Why Do New Mattresses Need Fire Retardant?
On February 16, 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Commission (CPC) unanimously adopted a new federal standard, 16 CFR 1633, for flame retardancy in mattresses, which will go into effect on July 1, 2007, for all manufacturers of mattresses imported into the United States. It requires that all new mattresses to withstand a two-foot wide bloworch open flame test, for 70 seconds. The standard applies to all mattresses manufactured, imported, and sold in the United States that must be documented and labeled as meeting or exceeding the requirements of the standard.
According to a study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), bedding and mattress fires were the number one cause of home fires reported to fire departments between 1999 and 2002.
However, if a home uses a mattress that is less flammable (especially in the early stages of a fire), then the user’s chances of escaping are greatly improved and the fire death rate can be reduced by 80%.
In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Commission unanimously adopted a more demanding federal standard, which experts predict will likely save 330 lives and 1,680 injuries annually.
16 CFR 1632 & 16 CFR 1633
At present, for the mattress flame retardant, the United States has two standards. They are 16 CFR 1632 and 16 CFR 1633, with the former primarily testing cigarettes and the latter testing open flames.
16 CFR 1632 Cigarette Test
Cigarette test is relatively simple, the sample will be constant temperature and humidity treatment, at least 18 cigarettes placed in the sample using the surface, half of which is exposed to the air, the other half will be covered with a standard cloth. As long as the scorch marks burned by the cigarettes do not exceed 2 inches in length, which is the length of an average person’s pinky, the standard is considered met.
16 CFR 1633 Open Flames Test
When it comes to testing for open flames, the testing process then involves exposing the mattress to burn under an open flame. The sides of the mattress were allowed to burn for 50 seconds, while the top part of the mattress was allowed to burn for 70 seconds before the fire was removed. The mattress flame must gradually extinguish itself within 30 minutes after the fire source is removed.
Test requirements: the peak rate of heat release within 30 minutes shall not exceed 200 kilowatts (“kW”); and the total heat release within the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 15 megajoules (“MJ”).
Armor – Jiahe company has the factory over 10000 square meters, we provide the mattress FR socks, FR mattress fabrics, which are exceeding the requirements of the 16 CFR 1632 and 16 CFR 1633 standards.
Restriction of Toxic & Hazardous Flame Retardant Materials
In recent years, in relation to the toxicity of flame retardants and their negative impact on the environment, several states in the United States have introduced bills to restrict the use of specific flame retardants in consumer products.
The California legislature passed AB 2998, which requires products to contain less than one part per thousand of a chemical flame retardant and provides that beginning January 1st, 2020, the sale of children’s products, mattresses and upholstered furniture containing flame retardant chemicals will no longer be permitted in California.
Armor – Jiahe have the eco-friendly FR products, which also have a very good flame retardant effect. Our mattress fire socks meet the standards of AB 2998. They are safe and non-toxic products.
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