The FMVSS 302 test is a standard of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for evaluating flammability of materials as conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, a faction of the U.S. Department of Transportation). Results obtained from this test are used by code officials in the acceptance of materials—such as leather, textiles, and flooring—for use within the occupant compartments of motor vehicles like cars, passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses. The purpose is to establish maximum burn rate for materials used in these applications to reduce the instances and severity of burn injuries while increasing evacuation time.
The scope of testing involves exposing a test specimen to a gas-controlled flame within a test chamber. The test specimen passes or fails the test based on the burning rate, which is determined by the burnt distance and burning time.