CertiPUR-US® Program Adds Michigan-Based Enthalpy Analytical as Approved Laboratory

Furniture World News Desk on 5/30/2023

The CertiPUR-US® foam certification program has approved its fourth testing laboratory for CertiPUR-US® certification of flexible polyurethane foam for use in upholstered furniture and bedding.

Following a rigorous selection and approval process that has spanned more than two years, Enthalpy Analytical has been approved by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam’s CertiPUR-US Board of Directors to conduct the content analysis and emissions testing to determine if submitted foams meet the certification program’s requirements as outlined in the program’s Technical Guidelines.

Few labs have the equipment and capacity to do all the testing required, which is one of the conditions for being an approved lab.

“Enthalpy was thoroughly vetted by our board and our Technical Advisory Group and, in addition to having the required equipment, had to pass round-robin testing with sample foams to show results matched results of other approved labs on identical foams,” explained Michael Crowell, CertiPUR-US executive director.

“We are pleased to join the CertiPUR-US program as an approved laboratory,” said Sarah Mack, business development manager for Enthalpy Analytical. Mack elaborated: “We have seen environmental and sustainability initiatives focus on and continue to promote accountability programs such as this and are proud to actively support this important work. It is an honor to assist organizations with their goal of protecting consumers and is a direct complement to our mission to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that feeds us!” 

Only one other lab that is approved for testing compliance with the CertiPUR-US program requirements is located in the U.S. Other labs are located in Denmark and Germany. There are now four approved labs worldwide and listed at www.certipur.us/labs.

“We are very pleased to welcome this highly regarded company with a solid reputation,” said Crowell. “Adding another U.S.-based testing facility provides more choices for the more than 90 foam producers participating in the program and certifying more than 200 foam families on an annual basis.”

Certified flexible polyurethane foam products are analyzed by these independent, accredited testing laboratories and are certified to be made without ozone depleters, made without lead and heavy metals, made without formaldehyde, made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and screened for relevant chemicals (including flame retardants) classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (see Technical Guidelines at certipur.us/technicalguidelines for details). Foams are also tested for emissions and must be low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million).

In addition to foam producers submitting foams for testing, the CertiPUR-US program itself uses the approved labs to conduct testing of foam samples acquired through random on-site foam production plant checks of participating producers.

About Enthalpy Analytical LLC
 Enthalpy Analytical LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Montrose Environmental Group Inc., providing environmental laboratory services as part of Montrose’s Measurement and Analysis division. Enthalpy operates a network of accredited laboratories across the U.S. Within the network, Enthalpy has laboratories that specialize in analysis of air, soil, water and sediment.