Government requires mattresses to be slow to burn

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — New safety standards would make burning mattresses less likely to cause house fires that kill hundreds of people each year, most of them children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday it will create the new rule to ensure that mattresses burn less intensely when exposed to small, open flames or bedding that’s already on fire. All three commission members voted to develop the regulations.

The new standard won’t prevent mattresses from catching fire, but would require that they burn more slowly, giving people more time to escape, said Ann Brown, chairwoman of the safety commission.

"Young children will often start these fires," she said. "They will see they’ve done something they know is bad. They will hide and very often perish."

In 1998, the last year for which figures were available, more than 18,000 residential fires began with burning mattresses, sheets or pillows, the agency said. Those fires caused $200 million in property damage, 390 deaths and 2,160 injuries that required emergency room treatment.

From 1994 to 1998, children younger than 15 accounted for more than three-quarters of the deaths related to mattress and bedding fires ignited by small flames like those from candles, matches or lighters, the commission said.

The Sleep Product Safety Council, a mattress industry group, supports the new standard and has worked with the government to develop tests for burning mattresses, said Pat Martin, the group’s executive director.

Martin said it was too soon to know the long-term costs to consumers and the industry, but manufacturers will be able to use different methods to make mattresses safer.

Mattress fires usually begin when bedding ignites and the fire spreads. Mattresses can then burn fast and very hot, leading to a "flashover," a burst of intense fire caused when flammable gases in the room ignite spontaneously or receive a rush of oxygen.

"That is the kind of catastrophic fire that is killing these kids," said agency spokesman Ken Giles. He said that since children tend to hide in closets and corners during fires, the flashover gives them little time to escape or be rescued.

The new safety rule and testing will seek to prevent burning mattresses from causing flashover, he said.

An existing federal standard requires that mattresses not catch fire when exposed to heat from cigarettes, which don’t burn as hot as open flames.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens schools bond leading early; Arlington voters reject latest levy attempt

A $314 million bond looks to pass while Arlington’s attempts to build a new Post Middle School again appear to take a step back.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.