DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems Introduces Innovative Fire Resistant High Loft for Mattress Manufacturers

Furniture World Magazine

DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems recently introduced Fire Resistant High Loft, a new fire-resistant innovation that provides mattress manufacturers with a higher-quality alternative to existing high loft treated with fire-resistant chemicals. This unique DuPont patented high loft product is based on the fundamental technology developed by DuPont that has been used by fire fighters, astronauts and racecar drivers for more than 30 years. The DuPont high loft product incorporates inherently fire-resistant materials and features a unique two-layer system that helps provide thermal performance in the base layer, while a second layer provides an aesthetically pleasing white top. “Our proprietary fire-resistant high loft product helps mattress manufacturers meet new government regulations without compromising the superior level of comfort expected by their customers today,” said John Dottore of DuPont Advanced Fibers Systems. The state of California requires that all mattresses, box springs and futons manufactured or sold in California on or after Jan. 1, 2005 be subject to TB 603, an open-flame test standard. The California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation has also asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to adopt this standard nationally. Simmons Bedding Company, one of the world’s largest mattress manufacturers and makers of Beautyrest®, BackCare®, Olympic® Queen and Deep Sleep® mattresses, is the first manufacturer to offer DuPont Fire Resistant High Loft in California at the start of the new year. “For more than 130 years, Simmons has been providing our customers with high quality and innovative bedding products designed to deliver a comfortable and safe sleeping experience,” said Simmons Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Kevin Damewood. “By teaming with DuPont and using its Fire Resistant High Loft in our products, we are able to comply with California’s new flammability standards while maintaining the comfort, safety and performance features in our bedding products.” Simmons is marketing its Fire Resistant products under the name Simmons Defense™ Fibers. DuPont offers two weights of Fire Resistant High Loft, a one-ounce per square foot weight for comfort and protection on top of a mattress and a 1.25-ounce per square foot weight for added safeguards on the mattress borders. In addition to the Fire Resistant High Loft product, DuPont offers mattress manufacturers a full range of other fire-resistant barriers at different weights and performance levels that are suitable for both innerspring and foam-core mattress constructions. “The ability to engineer FR materials that optimize performance while not compromising comfort solutions has benefited mattress manufacturers by allowing them to use these materials in different mattress designs and constructions,” Dottore emphasized. All DuPont fire-resistant mattress products undergo comprehensive testing at its state-of-the-art labs. The company conducted more than 500 burn tests during development of its first generation of fire resistant material. DuPont™ Fire Resistant Material is produced using ISO systems and standards as the basis for product quality and consistency. Standard operating procedures for the material include regular product inspections, production facility audits, certificates of analysis sent with each roll and tracing of ingredients and rolls. “Using our fire-science knowledge to support the industry’s efforts to help improve safety in the home is a great fit with our science and technology capabilities and heritage,” Dottore added. For more information about DuPont™ Fire Resistant Material, call 1-800-931-3456. DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and The miracles of science™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. Beautyrest®, BackCare®, Olympic® Queen, Deep Sleep® and Simmons Defense™ Fibers are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Simmons Bedding Company.