Citation

Horrocks AR, Nazare S, Kandola B. Fire Safety J. 2004; 39(4): 259-276.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This work examines the pre- and post-UK Nightwear (Fire) (Safety) Regulation (1965 and 1985) trends in available UK fire and burns statistics. Retrospective analysis of the pre-regulation statistics and prospective analysis of the post-regulation statistics indicates that clothing fire fatalities have fluctuated about an almost constant level since the early 1980s. Major conclusions of this study are similar to those of previous studies in the UK and the US in that the very young and very old are at greatest risk, with females involved in 55% of the incidences and loose-fitting garments posing the highest risk.Currently national and international standards for flammability of nightwear garments have been reviewed and reported. Published and unpublished UK fire statistics of clothing-related fire incidences have been collated and evaluated. Finally, potential textile hazards and factors contributing to burn injuries and deaths in which clothing items are involved are reviewed.