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Viewing CPSC to Enforce Fire Protection RegulationsCPSC to Enforce Fire Protection Regulations
By chadisenberg
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The CPSC recently announced that they would be passing new regulations to make sure that furniture manufacturers will produce fire resistant upholstered furniture pieces. The commission voted unanimously to create a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Consumer Products Safety Commission in the United States is tasked with setting standards that should be followed by every manufacture of different products. The commission's latest move regarding the furniture industry is to make sure that upholstered furniture pieces are not fire hazards. The commission recently voted unanimously to come forth with a notice of proposed rulemaking, or NPR. Said action focuses on the creation of regulations regarding the flammability of upholstered furniture. Prior to the action taken by the CPSC, the commission conducted a study where they found that the damage of fires resulting from furniture across the United States costs the country about $1.6 billion. The regulation that the CPSC will formulate is expected to prevent about a hundred deaths and 130 injuries annually. CPSC acting chairperson, Nancy Nord, said that by making sure upholstered furniture is flame-retardant, consumers will have time to evacuate their homes in case of fire. 'Fires involving upholstered furniture are a leading cause of fire-related deaths in U.S. homes,' said Nord. 'Stopping a furniture fire in its tracks or slowing its spread would buy consumers precious time to get out of their homes,' added Nord. This means that furniture manufacturers will have to use materials that will not be eaten easily by fire. The CPSC also expects manufacturers of upholstered furniture to use protective barriers, which will keep fire away from the flammable internal filling of a furniture piece. Nord continued saying: 'The standard that is being proposed today is intended to reduce the risk from these fires and save many, many lives. The proposal would prevent ignition or slow the spread and intensity of upholstered furniture fires, giving consumers precious time to get out of their homes.' The Honorable Thomas Moore also approved of the NPR. In his statement, Moore said, 'I am voting today to approve the draft Federal Register (FR) notice on a Proposed Rule addressing the flammability of upholstered furniture. As I stated when I voted to direct the staff to draft this FR notice, the design and the implementation of the validation testing for this proposed standard will be critical in determining how effective the draft standard will be in reducing fire deaths and injuries. I will be following the development of that validation testing with great interest.' Nord pointed out that the CPSC has been working on protecting homes from fires since 1994. 'The Commission has been working on an upholstered furniture flammability standard since 1994, and over these many years, the Commission has heard from a variety of stakeholders, including consumer and environmental advocacy groups, industry, and fire service organizations, as well as Congress, state, federal, and international government bodies.' This action being taken by the commission coincides with the time of the year when people will be looking for Valentine's gift ideas, which can be furniture pieces. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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