Coalition: Some FR chemicals may fade
By Jay McIntosh -- Furniture Today, February 20, 2005
Sacramento, Calif. — The Children's Coalition for Fire Safe Mattresses says it's concerned that some mattresses that meet California's strict new fire-resistance regulations could have their FR protection break down over time and become dangerous.
Whitney Davis, director of the coalition, an advocacy group for burn survivors, said certain substances applied to turn fabrics into FR barriers could lose their effectiveness with age and use. At a press conference here last week, he cited ammonium polyphosphate as one chemical that concerns the group.
"We primarily are concerned with imports from China and Mexico," he said, although he did not cite any manufacturer or importer by name as engaging in risky practices.
He said the coalition also has sent mattresses from several U.S. manufacturers to an independent laboratory for FR testing.
California's mattress flammability law took effect Jan. 1. It requires that beds produced this year and sold in California pass a stringent open-flame burn test. The law does not specify how the safer beds should be made or what FR materials should be used, leaving those decisions to bedding producers.
Davis, whose group was active in pushing for the FR law, also unveiled a Seal of Commendation, which it plans to give free of charge to manufacturers, retailers and suppliers whose products it deems safe. He said the coalition already has 15 applications for the seal.
"We are so pleased that so many mattress manufacturers have risen to the occasion and are making safer products," he said.
Davis had said earlier the coalition was worried about FR chemicals that could "poison our kids." But last week, he said the group was now focusing mainly on the tendency of some substances applied to fabrics used in mattresses to become less effective over time.
"Mattresses last 10 years, and we want (fire-safe material) that's going to last 10 years," he said. He praised manufacturers that use materials that are "inherently" fire-resistant.
He said the coalition would contact companies it believed were making mattresses that could become unsafe and would "give them an opportunity to change their strategy."
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Coalition: Some FR chemicals may fade
Feb 22, 2005
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