January 28
AFMA Plant Tour
Brayton International
High Point, NC

February 4-5
Safety School
Itawamba Community College
Tupelo, MS

March 8-9
Upholstered Furniture Flammability Workshop
Sheraton Four Seasons
Greensboro, NC

March 16
AFMA Plant Tour
Brayton International
High Point, NC

April 22-28
International Home Furnishings Market
High Point, NC

July 15-17
Suppliers/Transportation/
Manufacturing/Purchasing/
Information Technology Meeting
Marriott Resort at Grand Dunes
Myrtle Beach, SC

July 29-31
Finance/ Marketing Meeting
Crowne Plaza Resort
Hilton Head, SC

September 18-22
International Casual Furniture Market
Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL

August 26-29
International Woodworking
Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, GA

September 18-22
International Casual Furniture Market
Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL

September 20-24
HR/ Safety/ Environmental Conference-Expo
Renaissance Suites Hotel
Charlotte, NC

October 14-20
International Home
Furnishings Market
High Point, NC

November 4-6
AFMA Annual Meeting
The Cloister at Sea Island
Sea Island, GA

Flammability Workshop
Offers Critical Updates

With development of new federal flammability standards underway in Washington, manufacturers of upholstered furniture and suppliers of upholstery materials are urged to attend AFMA’s annual flammability workshop for the most up-to-date information on how prospective regulations will impact their operations.

The 2004 workshop is scheduled March 9 at the Sheraton Four Seasons in Greensboro, N.C.

Providing attendees first-hand information on the latest developments will be:

• Dale Ray, CPSC project manager for upholstered furniture flammability. CPSC has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that includes a draft small open flame testing protocol for upholstery fabrics and fire blocker interliners and identifies the need for action on cigarette ignition. Ray will review the CPSC staff’s findings.

• Lynn Morris, bureau chief, and John McCormack, manager of research and development, California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation. California has continued pursuing its revision of California Technical Bulletin 117, the required flammability standard for upholstered furniture in California. Morris and McCormack will review their current activity and draft proposals for fabrics, foams and battings. A new mattress standard effective January 2005 also will be reviewed. This new standard will impact all mattresses used in sleeper sofas and futons. Also, a draft test method for bed clothing, including quilts, bedspreads and mattress covers, will be reviewed.

• David Pettey, development director, Quaker Fabric Corporation, Fall River, Mass. Pettey will review a new upholstery fabric test developed by a coalition of upholstery fabric manufacturers and presented to the CPSC.

• Lou Peters, executive director, Polyurethane Foam Association. Peters will present a report on an interlaboratory study of the draft revised California TB 117 test method for polyurethane foam. The testing was done to determine the performance of various commercial foams using alternative fuel sources and ignition variables.

• John Garvey, Sulloway and Hollis, Concord, N.H. Garvey is an experienced trial attorney and law professor with over 25 years of legal experience, including defending furniture flammability issues. He will provide practical advice on risk management practices that will decrease the risk of lawsuit and improve a company’s defense if a lawsuit is filed.

A 6 p.m. opening reception is planned for March 8, during which attendees will have the opportunity to view tabletop exhibits featuring various products and materials.

Workshop registration is $205 for AFMA members, $290 for non-members. The fee includes the March 8 reception, as well as lunch on March 9.

Registration materials are available by clicking here.

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