Fire marshals endorse AFHA's fire-safety plan
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, August 13, 2007
Washington — The National Assn. of State Fire Marshals has endorsed a plan set forth recently at an American Home Furnishings Alliance-sponsored meeting to create a mandatory federal fire-safety standard for upholstered furniture.
The NASFM, which represents senior fire officials nationwide, also said it supports the furniture industry's backing of legislation that would allow the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to function for the next six months with two instead of three members. The CPSC needs a chairman, and isn't expected to get one soon.
John C. Dean, NASFM president, said last week that many fire organizations want President Bush to nominate former New York Fire Administrator James Burns as CPSC chairman. Bush has floated the name of Michael Baroody, a top lobbyist for the National Manufacturers Assn., as a possible nominee, but that is being opposed by groups that don't think he would be an effective advocate for consumers.
In an e-mail to Furniture/Today, the NASFM said the July 25 meeting hosted by the AHFA in Arlington, Va., is a clear message the furniture industry acknowledges the following:
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"The Upholstered Furniture Action Council's voluntary standard no longer is appropriate. We agree. While some reductions in losses (from upholstery fires) have been achieved, the losses remain at 10 deaths a week.
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"Mandatory, national approaches serve all interests. Again, we agree.
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"Third-party testing is critical to enforcement. We completely agree. By turning to Underwriters Laboratories, the industry has recognized the value of utilizing the resources of a national recognized testing laboratory operating under the rules of the American National Standards Institute.
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"Environmental considerations are important. We are especially pleased to see the industry working with Friends of the Earth. The furniture industry's support of FOE may lead to greater cooperation on ending illegal forestry practices and addressing important worker safety issues such as those related to the use of TDI in the manufacturing of polyurethane foam."
NASFM said it is "most appreciative" that leading home furnishings retailers and manufacturers continue to work with it on some short-term safety solutions, especially in the areas of transportation and the safety of stores and warehouses.
