Group A Plastics (mattresses)

[pyrguy]

Had a similar incident without the fatality. Dog crate next to the bed caused the bed frame to short the cord. luckily(?) no one home including the dog. The incident was investigated as arson till the wire was found.

 

[Oldfieldguy]

Based on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rules, Mattresses are not as dangerous as other upholstered furniture.

Not really. A major issue with this section is understanding the fire test specified in 16 CFR Part 1633. This is only a test for ignition resistance. Essentially, one takes a cigarette, ignites it, and places on the mattress. If the fire doesn’t spread beyond a 2 ½ inch radius, the mattress is deemed fire safe. During the debates for the 2012 IFC that changed all of the sprinkler requirements in Group F-1, M and S-1 occupancies, it was pointed out that mattress manufacturers comply with the CPSC requirement by essentially providing a fire-resistant slip cover. Insurance Engineer is right is that taking a stack of mattresses constructed from foam plastics still behaves as a High Hazard commodity and is properly classified as a Group A plastic under the requirements in IFC Chapter 23.

MT Log Cabin points out a clear issue of the lack of continuity between the High Piled Storage provisions in the 2009 IFC and the Chapter 9 requirements. The problem is partially solved in the 2012 because that code specifically states “upholstered furniture and mattresses.” A disconnect between Chapter 32 (the new Chapter number in the 2012 IFC) and Chapter 9 remains.

Another thing I read in Stuckey’s book on the Changes to the 2012 IFC is that the requirements are not based on fire area but occupancy area. He indicates this may make enforcement more difficult because it conflicts with fire area approach.

 

[mark handler]

Not really. A major issue with this section is understanding the fire test specified in 16 CFR Part 1633. This is only a test for ignition resistance. Essentially, one takes a cigarette, ignites it, and places on the mattress. If the fire doesn’t spread beyond a 2 ½ inch radius, the mattress is deemed fire safe. ...

Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 CFR Part 1633

Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets; Final Rule

http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr06/mattsets.pdf

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Standard for the Flammability (Cigarette Ignition Resistance) of Mattresses and Matress Pads

Flammability Standard 16 CFR 1632 (FF 4-72)

http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/testmatt.pdf

 

[Paul Sweet]

This sounds a lot like discussions (arguements) back in the early 1970s. Plastic foam was getting to be more popular, and was sometimes exposed on the interior, especially in storage or industrial buildings. Manufacturers claimed their plastic was fire-resistant based on ASTM tests that were meant for small consumer products, where a cigarette lighter (this was back when there were more smokers than non-smokers) wouldn't ignite the piece of plastic. Unfortunately, once a fire got a lot larger than a cigarette lighter flame it would ignite the foam plastic, which would burn furiously and produce lots of smoke. This is why the requirement for 1/2" gypsum board or an equivalent thermal barrier was adopted.

Flammability tests based on dropped cigarettes have no relation to how fast something will burn once a larger ignition source sets it on fire.