AHFA Will Spearhead Effort for “Consensus” on Upholstery Flame Standards

July 25, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on July 2007 Participants in an industry forum organized by American Home Furnishings Alliance in Arlington, Va., to examine potential federal fire safety standards for upholstered furniture agreed Wednesday to recommend that regulators create a standard on smoldering fires such as cigarettes, but called for further research on any open-flame standard for upholstery.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s open-flame mattress flammability standard took effect July 1.

“The majority of the group, including the entire furniture industry supply chain, was in favor of urging federal regulators to move forward on a standard that would ensure all upholstered furniture sold in the United States is constructed to resist ignition from smoldering cigarettes – which cause nearly 90 percent of residential furniture fires,” said AHFA CEO Andy Counts.

The group was in agreement that continued research is needed to achieve a satisfactory approach to making residential upholstered furniture more resistant to small open flames – such as lighters, matches and candles – without exposing consumers to potentially toxic flame retardant chemicals. To that end, Underwriters Laboratory, a participant in the forum, announced it will conduct an extensive small open flame testing program over the next 18 months.

“There was considerable discussion about the differences between mattress construction and upholstered seating construction – and how standards applied to mattresses do not necessarily translate into upholstery construction,” Counts said.

Representatives from CPSC attended yesterday’s forum, but they are not permitted to voice opinions at consensus-building exercises. In addition to the CPSC, organizations represented at the forum included the International Association of Fire Fighters, National Home Furnishings Association, Polyurethane Foam Association, American Fiber Manufacturers Association, National Textile Association, National Cotton Council, Underwriters Laboratory, Friends of the Earth and several environmental, chemical and burn victim organizations. The National Association of State Fire Marshals was invited to participate but was not represented.

Staff from the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees CPSC funding, asked AHFA to spearhead the effort to reach stakeholder consensus on the furniture flammability issue. The Senate Commerce Committee has held hearings on CPSC activities throughout this legislative session. Congressional hearings on the furniture flammability issue are anticipated later this year.

However, the CPSC currently has only two of its required three members and cannot take any action until a third appointee is confirmed.