent 
by weight which is constructed either on a truck chassis or wit h special features for occasional 
off-road operation. except a low-speed vehicle or trailer 
2.3 Truck 
A motor vehicle with motive power, designed primarily for the t ransportation of property, 
special purpose equipment, or towing a trailer except a trailer . 
2.4 Bus 
A motor vehicle with motive power, designed for carrying more t han 10 persons, except a 
trailer. 
2.5 Occupant compartment air spac e 
The space within the occupant compartment that normally contain s refreshable air. 
2.6 Composite material 
A material composed of several layers of similar or different m aterials intimately held together 
at their surfaces by methods other than sewing, high frequency welding or riveting. 
2.7 Exposed side 
The side of the material, in the occupant compartment, which wi ll face inward when the 
materials are mounted in the compartment. 
 
3- Test equipm ent 
3.1 The test is conducted in a metal cabinet for protecting the  test specimens from drafts as 
shown in Figure (1) 
a) The interior of the cabinet is 381 mm long, 203 mm deep, and 3 56 mm high. 
b) It has a glass observation window in the front, a closable ope ning to permit insertion of the 
specimen holder, and a hole to accommodate tubing for a gas bur ner. 
c) For ventilation, it has a 13 mm clearance space around the top  of the cabinet, ten holes in the 
base of the cabinet, each hole 19 mm in diameter and legs to el evate the bottom of the cabinet 
by 10 mm, all located SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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3.2 The test specimen is inserted between two matching U-shaped fr ames of metal stock 25 mm 
wide and 10 mm high. 
a) The interior dimensions of the U-shaped frames are 51 mm wide by 330 mm long. 
b) A specimen that softens and bends at the flaming end so as to cause erratic burning is kept 
horizontal by supports consisting of thin, heat-resistant wires , spanning the width of the U- 
shaped frame under the specimen at 25 mm intervals. c) A device that may be used for supporting this type of material  is an additional U-shaped 
frame, wider than the U-shaped frame containing the specimen, s panned by 10-mil wires of 
heat-resistant composition at 25 mm intervals, inserted over th e bottom U-shaped frame. 
3.3 A bunsen burner with a tube of 10 mm inside diameter is used. 
a) The gas adjusting valve is set t o provide a flame, with the tu be vertical, of 38 mm in height. 
b) The air inlet to the burner is closed. 
c) The gas supplied to the burner has a flame temperature equival ent to that of natural gas
. 
3.4 Metal comb: length of at least 110 mm and having seven to eigh t smooth, rounded teeth per 
25 mm. 
3.5 A stopwatch of accuracy (± 0.5) seconds is used. 
 
4- Technical requirements 
4.1 The materials used in vehicle occupant compartments (including  seat cushions, seat backs, 
seat belts, headlining, convertible tops, arm rests, all trim p anels including door, front, rear, and 
side panels, compartment shelves, head restraints, floor coveri ngs, sun visors, curtains, shades, 
wheel housing covers, engine compartment covers, mattress cover s, and any other interior 
materials, including padding and crash-deployed elements) shall  not burn, nor transmit a flame 
front across their surfaces at a rate exceeding 102 mm/min. 
4.2 Any portion of a single or composite material which is within 13 mm of the occupant 
compartment air space shall meet the requirements of item 4.1. 
4.2.1  Any material that does not adhere to other material(s) at ever y point of contact shall meet 
the requirements of item 4.1 when tested separately. 
4.2.2  Any material that adheres to other materials at every point of  contact shall meet the 
requirements of item 4.1 when tested as a composite with the ot her material(s). 
4.3 If a material stops burning before it has burned for 60 second s from the start of timing, 
and has not burned more than 51 mm from the point where the tim ing was started, it shall be 
considered to meet the burn-rate requirement of item 4.1. 
 
 
Example: as shown in figure (2) 
- Material A has a non-adhering interface with material B and i s tested separately. 
- Part of material B is within 13 mm of the occupant compartmen t air space, and materials B 
and C adhere at every point of contact; therefore, B and C are tested as a composite. 
- The cut is in material C as shown, to make a specimen 13 mm t hick. SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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5- Preparation of specimens 
5.1 Each specimen of material to be tested shall be a rectangle 10 2 mm wide by 356 mm long. 
5.2 The thickness of the specimen is that of the single or composi te material used in the vehicle, 
except that if the material's thickness exceeds 13 mm, the spec imen is cut down to that thickness 
measured from the surface of the specimen closest to the occupa nt compartment air space. 
Note: Where it is not possible to obtain a flat specimen because of surface curvature, the 
specimen is cut to not more than 13 mm in thickness at any point . 
5.3 The specimen is oriented so that the surface closest to the oc cupant compartment air space 
faces downward on the test frame. 
5.4 Material with a napped or tufted surface is placed on a flat s urface and combed twice against 
the nap using a metal comb. 
5.5 Prior to testing, each specimen is conditioned for 24 hours  at a temperature of 21 °C, and a 
relative humidity of 50 %, and the test is conducted under thos e ambient conditions. 
 
 
6- Test procedures 
6.1 Mount the specimen so that both sides and one end are held by the U-shaped frame, and one 
end is even with the open end of the frame. 
Where the maximum available width of a specimen is not more tha n 51 mm, so that the sides 
of the specimen cannot be held in the U-shaped frame, place the  specimen in position on wire 
supports as described in item 3.2, with one end held by the clo sed end of the U-shaped frame. 
6.2 Place the mounted specimen in a horizontal position, in the ce nter of the cabinet. 
6.3 With the flame adjusted according to item 3.3, position the bu nsen burner and specimen so 
that the center of the burner tip is 19 mm below the center of the bottom edge of the open end 
of the specimen. 
6.4 Expose the specimen to the flame for 15 seconds. 
6.5 Begin timing (without reference to the period of application o f the burner flame) when the 
flame from the burning specimen reaches a point 38 mm from the open end of the specimen. 
 
7- Results 
7.1 Measure the time that it takes the flame to progress to a poin t 38 mm from the clamped end 
of the specimen. 
If the flame does not reach the specified end point, time its p rogress to the point where flaming 
stops 7.2 Calculate the burn rate from the formula: 
 
 
B = 60 × (D/T) 
 
 
Where: 
B: Burn rate in millimeters per minute D: Length the flame travels in millimeters, and 
T:  Time in seconds for the flame to travel D millimeters. SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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All dimensions in millimetres 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure (1) – Occupant compartment  air space  
 
 
 
 
 
All dimensions in millimetres  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
Figure (2) – Occupant compartment  air space  SASO S TANDAR D  SASO/FDS 31842/2020
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Bibliography  
 
 
 
[1] 49 Subtitle B-Chapter V-Part 571-Subpart B Section 302  
(FMVSS  571.302 ) "Flammability  of interior materials".