FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2004
Release # 05-066
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contacts: Eric Criss, (301) 504-7908 and Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC Staff Briefs Commission on Recommendations for Fire Safety
Standards for Mattresses and Bedclothes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The staff of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) today briefed CPSC Commissioners on possible fire
safety standards to reduce deaths and injuries from fires involving
mattresses and bedclothes (blankets, comforters, and pillows). The
staff's draft proposed standard for mattresses addresses fires ignited
by an open flame. The CPSC staff also briefed Commissioners on a draft
advance notice of proposed rulemaking to develop a separate safety
standard for bedclothes flammability.
"Reducing fire deaths is one of our top priorities," said CPSC Chairman
Hal Stratton. "I want the standard for mattress flammability to move as
quickly as the process permits."
If the Commissioners vote to proceed with the notice of proposed
rulemaking, the proposed mattress standard would be published in the
Federal Register, requesting public comment for a period of 75 days. An
opportunity for oral testimony will also be scheduled.
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. CPSC staff estimates that most of these deaths
and injuries would be addressed by the draft proposed standard.
Fires involving mattresses of traditional constructions can reach
flashover (when the entire contents of the room ignite) in less than 5
minutes. The draft proposed mattress standard would limit the size of
the fire and prevent or delay the time to flashover. This will allow
people more time to discover and escape the fire, reducing deaths and
injuries.
Staff indicated that materials are commercially available that can be
used to produce comfortable, practical, and reasonably-priced mattresses
with significantly improved fire performance. In addition, staff
recommended that Commissioners begin rulemaking proceedings to set
flammability standards for bedclothes. Bedclothes are the first item to
ignite in about 80 percent of mattress/bedding fires.