U.S. proposes 30-minute mattress burn test
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, November 7, 2004
Washington — The bedding industry is responding positively to a proposed new federal mattress flammability standard that is similar to a standard already enacted in California.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission yesterday publicly released an "options briefing package" that it had delivered to CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton and Commissioner Thomas Moore.
The industry trade group, the International Sleep Products Assn., said that "overall, the options support ISPA's positions."
The proposed federal standard endorses two key provisions in California's standard: a 30-minute burn test and a maximum heat release rate of 200 kilowatts. But it proposes a stricter standard for the total heat release rate in the first 10 minutes of the test: 15 megajoules compared with the 25 specified in California.
The National Assn. of State Fire Marshals had recommended a longer burn test.
Tom Taylor, manager of bedding business for Western Nonwovens, a supplier of fire-resistant materials, said the CPSC is proposing "a slightly more stringent test" than that in California.
"I am very pleased with the response from CPSC," Taylor said. "I am very pleased that our industry was proactive on this issue. As an industry we have ultimately done the right thing and the regulators have accepted that fact."
Frank Kelly, director of sales for Elk Technologies, another FR supplier, said it is helpful that the CPSC has specified its direction. "It is a blessing for the industry to be able to work toward a goal for the nation that everyone understands," he said.
Added Bob McKinnon, CEO of FR supplier McKinnon-Land-Moran, "We are pleased that CPSC has acted and provided a briefing package as promised. Further, we were not surprised that they concluded that the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) protocol will provide the consumer adequate fire protection. Now that this has occurred, the uncertainty previously faced by industry has been eliminated and everyone can move forward with confidence."
The options briefing package is now subject to a 75-day comment period, Taylor said.
Analysis by CPSC staff "suggests that a 12-month effective date from the date when a final rule is published would be reasonable," CPSC's executive summary says.
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Industry reacts to proposed CPSC FR standards
Nov 3, 2004
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