The CertiPUR-US program, administered by the not-for-profit Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Inc., with headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan, has added three flame retardant additives to the prohibited substances in its technical guidelines, “U.S. Voluntary Physical Performance and Environmental Guidelines for Prime Flexible Polyether Polyurethane Foam for Use in Furniture and Bedding” (downloadable PDF).
CertiPUR-US’ technical guidelines “serve as a living document subject to revision as warranted by good science and responsible regulatory concern,” according to a news release.
Flexible polyurethane foams containing Dimethyl Methylphosphonate (DMMP) CAS# 756-79-6, Tris-(2-chloroethyl)-phosphate (TCEP) CAS #115-96-8 and Tris-(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TDCPP) CAS#13674-87-8 will not be eligible for certification by the CertiPUR-US program.
“Our mandate is to be transparent and responsive to changes in what we know about components of flexible polyurethane foam,” said Michael Crowell, CertiPUR-US program executive director. “We are continually evaluating information from the science community, stakeholders and government and regulatory agencies to ensure that our technical guidelines stay current. Based on strong scientific evidence, DMMP, TCEP and TDCPP belong on our list of prohibited substances.”
Program participation does not imply that certification means there are no FR additives in the product, but the addition of three more substances does increase the number of FR additives being screened, Crowell said. Crowell added that there is a great deal of misinformation about FR additives, including the mistaken assumption that FR additives are widely used in mattress foam.
According to Crowell, interest in the CertiPUR-US program has increased dramatically as manufacturers and retailers see the foam product certification program as an effective way to address consumers’ questions about possible content and emissions of concern in their mattresses, bedding products and upholstered furniture.
