Changes To California Regulation Could Impact Fire Safety

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Could Impact Fire Safety (NAPSA)—People across the country, including you and your family, could be affected by a recent changein fire safety regulations in California. Regulators in the Golden State recently made changes to a fire safety standard called Technical Bulletin 117, removing a test that measures the flamma- bility of furniture when exposed to open flame sources, such as lighters, candles and matches. The standard has been in place since the mid-1970s and its removal could make consumers more vulnerable to the devastation of fire. Because of Califor- nia’s population and purchasing power, many U.S. furniture man- ufacturers have followed California’s rules no matter where the furniture was sold, which means Strict fire safety standards for upholstered furniture can save lives and property. three or four additional minutes of escape time during home fires involving upholstered furniture exposedtoflamingignition sources. Manyexperts agree there is a need for a test to protect against open flame sources. NFPA has proposed developing its own open people in other states have bene- flame test. And the Consumer tection standards. considering an open flametest as a part of its flammability stan- fited from California’s fire pro- According to a National Fire Product Safety Commission is stered furniture account for the dards for upholstered furniture. Indeed, in a letter to the head of the California bureau that is mak- first item ignited in U.S. homes. tion, NFPA President James Shan- Protection Association (NFPA) analysis, fires involving uphol- largest shareoffire deaths of any Now, regulators in California say there is no need for an open flame test because most furniture fires begin with cigarettes. However, NFPAstatistics show that a large portion of furniture fires are started by open flames. Studies demonstrate that flame retardants can be aneffective way to deal with the threat. of fire. The peer-reviewed journal Fire Technology recently released a study by Dr. Matthew Blais, a nationally renowned fire science researcher at Southwest Research Institute in Texas, showing that flameretar- dants used in the foam cushions of upholstered furniture provide up to ing the changetothestate's regula- non wrote of the importance of having an open flame test: “NFPA feels strongly that a fully comprehensivefire safety regulation of upholstered furniture must address thefull spectrum of major fire scenarios, including the open flame scenarios.” California Governor Jerry Brown has indicated that the changes to the flammability test will take effect at the beginning of 2014. Learn More For further facts aboutfire, fur- niture and what you can do to pro- tect yourself, your home and your family, visit www-frfacts.com.

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