Interpretation ID: aiam0690
Deputy Group Chief Technologist
British Vita Company Limited
Middleton
Manchester
England;
Dear Mr. Hunter: This is in reply to your letter of April 14, 1972, requesting a interpretation as to how 'Cavitex Latex Foam' should be tested for conformity to Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302, 'Flammability of Interior Materials.' You enclose two drawings illustrating this material, which show that the 14 x 4-inch specimen will contain cavities running from the underside of the material to within 1/2- inch from the top surface of the material. You ask whether the sample to be used for testing pursuant to S5.2.1 of the standard should be cut from the top or bottom of the specimen, and which side of the sample should be exposed to the flame. Your letter indicates that the side of the cushion containing the cavity openings faces the floor of the vehicle, and a continuous flat surface faces the occupant compartment.; We will consider you to have followed the test procedure of S5. of th standard if the 1/2- inch thick test sample is cut from that part of the material nearest to the occupant compartment, and if the surface of that sample exposed to the flame is that which is also closest to the occupant compartment. According to your drawings, you should therefore test a specimen cut from the 'upper face' of the material with the flat surface of that specimen exposed to the flame in the test cabinet.; We thank you for your compliments. Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel