Type of Flame Retardant Used on Sealy Mattress Fabric

Sealy Products

• The mattresses manufactured and distributed through the Sealy Corporation, along with its Sterns and Foster line, are made with fire-retardant materials. The company website reports that there are no chemicals, harsh metals or halogens used in the fire-retardant components in its products. The type of fire-retardant materials used in the manufacture of any Sealy product is not listed on its website.

USDA

• The United States Department of Agriculture research projects test natural and man-made materials for the level of fire retardant. Natural fibers including cotton may be treated with chemicals such as Borax and phosphates to enhance the quality of fire retardation. Fire-retardant materials block oxygen or flame to help prevent a fast-growing fire. This does not guarantee that the material is completely fire resistant, but it has properties that are slower to feed the flames from a lighter, match, cigarette or other burning object.

U.S. Code of Federal Standards

• Title 16, Part 1633 is the standard for the flammability of mattress sets produced in the United States. These products must have retardant properties that will maintain a high level of safety for those who use them. Naturally fire-retardant raw materials and some chemicals are useful in the manufacturing of these mattress sets. The regulations are enforced to provide a flame retardant material that stifles the chance of a flashover or burst of dangerous flames, if the material catches on fire. The material also tends to burn slowly, which allows the owner to put the fire out or escape the area.

Fire-Retardant Mattresses

• Federal standards for mattress manufactures provide guidelines for the production of materials that are safer for the consumer. Fire-retardant materials reduce the risk of injury and death. Tests must be done on Sealy mattresses to prove that they meet the industry and federal standards. The amount of heat that a fire releases in the first 15 to 30 minutes is measured to meet the standards to prevent a devastating flashover that could reach a temperature of 1,100 to 1,460 degrees Fahrenheit.