March 29, 2002—Changes have been proposed to strengthen the 25-year old requirements for testing the flame and smoldering resistance of upholstered furniture, according to a recent report from the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA). The goal is to make upholstery fabric and polyurethane foam in upholstered furniture the “first line of defense” against ignition by a small open flame such as a lighter, match, or candle. BIFMA will be discussing the potential impact this proposed change would have on the furniture industry at the annual Engineering Committee meeting held April 17 & 18, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois. For more information about the proposed safety measure visit the BIFMA. For a PDF copy of Technical Bulletin CAL TB-117, visit the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Home Furnishings.
