CPSC carpet and rug flammability standard part 1630.

What the standard tests

Section 1630.2(a): "This Standard provides a test method to determine the surface flammability of carpets and rugs when exposed to a standard small source of ignition under carefully prescribed draft-protected conditions. It is applicable to all types of carpets and rugs used as floor covering materials regardless of their method of fabrication or whether they are made of natural or synthetic fibers or films, or combinations of or substitutes for these." One-of-a-kind carpets or rugs, such as an antique, an Oriental or a hide, may be excluded from testing under conditions the Commission sets (1630.2(b)).

The statute behind it is the Flammable Fabrics Act. A person who manufactures for sale, imports, distributes or otherwise markets a product that does not conform to an applicable standard violates section 3 of the Act, which is why testing and guaranty rules matter to importers and retailers as well as mills.

Which products are "carpet" or "rug"

Section 1630.1(c) defines carpet as a finished product of fabric or related material "intended for use or which may reasonably be expected to be used as a floor covering which is exposed to traffic in homes, offices, or other places of assembly or accommodation," whether or not fastened to the floor, "and which has one dimension greater than 1.83 m. (6 ft.) and a surface area greater than 2.23 m2 (24 sq. ft.)." Products such as carpet squares below those dimensions are still included "but intended to be assembled upon installation into assemblies" that exceed them. Mats, hides with natural or synthetic fibers and similar products in those dimensions are included, but resilient floor coverings such as linoleum, asphalt tile and vinyl tile are not. A "rug" has the same meaning and is interchangeable. The text of part 1630 does not itself address smaller rugs; whether another standard covers them is a separate question that this page does not answer.

The checker above applies the two size limbs to your length and width, using the longer side as the one dimension and multiplying for area. Both must be exceeded. A 9 by 12 foot rug (108 sq ft) is within; a 5 by 8 foot rug (40 sq ft, longest side 8) is within on area and length; a 4 by 6 foot rug (24 sq ft, longest side exactly 6) is not, because neither limb is "greater than."

The test and the 7 of 8 rule

Section 1630.3(a): each of eight conditioned, replicate specimens is exposed to a standard igniting source in a draft-protected environment, and the proximity of the charred portion to the edge of the hole in the flattening frame is measured. The "test criterion" is that a specimen passes if the charred portion "does not extend to within 2.54 cm. (1.0 in.) of the edge of the hole in the flattening frame at any point." The "acceptance criterion" is that "at least seven of the eight specimens shall meet the test criterion in order to conform with this Standard" (1630.3(c)).

The apparatus (1630.4(a)) is an open-top cube test chamber of noncombustible material with inside dimensions given as 30.48 by 40.48 by 30.48 cm (12 by 12 by 12 in), as published (the 40.48 figure is a typographical inconsistency in the text; the inch dimensions are 12 by 12 by 12); a steel flattening frame 22.86 by 22.86 cm (9 by 9 in), 6.35 mm thick with a 20.32 cm (8 in) diameter hole; and a methenamine tablet of 150 mg plus or minus 5 mg, 6 mm nominal diameter, with a nominal heat of combustion of 7180 calories per gram, stored over desiccant for 24 hours. Specimens are 22.86 cm (9 in) squares cut so the most flammable part of the traffic surface is at the center, dried in an oven at 105 degrees C (221 F) for 2 hours, cooled in a desiccator for at least 1 hour, vacuumed, brushed to raise the pile and tested within 2 minutes of removal. A test ends when the last vestige of flame or glow disappears, or when flaming or smoldering approaches within 2.54 cm (1.0 in) of the edge of the hole; the shortest distance is then measured.

Fire-retardant treatment, labels and washing

If a carpet or rug has had a fire-retardant treatment, or is made of fibers that have, the sample is washed and dried 10 times under AATCC Test Method 124-1996 before test specimens are cut (1630.4(b)(1)(ii)), and the carpet or rug must be labeled with the letter "T" (1630.5). Subpart C gives alternative washing procedures for hide carpets and rugs (1630.61) and wool flokati rugs (1630.62). Section 1630.63 records the Commission's position that alumina trihydrate in a backing counts as a fire-retardant treatment, and that the washing requirement for such backings remains suspended.

Guaranties, tests and records

Section 1630.31 sets "reasonable and representative tests" to support a guaranty under section 8 of the Act. For machine-made carpets, at least one test is performed when production, importation or receipt commences, another after the first 25,000 linear yards of the quality, and one after every 50,000 linear yards thereafter (testing is needed only every 100,000 linear yards once all 24 specimens in the three preceding tests, eight of eight each time, met the test criterion). For handmade or hide carpets and rugs it is one test at the start and one after every 10,000 square yards. A one-of-a-kind carpet or rug needs one test. Records, including a physical sample at least 6 by 6 inches (36 square inches) and the test reports, are kept for 3 years and in the United States by a person subject to section 3 of the Act (1630.31(g)).

Recall policy

Section 1630.81 states the Commission's policy on recalls. It will use the Flammable Fabrics Act to order recall of noncomplying carpets and rugs held by distributors and retailers where the number and pattern of test failures indicate that action is necessary and appropriate. For product distributed by a domestic manufacturer or imported after July 11, 1978, it will exercise the same authority for carpets and rugs in the hands of ultimate purchasers, including installed carpet. For product on or before that date it may use section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act and the "substantial product hazard" standard.

Worked example

A mill produces a new machine-made nylon carpet quality. Eight specimens are tested; seven have a charred area that stays more than 1.0 inch from the frame hole and one reaches within 0.8 inch. Seven of eight is the minimum, so the quality meets the acceptance criterion. Had two reached within 1.0 inch, only six would pass and the quality would not conform. For a 6 by 4 foot throw rug the size test is not met on either limb; for a 10 by 14 foot room rug with a fire-retardant treated backing it is, and the T label and 10-wash conditioning apply.

Limits of this page

The tool applies the size definition and the 7 of 8 rule to numbers you enter. It does not run the tablet test or decide whether a hand-knotted piece qualifies as one-of-a-kind. Washing procedures, tests for guaranty frequency and the recall policy are summarized with section cites only. This page quotes the CFR and is not a determination about any carpet or rug.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.

• eCFR: 16 CFR part 1630, surface flammability of carpets and rugs (current through October 29, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)