Chemical Insights Releases Summary Report on Fire Barriers for Upholstered Furniture

January 5, 2022  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

The summary report reviews studies conducted by key scientific and regulatory organizations including the National Institutes of Standards and Technologies, Chemical Insights Research Institute of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Household Goods and Services on the availability and efficacy of fire barrier materials for use in the construction of upholstered furniture. Overall, the studies featured in the summary report found that there are fire barriers available on the market that pass open flame and smoldering (TB117-2013) tests and fire barrier textiles are effective as fire suppression systems for the control of open flames that can lead to residential fires.  

Current fire statistics report that of residential fires that result in death, upholstered furniture is the leading item to ignite. The hazards of open flame burning can be significantly reduced with the use of fire barriers and without the use of added flame retardants. 

This summary report builds upon Chemical Insights Research Institute of Underwriters Laboratories Inc.’s ongoing research projects on flame retardants and furniture flammability and their impact on human health.