May 2007
New mattress-flammability standard to go into effect
What you need to know when buying a mattress
STANDARD ISSUE Some mattresses that meet the new CPSC standard for flammability will bear a label similar to the one shown here.
A new federal mandatory standard for mattress flammability will go into effect this summer. But because stores will still
be allowed to sell mattresses that don't meet that standard, shopping for a mattress is not a task to take lying down.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission's new standard--16 CFR Part 1633--goes into effect July 1, 2007. It addresses mattress fires ignited by open-flame sources, such as burning candles. (Cigarette ignition is already covered by a separate mandatory federal standard.) The new policy is intended to limit the size of mattress fires "by reducing the heat release from the bed, specifically the mattress and foundation, and by reducing the likelihood that other objects in the room will become involved in the fire," according to the CPSC.
More fires are caused by cigarettes and open-flame sources, such as matches, candles, and lighters, than by cigarettes alone, according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration. "Everything from lamps to children playing with matches can start a mattress fire," says Don Mays, senior director, Product Safety & Consumer Science, for Consumer Reports: "Once a mattress ignites, it's a huge source of flames and heat. It's a compelling reason why the new mattress standard was approved." Indeed, within five minutes, a burning mattress can get hot enough to ignite the contents of a room.
The CPSC estimates that this new standard will prevent 78 percent of mattress-fire-related deaths, saving 270 lives each year, and avert 1,330 injuries annually. When it first proposed the standard, the CPSC said it would "lead to mattresses that are a dramatic improvement, in terms of fire resistance and lives saved," over most mattresses currently on the market.
The standard applies to mattresses and mattress sets, including youth mattresses, crib mattresses and portable crib mattresses,
bunk-bed mattresses, futons, flip chairs without a permanent back or arms, sleeper chairs, water beds and air mattresses if
they contain upholstery material between the ticking and the mattress core. Mattresses used in upholstered furniture, such
as those in convertible sofa beds, are also included.
Mattresses manufactured, imported, or renovated nationwide after July 1 must have a permanent label (such as the one shown) indicating that they meet the new open-flame standard. After July 1, you'll still find mattresses in retail stores that don't meet the new guidelines, because there is no cutoff date for sales of older mattresses. To ensure you're purchasing a mattress that meets the new flammability standard, look for the label.
You might pay more for enhanced fire protection. When Consumer Reports reported on the standard in 2005, we found that mattresses sold in California that already met the new standard typically cost $50 to $200 more for additional materials involved in improving fire resistance.
Remember, even mattresses that meet the new standard are not fireproof. And other bedding products--such as comforters, pillows, and blankets--can contain highly flammable materials and are often the first items ignited by a fire. The CPSC previously announced its intention to develop a separate safety standard to make such bedding products more resistant to fire. "The development of a safety standard for flammability of bed clothes is part of a bigger commitment by the agency to improve fire safety in the bedroom," says Julie Vallese, director of Information and Public Affairs for the CPSC. The agency is working on a notice of proposed rule-making for that initiative.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission's new standard--16 CFR Part 1633--goes into effect July 1, 2007. It addresses mattress fires ignited by open-flame sources, such as burning candles. (Cigarette ignition is already covered by a separate mandatory federal standard.) The new policy is intended to limit the size of mattress fires "by reducing the heat release from the bed, specifically the mattress and foundation, and by reducing the likelihood that other objects in the room will become involved in the fire," according to the CPSC.
More fires are caused by cigarettes and open-flame sources, such as matches, candles, and lighters, than by cigarettes alone, according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration. "Everything from lamps to children playing with matches can start a mattress fire," says Don Mays, senior director, Product Safety & Consumer Science, for Consumer Reports: "Once a mattress ignites, it's a huge source of flames and heat. It's a compelling reason why the new mattress standard was approved." Indeed, within five minutes, a burning mattress can get hot enough to ignite the contents of a room.
The CPSC estimates that this new standard will prevent 78 percent of mattress-fire-related deaths, saving 270 lives each year, and avert 1,330 injuries annually. When it first proposed the standard, the CPSC said it would "lead to mattresses that are a dramatic improvement, in terms of fire resistance and lives saved," over most mattresses currently on the market.
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Mattresses manufactured, imported, or renovated nationwide after July 1 must have a permanent label (such as the one shown) indicating that they meet the new open-flame standard. After July 1, you'll still find mattresses in retail stores that don't meet the new guidelines, because there is no cutoff date for sales of older mattresses. To ensure you're purchasing a mattress that meets the new flammability standard, look for the label.
You might pay more for enhanced fire protection. When Consumer Reports reported on the standard in 2005, we found that mattresses sold in California that already met the new standard typically cost $50 to $200 more for additional materials involved in improving fire resistance.
Remember, even mattresses that meet the new standard are not fireproof. And other bedding products--such as comforters, pillows, and blankets--can contain highly flammable materials and are often the first items ignited by a fire. The CPSC previously announced its intention to develop a separate safety standard to make such bedding products more resistant to fire. "The development of a safety standard for flammability of bed clothes is part of a bigger commitment by the agency to improve fire safety in the bedroom," says Julie Vallese, director of Information and Public Affairs for the CPSC. The agency is working on a notice of proposed rule-making for that initiative.
