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USA: CPSC issues a direct final rule on the standard for the flammability of upholstered furniture

APRIL 2021 - HARDLINES, SOFTLINES

On 9 April 2021, The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a direct final rule¹ to codify in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) the statutory requirements for the flammability of upholstered furniture under the COVID-19 Regulatory Relief and Work from Home Safety Act.

In the rule, CPSC clarifies the effective dates for compliance to the new federal flammability standard (which adopted California’s flammability testing standard). The rule also allows affected parties to comment if they are significantly adversely affected by the new rule. If no such comments are made by 10 May 2021, 25 June 2021 will remain as the effective date for compliance with the standard. 

Additionally, CPSC extended the compliance date for the standard’s new labelling requirement, which requires manufacturers to include a permanent label on each product subject to the flammability standard that reads: “Complies with U.S. CPSC requirements for upholstered furniture flammability.” The extended compliance deadline for this labelling is 25 June 2022.

Therefore, upholstered furniture manufactured, imported, or reupholstered on or after 25 June 2021, must comply with the federal flammability requirements and with the labelling requirements by 25 June 2022.

[1]  Direct final rule

[2]  Previous News: USA Adopts the California’s TB 117-2013 as Federal Flammability Standard for Upholstered Furniture