NIST study concludes that US 16 CFR Part 1633 (open flame resistance) already prevents 65 deaths per year, despite not all old mattresses from before this standard having been replaced. This mattress flammability standard was introduced in July 2007, replacing standards requiring cigarette resistance only. 16 CFR part 1633 applies gas burners to the side and top of a mattress for up to 30 minutes. The study compares to fires related to residential upholstered furniture in the USA, for which the standard is not applicable, concluding that the number of bed fires has been reduced by 12% and related injuries by 34% and deaths by 82%. The study concludes that the open flame standard “is accomplishing its purpose” and that beds with conform mattresses are “far less likely to lead to a fatal fire”.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) News 18th November 2020 “Mattress Flammability Standard Is a Lifesaver, NIST Report Finds” https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/11/mattress-flammability-standard-lifesaver-nist-report-finds
“Estimating the impact of the mattress fire safety Standard 16 CFR Part 1633 on bed fire outcomes”, S. Gilbert et al., Fire and Materials. 2020;1–11 https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fam.2932
Photo: SGS Govmark “Mattress Open Flame Test (CFR 1633)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b5CVjVMGTs