FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2004
Release # 05-032
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7908
CPSC Staff Presents Draft Proposed Fire Safety Standard for Mattresses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The staff of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) today presented to the Commissioners a draft proposed
fire safety standard for mattresses:
Part 1 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt1.pdf
Part 2 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt2.pdf
Part 3 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt3.pdf
Part 4 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt4.pdf
Part 5 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt5.pdf
Part 6 (PDF)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/brief/mattressespt6.pdf
The draft proposed standard addresses fires ignited by an open flame
that typically involves the bedclothes. The CPSC staff also recommended
an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to develop a standard for
bedclothes flammability.
From 1995 through 1999, mattresses and bedding were the first items to
ignite in an estimated 19,400 residential fires each year. These fires
resulted in an estimated 440 deaths, 2,230 injuries, and $273.9 million
property loss annually. Staff estimates that most of these deaths and
injuries would be addressed by the draft proposed standard.
The mattress standard would limit the size of the fire and prevent or
delay the time to flashover (when the entire contents of the room
ignite). This would allow more time to escape the fire and reduce deaths
and injuries. Information available to the staff indicates that
materials are commercially available that can be used to produce
comfortable, practical, and reasonably priced mattresses with
significantly improved fire performance.
CPSC staff analyzed test results and concluded that certain bedclothes,
once ignited, can be major contributors to the size of a fire. Staff
recommended that the Commissioners begin rulemaking proceedings to set
standards to limit the size of fires produced by these bedclothes. This
would preserve the additional escape time afforded by the draft proposed
mattress standard.
The CPSC Commissioners will consider the staff's draft proposed standard
and will vote on whether or not to publish the proposed standard in the
Federal Register. No timetable for the vote has been decided.