Flame Retardant Chemicals and Wool
The average person will spend about a third of their life on a single piece of furniture in their home – the bed. It seems reasonable then to make sure your bed is a safe place to sleep.
The Federal Government thought so too and in the 1960’s, in response to hundreds of casualties caused by home fires resulting from cigarette butts, the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commision (CPSC) enacted a mandatory federal standard on cigarette ignition of mattresses called 16 CFR Part 1632. Then, in 2007, a new law was enacted to provide an added layer of protection to the American people known as 16 CFR 1633.
This statute stated that any home furniture, including mattresses, sold to consumers must meet specific flammability safety standards. The most common way mattress companies comply with this law is the addition of flame retardant chemicals.
In the unlikely event that your bed catches on fire while you sleep, blissfully unaware of the danger before you, these chemicals are meant to stop you and your mattress from suddenly bursting into flames and allow ample time to escape.
However, because of the volatile nature of these chemicals, many people have raised the question of whether flame retardant is actually making mattresses more dangerous since the law was first proposed. Other consumers already know they have sensitivities to fire retardant chemicals, leading to growing demand for a natural mattress that keeps sleepers safe from both fire danger and harmful chemicals.
Do all mattresses sold to consumers have these chemicals?
The answer is no!
One way mattress companies like Shepherd’s Dream can meet the requirements of this law without any of these chemicals is by making their mattresses from naturally flame-retardant materials like wool.
Yep, ladies and gentlemen, that means our 100% natural wool mattresses have one ingredient: wool. (Find out why wool is an excellent choice for you by clicking here.)
How do you know if your mattress has any of these chemicals?
Start by looking at the materials listed on the mattress legal label – you know, that tag that says it’s a federal crime to remove it unless you are the consumer.
See image for an example.
If your mattress doesn’t say “made from 100% wool” or another naturally flame-retardant fiber, Shepherd’s Dream is here to help you find natural bedding free of all flame-retardant chemicals and other potentially harmful materials all at price points to fit your lifestyle.
We hope to help you Sleep Your Natural Best!
