Serta only bedding major opting to make line fire-resistant in '04
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, September 7, 2003
High Point — Major bedding producers said last week they are not planning to join Serta in introducing fire-resistant bedding lines in the near future.
But sales leader Sealy made news of its own by announcing it is building a major flammability testing facility at its corporate complex in Trinity, N.C. That facility "will enable Sealy to design, test and validate a broad range of FR barriers, solutions and new products, including those of our competitors, before and after use," said Dave McIlquham, Sealy's president.
Serta is the first national producer to announce it is bringing new FR lines to the market, starting this fall. Serta is incorporating its proprietary FireBlocker system in its entire 2004 product line. California will begin enforcing its new FR mattress standards in January 2005. A federal standard will follow at some point.
The first FR-protected Serta lines are now being distributed to retailers. The rollout will continue in the first half of next year. Serta officials said they are introducing FR lines now because they believe they have a responsibility to produce safer mattresses as soon as possible.
But the other members of bedding's Big Four said they are still working on the FR issue.
"Sealy fully supports the position outlined by the International Sleep Products Assn. in recent discussions with the state of California," said McIlquham. "We continue to work with ISPA to insure the entire industry produces safer mattresses that meet flammability regulations in a timely manner.
"With respect to regulations in California that have not yet been finalized or federally approved," he continued, "Sealy is reviewing and validating a wide variety of FR solutions that maximize safety, quality, comfort and durability at an affordable cost to our customers. We are confident that before any new mattress flammability regulation is in place, Sealy's products will exceed the requirements of such regulation."
"Our product will meet the FR criteria by the California start date," said Bob Hellyer, president of Simmons. "I think it would be irresponsible on our part to not take advantage of the additional time to investigate and pursue every possible developmental advantage in the best interest of the consumer.
"In today's world of technology," Hellyer continued, "things could change in the next 12 months, which would obsolete any of the products currently available. There are still many unanswered questions with regards to flammability such as the top-of-bed criteria which will impact the performance of the product."
Spring Air plans to introduce its FR lines in 2005, said President Jim Nation. "I certainly applaud the idea we should make mattresses safer," he said. "The industry reached an agreement that 2005 is the appropriate time to start that process."
Nation said he believes a national standard is in the best interests of the bedding industry.
"We are hopeful and wish for a national standard," he said. "I think that's what the industry needs. It is not appropriate to approach this on a state-by-state basis."
In announcing its FR solution last week, Serta said it will continue to offer both single- and two-sided mattresses. Serta's FireBlocker, a proprietary blend of natural and synthetic fibers in the outer layers of the mattress and box spring, is available in both kinds of bedding, the company said.
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