Mattress Industry Affirms Support For New Safety Standards

Furniture World Magazine

In a testimony provided to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) affirmed the mattress industry’s strong support for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) establishing an effective and practical national open-flame standard “The mattress industry and my company fully support regulatory efforts to set a new federal safety standard that is effective and practical in requiring mattresses to be more fire resistant to open-flame ignitions,” ISPA’s Vice Chair David Orders of Park Place Corporation stressed in his testimony on behalf of the association. “I believe the CPSC is firmly committed to issuing an effective and practical standard, and it would be in the best interests of consumers and industry to allow that agency to finish its valuable work instead of legislating a regulatory standard.” ISPA also said the proposed American Home Fire Safety Act (S.1798) is not science-based and will result in less comfortable and more costly products that fewer consumers will buy, as opposed to new California TB603 flammability requirements. “We hope the CPSC will incorporate the California TB603 criteria in the new federal mattress standard,” he added. The California requirements set forth in TB603 are set to become effective in January 2005. These requirements were developed over the past two years and resulted from extensive scientific research and public input. “The mattress industry has a proud 30-year tradition of responsible product stewardship,” Orders informed the Commerce Committee. “Our industry worked with the CPSC to develop the mattress cigarette-ignition standard, which has been a major factor in reducing residential mattress fires over the past three decades.” In fact, both the number of mattress fires in the United States and the number of deaths resulting from these fires have been reduced by two-thirds over the 20-year period from 1980 to 1999. While Orders noted that the mattress industry is extremely proud of this tremendous safety record, he stressed the industry’s commitment to further enhance safety through the establishment of a national open-flame standard. At today’s hearing, the Committee heard CPSC Chair Hal Stratton discuss progress that the CPSC is making in evaluating the need for mandatory flammability standards for certain household products, including upholstered furniture, mattresses, bedclothes (top-of-the-bed accessories such as pillows, comforters and bedspreads), and candles, that could reduce the incidence of death and injury that can result from residential fires. “We appreciated the opportunity to inform lawmakers about our views on the importance of sound fire safety regulation and hope that CPSC will be allowed to proceed as expeditiously as possible in the development of a national standard that results in affordable, comfortable, and more fire-resistant products,” said Orders. Established in 1915 to encourage laws that regulate the use of sanitary materials in mattresses, the International Sleep Products Association, www.sleepproducts.org, represents nearly 800 mattress manufacturers and their component suppliers throughout the world. ISPA is dedicated to protecting the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress manufacturing industry. The Sleep Products Safety Council, www.safesleep.org, is a non-profit organization established in 1986 by the mattress industry. SPSC’s mission is to provide consumer safety information, support research, and promote activities aimed at reducing hazards associated with mattresses and other sleep products.