Since 1986, mandatory requirements on the flammability of materials forming the interior of the occupant compartment of motor vehicles have been applicable in Brazil. These requirements, as specified in (CONTRAN) Resolution No. 675/86, apply to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, buses and trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) up to 4536 kg and specify a maximum flame propagation rate of 250 mm/min.
In August 2014, a new Resolution on the flammability of interior materials was published by Brazil's National Traffic Council (CONTRAN). In this new Resolution, Resolution No. 498/2014, the applicability of the interior material flammability requirements has been extended to all types of motor vehicle, regardless of their seating capacity or GVW, and the maximum flame propagation rate has been reduced to 100 mm/min.
The material flammability test procedure specified by Resolution No. 498/2014 is basically unchanged from the one specified by Resolution No. 675/86, but now includes a more detailed description of which materials must be tested and which are exempt. In essence, the flammability test procedure specified by this new Resolution is equivalent to that specified by ISO 3795 and FMVSS 302.
To demonstrate compliance with these interior material flammability requirements, Resolution No. 498/2014 specifies that test reports issued by any international body that is recognised by the European Community or by the United States of America will be accepted.
Compliance with this new Brazilian Resolution on interior material flammability becomes mandatory for all motor vehicles manufactured from 1st January, 2015.