Upholstered Furniture

Upholstered seating may be one of the most dangerous items in your home because it contains foams and fillers that, if ignited, burn rapidly, release tremendous heat, produce toxic gases and consume the oxygen in a room. These furnishings are the most concentrated source of fuel in most homes. Consider the following fire safety facts when shopping for upholstered furniture.

Fire-Retardant Upholstered Seating
Some professional organizations and the state of California have developed manufacturing standards to increase the fire resistance and/or retardancy of upholstered furniture. Consider these standards when shopping for upholstered furniture.

• Manufacturers that comply with the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's (UFAC) voluntary standard use more fire-retardant foam and/or certain fabrics in seating. Look for the gold UFAC hang tag on the furniture.
• Upholstered seating sold in California must comply with California Technical Bulletin 117 (CAL 117) that requires seating to be more resistant to cigarette and open flame ignitions. Manufacturers who sell seating outside California may produce CAL 117-compliant seating on request and at additional cost. Look for a special white CAL 117 label on the underside of this seating or beneath the cushion.
• The most stringent flammability standard for upholstered furniture is California Technical Bulletin 133 (CAL 133). To comply with this standard, manufacturers often place a fire-retardant barrier between the upholstery fabric and the foam/filler to prevent flames from reaching the filler. Seating that meets CAL 133 generally will not continue to burn when the ignition source is removed, and the fire barrier will prevent the foam and filler from burning.

Be Aware: Furniture that complies with these standards will still burn, but it will burn more slowly and release less toxic smoke, giving you more time to escape a blaze.

Costs vary based on geographic location, the manufacturer and the type of upholstery selected.
[$300 - $460 per dining chair]
[$600 - $1900 per occasional chair or wing chair]
[$1100 - $2000 per loveseat]
[$1500 - $2400 per sofa]  See Suppliers

Inherently Fire-Retardant Fabrics
Used for upholstered seating and window treatments, this type of fabric is "inherently" resistant to cigarette and small flame ignition and retains this fire safety feature through washings and dry cleanings. Look for these brands when shopping for inherently fire-retardant fabrics: Avora™ polyester, Trevira® polyester, and Marquesa Lana® polyolefin.
[$10 - $60 per yard, based on type of fiber and fabric construction]  See Suppliers

Fire-Retardant Spray — Fabric and Furniture
When applied to furniture and household fabrics (drapery, carpeting, bedding, wall coverings, silk plants and flowers, and clothing), this spray reduces the potential for ignition and burning. It may be sold as part of a "home safety kit" with sprays for wood, paper, and other household items.
[$6 - $160, varies based on size of the container]   See Suppliers

Wall and Floor Coverings

Some wallcoverings and flooring materials are more fire-safe than others.

Class A Fire-Rated Wallcovering
Wallcoverings are rated Class A, B or C depending on their tendency to spread flame, the amount of smoke generated as they burn and the amount of fuel they provide. Choose Class A for greater safety.
[$22 - $60 per single roll, varies by designer and material]   See Suppliers

Class I Carpeting and Flooring Materials
Consumers can choose floor covering that is rated class I or II depending on the tendency of the flooring material to spread flame and the amount of smoke generated as it burns under controlled test conditions. Look for Class I flooring for greater safety.

Mattresses

Your mattress contains highly flammable materials that make it very dangerous in a fire, especially if it was manufactured before the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard, which requires all mattresses to resist ignition by smoldering cigarettes. Consider these facts when purchasing mattresses:

• Look for the Sleep Products Safety Council's silver tag to ensure that the mattress meets the current minimum flammability standard.
• Smokers, persons with mobility impairments and persons with dementia should order special fire-retardant mattresses from the manufacturer to further reduce the risk of a dangerous bedroom fire. Ask the store to special order a mattress that meets the California Technical Bulletin 129 standard as a minimum.

Bedding Materials

A number of bedding products can help prevent a fire from reaching the highly flammable foam found in mattresses and pillows.

Fire-Resistant Mattress Cover
This cover, which is made from the fire-resistant fabric Sandel®, zips over your mattress to prevent it from catching on fire.
[$97 (twin size) to $175 (king size) ]   See Supplier

Fire-Resistant Pillow Cover
This cover, which is made from the fire-resistant fabric Sandel®, zips over your pillow to prevent it from catching on fire.
[$10]   See Supplier

Wool Blanket
A wool blanket does not easily ignite and is a safer choice for your bed than blankets made from polyester, cotton and/or acrylic.
[$90 (twin size) to $140 (king size)]   See Suppliers