UNDERSTANDING CALIFORNIA TECHNICAL BULLETIN 117-2013
G&T Industries, Inc. does not produce or ship any flexible polyurethane foam products to California. However, it is important for our customers to understand that the polyurethane foams we provide are compliant with California’s revised TB117-2013 standard that takes effect January 1, 2015.
According to the Polyurethane Foam Association (guidance bulletin dated January 2015):
“California TB 117-2013 eliminates the open flame test for upholstery components including filling materials, such as flexible polyurethane foam, and revises the smolder resistance requirements. The standard covers upholstery cover fabrics and filling materials and tests the interaction of the materials that go into a piece of upholstered furniture. The use of barrier materials is required only if cover fabrics and/or filling materials fail their corresponding tests. The standard also establishes a smolder test requirement for foam sold for use as uncovered mattress pad products with related label requirements. In addition, California Senate Bill 1019 (SB 1019) requires additional information to be displayed on items covered by TB 117-2013 to indicate whether upholstery materials contain added flame retardant chemicals (FRs).”
Regarding the use of flame retardant chemicals, TB117-2013 does not prohibit their use nor does it require them. However, at G&T Industries, our customer base has embraced the environmental and health benefits of foam that excludes Fire Retardant chemicals. We support this movement and are responding with an across the board change in our stance on Fire Retardant chemicals. As of March 1, 2015, all foam grades supplied to the majority of customers by G&T Industries, other than those requiring Fire Retardant chemicals to meet FMVSS302 or other requirements, will exclude Fire Retardant chemicals.
Please note that manufacturers that ship upholstered furniture for ultimate sale in California have additional responsibilities and bear the sole responsibility for compliance with TB117-2013 and SB 1019. Your actions items include classification of cover fabrics, use of barrier materials when Class 2 fabrics or non-complying resilient filling materials are used, and labeling requirements. For specifics we recommend that you contact your legal counsel and/or the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
Attached is a link to the January 2015 guidance bulletin published by the Polyurethane Foam Association titled Understanding California Technical Bulletin 117-2013 Flammability Standard Requirements for Upholstered Furniture