Hi Pheonix,
I thought this free service may be of interest to your readers.
Duke University is offering to test 5 pieces of foam from your home free of charge (you only have to cut a piece the size of a marble to submit).
As of today’s results they do show 1 out of 3 mattresses tested do contain flame retardant chemicals and 4 out of 10 mattress pads tested do as well.
Hi OYEB,
Thanks for the heads up 
I hope that they keep this going until they have much larger sample sizes that are more relevant (especially for mattresses) and it would be great to see if they could categorize the information in different ways as well (such as types of foam or whether they were made in the US or offshore as two examples).
It would also be interesting if they could broaden the scope of their testing service to fire barrier materials as well in addition to just the foams in a mattress.
It’s certainly a great step in a more “transparent” direction and I appreciate that you let us know it was available!
Phoenix
Thanks for posting this Pheonix.
I agree, I thought they should include barrier fabrics as well in their study.
Another way (also for free) to tell exactly what kind of flame retardants are used in your mattress (or the mattress you are planning to buy) is to request a copy of the mattress’ required, flammability test CFR 16 Part 1632 (ask for all the pages). This test report has a line item that shows the description of the barrier fabric used and should include if that barrier fabric is chemically treated.
I discovered that mattress companies are not required to disclose if flame retardants are used on the mattress label, but this information is required on the test paperwork. I recently witnessed the flammability tests in person if anyone wants to know more on the subject.
This information is also on the CFR-1633, but I suggest requesting the CFR 16 Part 1632 (the cigarette test) as this is what I feel is the real test of the tickings / barriers used.
Hi OYEB,
To the best of my knowledge, both 16 CFR 1632 and 1633 are performance tests and don’t require the disclosure of any specific chemicals or the specific composition of any materials or chemicals used in a mattress whether they are added afterwards or part of the foam or the fire barrier. They consider this type of information to be outside of the regulations (although they may be part of other regulations that aren’t connected to fire safety).
The regulations and associated information are also clear that a mattress prototype has to pass both and that the combustion characteristics and properties of a mattress that is subject to a smoldering test can be very different from an open flame so a mattress that passes 1632 may not pass 1633 or even vice versa. 1632 came into effect in 1973 and in general was much easier to pass and it was the introduction of 1633 in 2007 that was the beginning of much of the “chemical controversy” because mattresses that could easily pass 1632 couldn’t pass the open flame test of 1633 and required more “robust” fire retardant methods, materials, and “chemicals”.
Phoenix
The testing lab asked me what my ticking and or barrier was made out and if they were treated with anything which was added to my test results. The lab I used to test my mattresses was very “by the book” and works closely with the CSPC.
Yes, the tests are very performance based to say the least! But, there also is a detailed report and video of the large flame test that is part of the permanent record of the test. For what it is worth, if I was buying a new mattress, I would at least take a look at the test reports and definitely watch the video of how my mattress would fair should there be a fire in my home.
I do not think the average person knows that this is something they can ask for, so I thought your mattress forum would be a great place to let them know they can!
Hi OYEB,
I couldn’t agree more and this type of information would certainly be of interest to those people who are more concerned about the “safety” of their mattresses and the types of chemicals that may be inside them :).
Phoenix