Mattress manufacturers understand the importance of the new standards set by CPSC. It’s all about keeping homes safe. Majority of them agree with complying to the new guidelines. Although there are still some, retailers especially, who need to be provided with more information, so that they can really see how this new standard will benefit everyone.

Bedding veteran Randy Bancroft, who oversees the factory, has spent hundreds of hours getting ready for the new federal mattress flammability standard, which takes effect July 1. He admitted that he went into the process with thousands of questions. With the help of the Lilly Management Group’s FR program, he believes he has become thoroughly knowledgeable about the new FR standard. “On a scale of one to 10,” Bancroft said, “the new FR standard is a 7.5. It is doable. But it will change the culture of the mattress factory.”

Susan Ebaugh, managing partner of Lilly Management Group, said the standard will produce a “survival of the fittest” scenario. “Those mattress manufacturers who can meet the requirements of the regulation on a consistent basis will effectively manage this change and move forward,” she said. The standard doesn’t just affect producers; retailers must also comply with new rules. They must sell mattresses and foundations that are meant to be sold together. If they don’t, they can face fines.

Producers say that some retailers are ready for the new standard and some aren’t. At the Restonic factory in Fayetteville, Bancroft said some retailers “don’t think the standard applies to them.” More education is needed, he said. David Gillmore, owner of Restonic dealer Horne’s Furniture &; Appliances of Stedman, N.C., was visiting the Restonic factory during a recent open house. Gillmore, whose store is about 20 miles from the Restonic factory, said the new FR standard “is a good thing.”

“The CPSC wants manufacturers to follow the law, but that’s not enough,” he said. “The CPSC wants retailers to properly display, sell and deliver products, and they want the consumer to understand how to read a law tag so the consumer knows he or she is receiving a compliant product.”

via Furniture Today
Photo from Restonic

Tags: MATTRESS News, MATTRESS Safety, MATTRESS Shopping, mattress_factory, mattress_manufacturers, new-standard-mattress

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 21st, 2007 at 11:14 am and is filed under MATTRESS News, MATTRESS Safety, MATTRESS Shopping.
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