US Mandates Flammability Standard for Upholstered Furniture

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has
mandated compliance to the requirements in California Technical Bulletin (TB)
117-2013 for upholstered furniture used indoors.

California TB 117 is a flammability standard that
contains the requirements, procedures and apparatus for testing the smolder
resistance of materials used in upholstered furniture. It covers fabrics,
barrier materials, resilient filling materials and decking materials. It does
not apply to:

  • Mattresses
  • Foundations
  • Bedding products
  • Furniture exclusively
    used in physical exercise

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Under the ‘COVID-19 Regulatory Relief and Work from
Home Safety Act’, the CPSC was required to issue a Direct Final Rule that
codified flammability and testing requirements, alongside certification and
labelling standards for upholstered furniture. It applies to furniture that is:

  • Manufactured
  • Imported
  • Reupholstered

Compliant products must then carry a permanent label
that states: ‘Complies with U.S. CPSC requirements for upholstered furniture
flammability’.

16 CFR part 1640 states:

  • June 25, 2021: all
    upholstered furniture within scope must comply with the flammability
    requirements in California TB 117
  • June 25, 2022: all
    upholstered furniture within scope must comply with labelling requirements

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Compliance with the regulation will not require a Certificate
of Compliance (CoC).

The Direct Final Rule was issued on April 9, 2021 and
will become effective on June 25, 2021, unless the CPSC receives significant
adverse comment by May 10, 2021.

Preemption – Requirements of the standard are not
subject to preemption by another State or any political subdivision of a State,
except under provisions set forth in Section 1640.5 b&c.

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For further information contact:

Louann
Spirito
Consumer and Retail —
Softlines

US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel:
+1
973 461 7919

Email: crs.media@sgs.com

Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

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