FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2006
	CONTACT: Jackie Hirschhaut (336) 884-5000 X116

AHFA Champions Industry's Leadership on Flammability Issue

High Point, N.C. (November 1, 2006) – During the last week of October, CNN, NBC’s “Today Show,” CBS News and USA Today all contacted the American Home Furnishings Alliance for the industry’s position on a national upholstered furniture flammability standard.

As the industry’s chief advocate on the furniture flammability issue for the past 30 years, AHFA provided a comprehensive analysis for these national media outlets. AHFA’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Counts was interviewed by USA Today and provided a written statement for the broadcast media.

Counts noted that over the last three decades the furniture industry has made great strides in reducing the flammability risks associated with its products by modifying materials and construction to better resist ignition by smoldering cigarettes – which are the primary source of origin in fires involving upholstered furniture.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, smoking materials are the top contributor to residential fire deaths. Since 1980, the incidence of upholstered furniture fires in the United States has been reduced by more than 85 percent due to:

• compliance with the voluntary Upholstered Furniture Action Council standard, which the furniture industry developed to make upholstery more resistant to ignition by cigarettes;
• declines in smoking and cigarette consumption; and,
• increased use of residential smoke detectors.

Due to the success of the voluntary UFAC standard in helping to reduce upholstered furniture fires and related deaths, AHFA has encouraged the CPSC to adopt UFAC as a mandatory national standard.

However, recent efforts at the CPSC have focused instead on making furniture resistant to more severe ignition sources such as matches, lighters and candles. As a cause of fire deaths, these sources trail significantly behind cigarettes. These “small open flame sources” also present greater challenges, not only because of the more intense nature of the ignition source involved, but also because of the purposeful behavior (including child play and arson) often associated with such fires.

“No workable solution exists for addressing upholstery fires caused by small open flame sources,” Counts states. “Solutions currently being considered would involve the use of flame retardant chemicals. However, the flame retardant compounds used to treat fabrics and cushioning materials have come under increasing scrutiny as carcinogens and environmental toxins and have even been banned or restricted in Europe. California has begun phasing out the use of these chemicals and other states are considering similar measures.”

As the furniture industry pursues greater fire safety, it should avoid imposing chemical risks to its customers and its employees, Counts maintains. He also suggests that, ultimately, technical solutions can only accomplish so much.

“Product advances must be combined with common sense measures that discourage fire play and minimize its consequences,” says Counts. In the meantime, he recommends that consumers look for the gold UFAC hangtag when shopping for new upholstered furnishings. The gold tag indicates the product meets the voluntary UFAC construction standard. He also advises consumers to install and properly maintain smoke detectors in their homes and to keep cigarettes, candles, lighters and matches away from upholstered furniture, draperies, bedding and other potentially flammable household items.

Upholstered Furniture Flammability Statement, October 2006

Upholstered Furniture Flammability Fact Sheet

AHFA Home Fire Safety Tips

The American Home Furnishings Alliance – located in High Point, N.C. and Washington, D.C. – is the largest alliance of home furnishings companies in the world and represents more than 200 leading furniture manufacturers and distributors, as well as 225 suppliers to the furniture industry worldwide.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Please do not publish this website address since it is intended for the exclusive use of working journalists. Instead, please refer your readers to www.findyourfurniture.com, AHFA’s website for consumers looking for information about furniture and shopping tips.