Possible hazards

Highly flammable fabrics

Materials such as cotton, cotton/polyester blends, rayon and acrylic are generally more combustible than 100 per cent polyester,
nylon, wool and silk. The weave is also a factor in determining flammability. Fine threads with open weaves are more combustible
than heavy, closed weaves of the same material.

Loose-fitting clothes

The design and fit of garments is also a critical element in the hazard. Loose-fitting garments with long, flowing design and billowing
sleeves are hazardous anywhere near open flames. The garments most commonly associated with clothing ignition injuries are
pyjamas, nightgowns, robes, shirts/blouses, pants/slacks, dresses and any sheer, flowing garments made from highly combustible
fabric.

Burning cigarettes

Burning cigarettes, cigarette ash, matches or lighters are the major cause of clothing fires.

Other open flames around the home

Clothing fires are also caused by open flames from candles, gas cook tops, barbeques, open fires and space heaters. Home
handypeople involved in grinding metal, welding or soldering are also exposed to sparks that can cause clothing to catch fire.

Reducing the risk

Some polyester fabrics are considered permanently fire retardant. This is because fire retardant properties are built directly into the
molecular structure of the fibres. Many natural fibres, including cotton, can be topically treated with a chemical that reduces the
fabric’s flammability to the extent that it becomes nearly non-combustible. Some synthetic fabrics may be topically treated with fire
retardant chemicals after the manufacturing process (in the same manner as natural fibres such as cotton), or may be untreated (or
untreatable) and therefore considered non–fire retardant.

When a fabric is designated as 'inherently fire retardant', 'permanently fire retardant' or 'durably fire retardant', the flame retardant
properties will last for the life of the fabric. Fire retardant fabrics that have been topically treated with chemicals will lose the flame
retardant properties over time, particularly with repeated cleaning.

Always follow instructions for washing and care of fabrics and clothing treated with fire retardant chemicals. Failing to do so can
reduce their flame resistant qualities.

Statistics

Australia

 12 deaths resulted from clothing fires between 2000 and 2006.

 100 per cent of those who died were older Australians:

 10 victims were over 65 years old

 1 victim was 60 years old

 1 victim was 54 yrs of old.

USA

 An average of 120 people died in the USA each year from clothing thermal burns between 1999 and 2004.

 75 per cent of these victims were 65 years old or older (USA National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS)).

 The annual USA average from 1997 to 2006 for clothing-related burn injuries treated in emergency departments was 4
321. Of these:
  3 205 related to daywear

 1 175 related to daywear worn by people aged 25 to 64

 801 related to daywear worn by people aged 14 to 24 (USA National Electronic Injury Surveillance System
(NEISS)).

Mandatory standard—Nightwear for children

This mandatory standard came into effect on 1 March 2007. It covers safety and labelling requirements for children's nightwear and
paper patterns for making children's nightwear.

Nightwear for children includes the following items:

 pyjamas

 pyjama-style over-garments

 nightdresses

 nightshirts

 dressing gowns

 bathrobes

 infant sleep bags

 other items styled and recognised as nightwear

 knitted all-in-ones, sizes 00–2, of any style, made from fabrics with a mass less than 280 g/m2

 knitted all-in-ones, sizes 2 and over, of a style which identifies them as nightwear

 woven all-in-ones, of a style which identifies them as nightwear and

 loose boxer shorts.

Exceptions to the standard

There are some children’s nightwear garments that are not covered by the standard. These exemptions include:

 leggings

 t-shirts

 close-fitting boxer shorts (underwear)

 headwear (beanies, hats, headbands)

 footwear (slippers, bed socks)

 handwear (gloves, mittens)

 swimwear.

Hazards

Death or serious injury

Children can suffer severe burns or death if the nightwear clothing they are wearing catches fire.

Does this apply to your business?

Under the Trade Practices Act, supply includes being in the business of:

 selling

 exchanging

 leasing or hiring out

 offering for sale through hire purchase.

This mandatory standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying nightwear for children, including:

 manufacturers

 importers

 distributors

 retailers

 hirers.

Safety categories

Nightwear for children (and some daywear) is classified into one of four categories, according to garment or fabric type.

However, some garments are so flammable they cannot meet any of the four categories, so cannot be given a label and must not be
sold.

Labelling

Each category requires a label. Categories 1–3 require a low fire hazard label.

Category 4 requires a high fire hazard warning label.

Category 1

Garments made from fabric and trims that pass low flammability tests. Examples include wool, some synthetics and some heavy
cottons.
Category 2

Garments that are close fitting, such as pyjamas, do not ignite or burn as readily. As a result, they may be made from more
flammable fabrics. Garment measurements apply according to size.

Category 3

Babies’ all-in-ones have their own category because there is little difference between daywear and nightwear. This category covers
all-in-one garments in sizes 00–2, such as jumpsuits and rompers. It applies to garments made mostly from knitted fabrics and with
a mass less than 280 g/m2

Category 4

Applies to garments that do not fit categories 1, 2 or 3 but still meet some fabric, size and burning test requirements.

Testing

While the mandatory standard includes some features that can be visually checked, it also specifies testing to ensure that nightwear
for children meet requirements for fire hazards. Suppliers need to organise this testing through specialist laboratories with the right
skills, experience and equipment.

Fabric type

The type of fabric used in nightwear garments for children may require testing to establish the appropriate fire hazard category.

Fabric trims

Fabric trims need to meet certain requirements under the different fire hazard categories.

Children's night clothes safety standard

The Children's Night Clothes (Product Safety Standard) Regulations 1990 apply to all businesses involved in the manufacture,
distribution and sale of children's night wear.

The standard is designed to protect children from the dangers of wearing flammable, loose fitting or flowing garments around
fires or heaters.

The standard defines children's night clothes as any garments suitable for night wear for children aged between six months
and 14 years.

This definition includes:

• pyjamas and pyjama-style over-garments,

• sleep suits;

• night dresses and night shirts; dressing gowns; bathrobes;

• infants' sleeping bags; infants' "stretch and grows".

The definition is not exclusive. Garments, which may be used as nightwear should conform to the standard, even if they were
not designed for that use. All garments covered by the standard must have warning labels permanently attached and clearly visible.
If the garment consists of two or more pieces, such as pyjamas, then both pieces must be labelled.

Nightwear must be made in a form-fitting style if it is not made of low fire danger fabric.

Category 1 garments (made from low fire danger fabrics) must be labelled:

LOW FIRE DANGER

FABRIC

NZS 8705
The words must be in upper case, medium width characters not less than 3mm high, printed in black on an orange background.
The colour must be 557 Light Orange as specified in NZS 7702, or a close approximation.

Category 2 garments (form-fitting styles not made of low fire danger fabric) must be labelled:

WARNING:

FLAMMABLE FABRIC

STYLED TO REDUCE

FIRE DANGER

SNZS 8705

The words must be in upper case, with "WARNING: FLAMMABLE FABRIC" printed in bold characters not less than 3mm high,
and the other words in medium width characters not less than 3mm high. The words must be printed in black on a red
background. The colour must be 537 Signal Red as specified in NZS 7702, or a close approximation.

Categories 1–3 may have other information on the label together with the fire hazard information. Category 4 garments,
however, must have a separate fire hazard label, with other required information on another label.