Upholstered Furniture Fire Safty

Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Recommendations

Fires involving upholstered furniture are a leading cause of fire-related deaths associated with consumer products in the United States. In recent years, an annual average of 460 people died and 1,110 were injured when a cigarette or an open flame, such as a candle or lighter, started a furniture fire. Upholstered furniture fires cost an average of $2.75 billion annually in societal costs of deaths, injuries and property damage.

• Look for furniture designed to reduce the likelihood of furniture fire from cigarettes. Much of the furniture manufactured today has significantly greater resistance to ignition by cigarettes than upholstered furniture manufactured 10 to 15 years ago. This is particularly true of furniture manufactured to comply with the requirements of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's (UFAC) Voluntary Action Program. Such upholstered furniture may be identified by the gold colored tag on the furniture item. The legend on the front of the tag in red letters states - "Important Consumer Safety Information from UFAC."
• Always check the furniture where smokers have been sitting for improperly discarded smoking materials. Ashes and lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed behind or between cushions or under furniture.
• Do not place or leave ashtrays on the arms of chairs where they can be knocked off.
• Look for fabrics made predominantly from thermoplastic fibers (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin) because they resist ignition by burning cigarettes better than cellulose fabrics (rayon or cotton). In general, the higher the thermoplastic content, the greater the resistance to cigarette ignition.
• Do not use a space heater or other heat source near upholstered furniture.

YES    NOUpholstered Furniture Fire Safety Checklist

|_____|   |_____|Upholstered furniture fabrics made from vinyl, wool or thermoplastic fibers are generally selected for safety reasons.

|_____|   |_____|I check thoroughly after parties for ashes or un-extinguished cigarettes that may have fallen behind and between cushions and under furniture.