Ban may affect FR foam
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 19, 2007
High Point — A proposed new California law could change the way flame-retardant foam is made for upholstered furniture sold in the state, according to the American Home Furnishings Alliance.
A California state representative, Mark Leno, has introduced legislation that would ban the use of halogenated flame retardants in products such as furniture and mattresses. The move is in response to evidence that suggests halogenated compounds accumulate and persist in the environment.
AHFA CEO Andy Counts said certain flame-retardant compounds "have been coming under increasing scrutiny as carcinogens and environmental toxins and have been banned or restricted in Europe. California has been expected to address these chemicals, and other states are considering similar measures."
California's legislature and governor would have to approve any ban.
The AHFA represents furniture manufacturers, importers and suppliers.
"The primary impact on manufacturers of upholstered furniture would be changes in the formulation of flame-resistant polyurethane foam used for products shipped into California," Counts said. "AHFA is working in partnership with foam suppliers, regulators and environmental advocates to prepare for such an eventuality."
Several years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with Great Lakes Chemical Co. (now Amerbrom), removed another widely used flame-retardant chemical, penta-bromodiphenyl ether, from the marketplace. AHFA's vice president of environment, safety, health and standards, Bill Perdue, co-chaired a committee for an EPA program that worked with stakeholders to identify less toxic flame retardants to replace the banned substance.
"We will urge the EPA to revisit this project in light of the new legislation so that non-halogenated alternatives can be evaluated," said Counts.
Environmental regulation of flame retardants and their impact on foam will be discussed at the AHFA Flammability Workshop April 24–25 in Greensboro, N.C. For information, call AHFA at (336) 884-5000, extension 100.
