[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE FURNITURE FIRE SAFETY ACT OF 2000

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2000

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my colleagues, 
Representative Rob Andrews and Representative Curt Weldon, to introduce 
legislation that is long overdue. The United States has one of the 
highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. In the vast 
majority of home fire deaths, the killer is upholstered furniture, 
which is one of the most flammable items in the American home. Because 
of the seriousness of this problem, and the devastation it has caused 
countless American families (including those of Fire Fighters killed in 
the line of duty fighting home fires), we have introduced the Furniture 
Fire Safety Act of 2000.
  This legislation would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to 
require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to immediately 
establish a performance standard that is equal to the successful 
California state standard--the only one of its kind in the nation. 
California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117) is a mandatory standard for 
all residential upholstered furniture for sale in California that has 
been in effect since 1975. It is both an open flame test and a 
smoldering cigarette test for the component materials that make up the 
upholstered furniture. While the fire death rates for furniture fires 
have dropped for both California and the entire nation, death rates in 
California have dropped by a larger percentage than the nation as a 
whole. In 1994, for example, the theoretical number of California fire 
deaths due to upholstered furniture based on actual national figures, 
would be 65.2. However, the actual number of furniture fire deaths in 
California in that year was 10.
  Mr. Speaker, two people die each day as a result of residential 
furniture fires. CPSC data report that, on average, 55 people die per 
month in fires where upholstered furniture is the first item ignited. 
Most of these fires are caused by cigarette ignitions, while a 
significant portion is caused by open-flames such as matches, lighters, 
and candles.
  Upholstered furniture is one of the most flammable items in the 
American home. In just four short minutes, a sofa fire can engulf an 
entire living room in flames, filling the entire home with thick, dark 
smoke and toxic gases. Temperatures can exceed 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit 
in this short period of time, according to the National Fire Protection 
Association.
  Since 1994, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the 
International Association of Fire Fighters, and many other fire safety 
and consumer groups have urged the CPSC to develop national standards 
to deter residential furniture fires. To date, there has been no 
significant progress on the part of CPSC. In lieu of national 
standards, the upholstered furniture industry is being asked to adhere 
on a voluntary basis to lax safety standards for home furniture sold in 
all states except California. The result has been that approximately 
4,500 Americans have lost their lives in residential furniture fires 
since 1994.
  What is even more disturbing is the simple fact that for a small 3-5% 
add-on cost to the manufacturers for flame-retardant measures (on 
average, the cost of three pizzas, $20-$30) a sofa can be made safe and 
potentially save lives. Even more telling is the fact that price 
studies have revealed that flame-resistant sofas purchased at retail 
outlets in California were priced equal to, or in some cases less, than 
identical, non-flame-resistant products purchased from that same 
furniture retailer at a location outside of California.
  This legislation would saves lives. The time has come to take action. 
We can not allow one more person to die unnecessarily from an 
upholstered furniture fire. I urge my colleagues to support this 
effort.

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