In recent years a number of full-scale fire tests for various furnishings have been developed. These tests generally require either finished articles of furnishings, such as mattresses or upholstered furniture, or large size mock-ups, to be evaluated under specified ignition conditions. The recent development of new and innovative fire blockers or barriers, which act by limiting the fire involvement of the cushioning materials, has provided manufacturers of bedding products and upholstered furniture the ability to comply with severe full-scale fire tests at relatively modest increase in cost. Numerous fire tests have shown that manufacturers can comply with fire tests, using a wide selection of furniture or bedding fabrics and other component materials, when fire blockers are used in the design of the product. Today a wide selection of fire blockers is available, enabling manufacturers of virtually every style, design and shape of furnishings, to comply with the most severe fire tests.
