Protect Our Children
Gone to blazes in 30 seconds
The Northern Echo and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service set fire to nine pairs of children's pyjamas and a dressing gown yesterday at the brigade's training headquarters in Easingwold.
The test was designed to demonstrate how quickly children's nightwear burns and to>show the difference between low flammability nightdresses and standard cotton pyjamas. Olivia Richwald reports.
Tesco Cherokee girls' pyjamas £5, age 2-3, 100 per cent cotton.
Flame test: These pink and white checked pyjamas set alight and burned very quickly, they were thicker than some of the other pyjamas and the top appeared to fill with flames from the inside.
Tesco Cherokee nighties £5 for two pack, age 4-5 100 per cent polyester
Flame test: It was very hard to set this pink nightie alight, several matches were wasted because it wouldn't ignite. When it finally did, it melted a little before putting itself out.
The store said: "Clearly, while good progress has been made, there's more work to be done in this area. We will be looking to work with our suppliers in order to address this issue."
Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer girls' nightdress £10 for two pack age 2-3 years, 100 per cent polyester
Flame test: This spotty nightie complies with the tougher legislation and was very slow to burn. At 30 seconds, just one corner had melted.
The fire was put out at two minutes and 40 seconds, by the time approximately one quarter of the garment had burned/melted.
Marks & Spencer all-in-one-suit, £8, age 6-9 months, 100 per cent cotton
Flame test: This cream suit was slow to ignite, by 30 seconds just one part of one leg had burned.
However, it wasn't long before it was completely surrounded by very hot, tall flames.
The store said: "All our products that we currently sell comply with existing legislation.
If this changes we will ensure that we comply with the regulations."
Next
Next Fireman Sam boys' pyjamas, £10, age 2-3, 100 per cent cotton. All Next children's nightwear carries an additional detachable red label warning parents that all clothing is flammable and to keep children away from fire and flames.
Flame test: Fireman Sam quickly vanished under the flames, which went straight up the middle of the garment. By 30 seconds the flames had reached well above where the child's head would be and within one minute and 30 seconds there was almost nothing left of the top.
The store did not respond to The Northern Echo's request for a comment.
Asda George boys' pyjamas £7 for three pack, age 4-5 years 100 per cent cotton
Flame test: This was a pirate-themed top from the same set of pyjamas that Daniel Mitchard-Harrison was wearing when he was badly burned. Within seconds of it igniting, flames were pouring out of the neck. In two minutes there was just one sleeve remaining, by two minutes and 15 seconds, the whole top had burned.
The store said: "We were absolutely horrified to hear what happened and as a result our technical team at George will look at creating a line of pyjamas with a higher man-made fibre content to offer as an alternative."
Mothercare baby trousers with feet, £4, age 0-3 months, 75% cotton, 25% polyester
Flame test: These soft cream trousers were quite slow to set alight and once they had started burning the progress of the flames was slow, probably due to the polyester content.
The store said: "At Mothercare the safety and well-being of our customers is of paramount importance and, as a result, we ensure that all of our sleep wear meets, and often exceeds, the statutory regulations. As baby specialists, we are constantly reviewing our product offering and the safety standards required."
Woolworths value girls' pyjama set, £3, age 4-5, 100 per cent cotton.
Flame test: This pink pyjama top (right) was quickly ablaze and as the material was thin, it did burn quickly. There was soon nothing left of the top.
Woolworths Disney dressing gown, £13 reduced to £7, age 2-3, 100 per cent polyester
Flame test: This red fleecy dressing gown complies with the low flammability regulations set down by the Government. It was slow to ignite and the burn progress was also slow. By 30 seconds just a small portion of the gown had melted, by two minutes 30 seconds the fire was put out and only a small portion of the garment had been destroyed.
The store said: "Woolworths is always interested in feedback, especially when the safety of our customers is involved. We will talk again to our suppliers about issues of safety to ascertain whether or not changes need to be made."
9:24am Friday 13th April 2007
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Specialist textiles, Yorkshire on 10:20am Mon 16 Apr 07
We were sorry to hear about Daniels accident & we read with interest the various tests Northern Echo have carried out.
Any untreated 100% cotton garment will burn easily,speed of the burn depending on fabric construction.
Polyester garments pass the flammibilty tests mainly because the fabric shrinks away from the flame but the molten polyester will cling to the wearers skin.
Cotton garments are much more comfortable to wear but are more expensive.Currently legislation does not require pyjamas to be flame retardant,loose fitting nightdresses must comply with regulations.Any cotton nightdresses will have been treated & noticed that you did not test one of these.Our Yorkshire based company specialise in the flame retardant treatment on cotton garments to BS5722 so there is no reason why pyjamas cannot be treated in this way.
Christopher Wall
Specialist Textiles
01262 605888
We were sorry to hear about Daniels accident & we read with interest the various tests Northern Echo have carried out.
Any untreated 100% cotton garment will burn easily,speed of the burn depending on fabric construction.
Polyester garments pass the flammibilty tests mainly because the fabric shrinks away from the flame but the molten polyester will cling to the wearers skin.
Cotton garments are much more comfortable to wear but are more expensive.Currently legislation does not require pyjamas to be flame retardant,loose fitting nightdresses must comply with regulations.Any cotton nightdresses will have been treated & noticed that you did not test one of these.Our Yorkshire based company specialise in the flame retardant treatment on cotton garments to BS5722 so there is no reason why pyjamas cannot be treated in this way.
Christopher Wall
Specialist Textiles
01262 605888
Posted by: Paul, Leeds on 2:55pm Wed 4 Jul 07
I have read the above story with a certain amount of interest. The test's conducted by the fire brigade, are an indicative test only. To be able to tell the full fire retardency of a piece of nightwear, then it must be tested to BS5722. I carry out this test on a daily basis, and have seen many failures. As was mentioned, pyjamas do not come under the regulations, all though i have tested them for an idicative result only.
I have read the above story with a certain amount of interest. The test's conducted by the fire brigade, are an indicative test only. To be able to tell the full fire retardency of a piece of nightwear, then it must be tested to BS5722. I carry out this test on a daily basis, and have seen many failures. As was mentioned, pyjamas do not come under the regulations, all though i have tested them for an idicative result only.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
