By:     Russ Batson

July 14, 2004 – On July 14, AFMA CEO Andy Counts testified before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the industry's proposal to improve the fire performance of upholstered furniture. The hearing was called by Senator Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC), the Committee’s senior Democrat, who believes federal regulators have taken too long to resolve this issue. Hollings has introduced legislation (S. 1798) directing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue flammability standards for upholstered furniture and mattress based on draft regulations developed by California regulators. At the hearing, Hollings said the legislation was primarily intended to draw attention to the long-running flammability debate and encouraged CPSC to get the job done on its own. CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton (R) assured the committee that mattress and upholstered flammability were his top priorities, and predicted CPSC would vote on a proposed rule this Fall. Counts concurred that CPSC was best equipped to resolve the matter, and noted the growing consensus surrounding AFMA’s approach to furniture flammability. Under that framework, upholstery fabrics would be required to pass a five-second flame test or alternatively, be constructed over flame-blocking barrier materials. Polyurethane foam would meet the revised California foam test, sometimes referred to as “TB-117 plus.” He said this package of requirements would make furniture safer without depriving consumers of attractive, affordable product. The AFMA framework has been endorsed by leaders of the textile, foam and batting industries, and most recently by the American Fire Safety Council, the association representing producers of flame retardants. For a copy of Counts' testimony, click here.