California Gov. Sets New Flammability Standards

November 22, 2013  by in Industry, Legal, Product, Upholstery   

Gov. Edmund Brown said the new standard will eliminate the open-flame test for filling materials. Under the previous standard, the state included the open-flame test for foam and other components, many of which had been treated with flame retardants.

Studies have now shown links between cancer and fertility issues to those chemicals.

"Today, California is curbing toxic chemicals found in everything from high chairs to sofas,” Brown said. “These new standards will keep the furniture in our homes fire-safe and limit unnecessary exposure to toxic flame retardants."

Beginning Jan. 1, manufacturers can start manufacturing to the new standards. They have a year to complete the transition and must come into mandatory compliance on Jan. 1, 2015.

"The previous standards focused predominately on filling materials, where fires don't actually start," said Tonya Blood, chief of the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and thermal Insulation. “The new standards were developed to address where the fire begins, which is the cover fabric, and to focus on the interactions of the cover fabric and filling materials."

The standards were created based on a review, statewide workshops and public comment. The complete regulation can be found online.