Adult Wearing Apparel Guidelines

OMB Control Number 3041-0029

Investigation Guideline
Product: Adult Wearing Apparel
Appendix #: 23
Date Amended: October 2004

I. Introduction
Investigations are being assigned to provide information about the type of
clothing involved in adult clothing ignitions, including incidents that involve melting or
smoldering of the garment. Ignition of clothing being worn by a child younger than
age 15 should use Appendix 23A. This guideline focuses on the involvement of clothing
and is intended as an adjunct to the normal investigation procedure and reporting. Attach
the Data Record Sheet to a single comprehensive narrative which discusses the relevant
information.

A. Background Information
CPSC staff is in the process of updating the specifications of Fla mmability of
Clothing Textiles, 16 CFR 1610, administered by CPSC under the Flammable Fabrics
Act. This is a general standard dating back to 1975 that applies to all clothing. The
anticipated changes will apply primarily to updating of the testing requirements that are
no longer feasible due to changes in laundering and dry cleaning practices.

B. Product Description
This guideline applies to fire incidents (ignition, smoldering, melting, etc ) of all
clothing (except shoes, gloves, and hats) being worn by a person age 15 or older. If the
clothing is found to be shoes, gloves, or hats, you may terminate.
C. Specfic Items of Interest
•
•
•
•
•

Identify the source of the heat or flame that ignited the clothing.
Identify the type of clothing involved (shirt, etc), its material (cotton, etc),
fit, age, size,etc
Copy clothing labels including fabric content and use and care
instructions, and Registered Number (RN #1)
Describe burning characteristics (smoldering, melting, flames, etc.)
Specify age, sex, height and weight of the victim

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E. Headquarters Contacts
Linda Smith, EPHA, (301) 504-7310
Marilyn Borsari, CA, (301) 504- 7619
Patricia Adair, ES, (301) 504-7536
II. Instructions for Collecting Specific Information
A. Synopsis
Provide a short summary of the incident . Describe the characteristics of ignition
(flames, smoldering, melting, etc), the heat source of the fire, the garments involved
(shirt, etc), and the age, injury, and disposition of the victim. Keywords to be used in the
synopsis: fire, smoldering, melting, clothing, adult.

B. Description of Incident Environment
Describe the scenario of what was going on just before the fire incident occurred.
Include a description of all the activities the victim was engaged in during the period
he/she was wearing the involved clothing, in particular, anything that might have
contributed to the flammability of the garment such as presence of flammable liquid, etc.
Describe all clothing being worn and manner of layering. Indicate the source of ignition,
activity and relevant characteristics of the injured person or others in the household that
explain how the incident happened. Describe the involvement of any flammable liquids,
specifying type and amount.
C. Description of Interaction Between Injured Pe rson and Product
Describe the victim’s, or other person’s, attempts to extinguish the fire. Describe
the nature of the burning (smoldering, melting, rapid combustion, etc.), and the extent of
damage to the garment. Specify where on the garment that ignition or other damage
occurred first. Describe how the fire was extinguished by the victim or others in the
household, e.g., smothered with a blanket, etc.
Describe any characteristics of the victim that may have contributed to the
occurrence of the incident or the victim’s ability to respond to the incident, e.g., mental or
physical limitations, use of drugs or alcohol, etc. Diagram the victim’s burn injuries (use
the anatomical chart included in the most recent NEISS manual).
D. Description of the Product
Describe the garment in as much detail as possible. Copy all available information
on the labels, brand name and manufacturer, size, fiber content, material type, general
weight, care instructions, FTC registration numbers (RNS and WPLS), etc. Include age of
the garment and the nature and frequency of the garment’s care, i.e. laundering or dry

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cleaning. Specify the construction of the garment including whether the garment was
knit, woven, etc. Describe its fit and finish, e.g., smooth, fleece, velour, fuzzy, nubby, etc.
Include a similar description of all items of clothing that suffered fire damage during this
incident. Specify where and when the clothing was obtained.
A data record sheet is included to provide a convenient checklist of selected items
of information desired. However, the data record sheet is not inclusive and a narrative of
other relevant features of the garment and what occurred during this incident are required
as well.
E. Post-Incident
Describe the nature, severity (degree of burn) and extent of injury, as well as
medical treatment received and expected in the future. Describe property loss to the
dwelling. Indicate where the victim was treated, specify name and type of facility as well
as its location.
III. Photographs /Diagrams of the Clothing
Photograph remains of garment. Diagram the ignition point and extent of fire
damage. Photograph all labels if possible.
IV. Obtaining Samples and Documents Related to the Investigation
Obtain copies of medical records describing extent of injury and treatment. If the
injury occurred in a fire attended by the fire service, obtain the fire department
documents identifying fire cause, incident and casualty reports, and any investigation
reports. Obtain Medical Examiners report if appropriate. Samples of the burned
garment are not requested.

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October 2004

Data Record Sheet
Adult Wearing Apparel
Task Number_________________

Incident Date____________________

Victim
1. Age and Sex___________
2. Did the victim suffer from any sort of medical condition that may have contributed to
the incident or reduced reaction time
_____yes (specify)_______________________________________________
_____no
_____unknown
3. Did the victim ingest drugs or alcohol that may have contributed to the incident or
reduced reaction time? Include effects of alcohol or drugs, legal or illegal, including
over the counter (OTC) medications.
_____yes (specify)_______________________________________________
_____no
_____unknown
Incident Characteristics
4. What was the heat source involved?
______stove (cooking); specify fuel/power type
______gas
______wood-burning
______electric
______space heater; specify fuel/power type
______electric
______kerosene
______gas
______wood-burning
______other (specify) ___________________
______match
______cigarette
______lighter
______fireplace
______candle
______other; (specify equipment and fuel/power)________________________
______outdoor fire ( bonfire, trash fire, etc)________________
______unknown

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5. Were any flammable liquids involved (e.g., gasoline or lighter fluid)?
______yes (specify kind and amount)_________________________
_________________________________________________
______no
______unknown
6. Where did the incident occur?
______kitchen
______living room
______dining room
______bathroom
______bedroom
______outdoors
______other (specify)_______________________________________
______unknown
7. About what time of day did the incident occur? (specify am/pm)____________
8. What did the victim do upon discovering that the clothing had ignited?
______ran to another location
______tried to pat flames out
______tried to remove clothing
______dropped and rolled
______other (specify) __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
______unknown
9. How was the fire extinguished?
______water
______fire extinguisher
______smothered with blanket, etc.
______other (specify)_______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_____unknown
10. Who extinguished the fire/removed the garment?
_____victim
_____other household member (specify)______________________
_____other
_____unknown
11. Did anything other than clothing ignite?
____yes
____no
____unknown

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Clothing Description
12. What type of garment ignited/smoldered/melted? ( If more than one, enter order of
ignition next to the appropriate item, #1 etc )
______T-shirt
______daywear
______underwear
______pants
______jeans
______underwear (specify type)___________________
______robe
______dress
______blouse
______shirt
______sweater
______sweatshirt
______sweatpants
______leggings
______long underwear
______nightgown
______pajama top
______pajama bottom
______coat
______other (specify)__________________________________________

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REPEAT THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH GARMENT IGNITED.
Garment type__________
13. What was the garment made of?
______100 percent cotton
______cotton blend
______synthetic
______other (specify)______________________________
______unknown (skip to Q. 23)
14. How did you determine what the garment was made of?
______from the tag
______from memory of victim or bystander
______from general knowledge of fabrics
_____other (specify)
Report wording of tags if available:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

15. Was the fabric knit or woven?
______knit (fabric formed by interlooping yarns; e.g. sweater)
______woven (fabric formed by interlacing two yarns; e.g. flannel)
g
______other, describe___________________________________
______unknown
16. How would you describe the fit of the garment?
______snug fitting
______loose fitting
(give short explanation of the fit) _________________________________
____________________________________________________________
17. Describe garment surface texture (smooth, nubby, velour, etc)
___________________________________________________________

18. What was the garment size? ________________
19. Who was the garment manufacturer? ______________________________

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20. How old was the garment?
______first time wearing it
______at most one year old
______more than one year old
______don’t know, not new when obtained
______unknown
21. Had the garment been laundered or dry cleaned prior to the incident?
______yes
______laundered (approximate number of times)
______dry cleaned (approximate number of times)
______no
22. What part of the garment ignited first (e.g., sleeve of a shirt, hem of a dress)?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
23. How did the garment burn?
______surface flash
______rapidly spreading fire
______melted and dripped
______smoldered
______other (specify)_______________________________________

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