Furnishings — In the Hot Seat

You may be sitting on one the greatest fire hazards in your home. Upholstered furniture and mattresses contain foams and fillers that burn rapidly, release tremendous heat, produce toxic gases and consume oxygen rapidly.

Careless smoking is a leading cause of fatal fires involving upholstered furniture are:

Sparks from fireplaces, wood stoves, and heaters also can cause upholstered furniture fires. Take care when purchasing furniture and using it in your home.

"I got to the living room, and it was all in flames. So I grabbed water and I put it on the couch, but I shouldn't have stayed. The fire spread so fast." Shirley Carnal, fire survivor

Fire Sense Furniture Buys
Smoking and Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses
Fire-Safe Furniture Placement

Fire Sense Furniture Buys

Most consumers don't know how easily their furnishings and mattresses can burn. Although foam manufacturers provide warning labels about the hazards of burning foam, these warnings don't always reach a consumer buying new furniture.

When shopping for upholstered furniture, choose products that are specifically designed to be more fire resistant than conventional furniture. Look for products made under the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) program, or furnishings that meet the requirements of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings (CAL 117 or 133).

UFAC:		Manufacturers complying with this voluntary standard use foam and/or certain fabrics that are more resistant to ignition from smoldering cigarettes. This furniture is available nationwide and can be identified by a temporary gold UFAC hang tag on the furniture at the time of purchase.
CAL 117:		Upholstered furniture that complies with this standard is made with foam and/or certain fabrics that are more fire resistant than conventional furniture. It is the only new upholstered furniture that can be sold in California, and some manufacturers sell it in other states, as well. Look for a special white CAL 117 label on the underside of the seating or beneath the cushion.
CAL 133:		The most fire-safe furniture complies with this standard. Many manufacturers will produce CAL 133-compliant seating on request and at additional cost. Look for a special white CAL 133 label on the underside of the seating or beneath the cushion.
CAL 603:		California has adopted Technical Bulletin 603, the nation's first standard requiring that mattresses, mattress/box springs sets and futons provide protection against an open flame causing the product to burn intensely. The regulation became effective January 1, 2005 for products manufactured for sale to California consumers. Look for a label that features a compliance statement and manufacture date.

Warning: While upholstered furniture that complies with any of these standards will still burn, it is safer than conventional furniture and offers better protection for you and your family.

The Shopping Guide to Fire-Safe Products lists upholstered furniture that is made with materials that are more resistant to cigarette ignitions than conventional furniture.

Smoking and Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses

Smoking and upholstered furniture don't mix. Improperly discarded smoking materials and ashes can easily ignite upholstered furniture and mattresses. Follow these important safety steps:

• Do not smoke when drowsy, intoxicated or when using medication that causes drowsiness.
• When lighting smoking materials, be sure sparks do not land on the seating.
• Use large deep ashtrays and do not rest them on sofas or chairs.
• Check under cushions and in crevices for discarded cigarettes, ashes or matches when a person has smoked in the room.
• Replace your old mattress. Mattresses manufactured after 1973 are required to be more resistant to ignition by cigarettes.

Minimize all fire risks from smoking materials to protect yourself and your family.

Fire-Safe Furniture Placement

The placement of upholstered furniture in your home can be important for your safety.

• Leave at least 3 feet of space between furniture and space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves.
• Keep electrical cords, lamps and appliances away from upholstered furniture and mattresses.
• Keep open flames such as candles away from upholstered furniture, draperies and lampshades.