Mattresses/mattress pads—labeling, recordkeeping, guaranties and “one of a kind” exemption.
16 C.F.R. § 1632.31
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses or Standard means the Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads (FF 4-72, amended), (16 CFR part 1632, subpart A).
(2) The definition of terms set forth in the § 1632.1 of the Standard shall also apply to this section.
(b) Labeling. (1) All mattress pads which contain a chemical fire retardant shall be labeled with precautionary instructions to protect the pads from agents or treatments which are known to cause deterioration of their flame resistance. Such labels shall be permanent, prominent, conspicuous, and legible.
(2) If a mattress pad contains a chemical fire retardant, it shall be prominently, conspicuously, and legibly labeled with the letter “T”.
(3) Each mattress or mattress pad subject to the Standard shall bear a permanent, accessible, and legible label containing the month and year of manufacture and the location of the manufacturer. (See § 1632.1(i) of the Amended Standard.)
(4) The information required on labels by this section shall be set forth separately from any other information appearing on such label. Other information, representations, or disclosures, appearing on labels required by this section or elsewhere on the item, shall not interfere with, minimize, detract from, or conflict with the required information.
(5) No person, other than the ultimate consumer, shall remove or mutilate, or cause or participate in the removal or mutilation of, any label required by this section to be affixed to any item.
(6) Products intended for one time use (see § 1632.5(b)(1)(i)) are not subject to the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this § 1632.31(b).
(c) Records—manufacturers, importers, or persons initially introducing items into commerce. Every manufacturer, importer, or other person initially introducing into commerce mattresses or mattress pads subject to the standard, irrespective of whether guarantees are issued relative thereto, shall maintain the records hereinafter specified.
(1) Manufacturing specifications and description of each mattress or mattress pad prototype with an assigned prototype identification number.
(2) Test results and details of each prototype test performed in accordance with § 1632.4 or § 1632.5, including prototype identification number, ticking classification if known, test room condition, cigarette locations, number of relights for each location, whether each cigarette location passed or failed, name and signature of person conducting the test and date of test. These records shall include a certification by the person overseeing the testing as to the test results and that the test was carried out in accordance with the Standard.
(3) Photograph (color or black and white) of the bare surface of each mattress or mattress pad tested, in accordance with § 1632.4 or § 1632.5, with the prototype identification number of the mattress or mattress pad and a clear designation as to which part of the mattress or mattress pad was sheeted and which part was tested bare.
(4) Records to support any determination that a particular material, other than the ticking or tape edge material used in a mattress or mattress pad prototype, did not influence the ignition resistance of the prototype and could be substituted by another material. Such record should include photographs or physical specimens.
(5) Manufacturing specifications and description of any new ticking or tape edge material substituted in accordance with § 1632.6 or § 1632.7, with the identification number of the prototype involved.
(6) The test results and details of any ticking classification test conducted in accordance with § 1632.6, including the ticking classification (A, B, or C), the test room condition, the number of relights, whether each cigarette location passed or failed, the name and signature of the person conducting the test and the date of the test, or a certification from the ticking supplier. The certification should state the ticking classification and that the ticking was tested in accordance with § 1632.6.
(7) The test results and details of any test of tape edge materials conducted in accordance with § 1632.7, including prototype identification number, test room condition, number of relights, whether each cigarette passed or failed, name and signature of person conducting the test and date of test. The record shall include a certification by the person overseeing the testing as to the test results and that the test was carried out in accordance with § 1632.7.
(8) Photograph (color or black and white) of the bare surface of each mattress or mattress pad tested in accordance with § 1632.7, with the prototype identification number of the mattress or mattress pad and a clear designation as to which part of the mattress or mattress pad was sheeted and which part was tested bare.
(9) Details of any approved alternate laundering procedure used in laundering mattress pads required by the Standard to be laundered during testing.
(10) Identification, composition, and details of the application of any flame retardant treatments employed relative to mattress pads or mattress pad components.
(11) Disposition of all failing or rejected prototype mattress or mattress pads. Such records must demonstrate that the items were retested and reworked in accordance with the Standard prior to sale or distribution and that such retested or reworked mattresses or mattress pads comply with the Standard, or must otherwise show the disposition of such items.
(12) The records required by this paragraph shall be maintained for as long as the prototype is in production, the ticking is being used on the mattresses or mattress pad prototype, and/or the tape edge material is being used on the mattress or mattress pad prototype, and shall be retained for 3 years thereafter.
(d) Tests for guaranty purposes. Reasonable and representative tests for the purpose of issuing a guaranty under section 8 of the Act for mattress or mattress pads subject to the Standard shall be those prototype and substitution tests performed, pursuant to the requirements of the Standard.
(e) Compliance with this section. No person subject to the Flammable Fabrics Act shall manufacture for sale, import, distribute, or otherwise market or handle any mattress or mattress pad which is not in compliance with § 1632.31.
(f) “One of a kind” exemption for physician prescribed mattresses and mattress pads. (1) A mattress or mattress pad manufactured in accordance with a physician's written prescription or manufactured in accordance with other comparable written medical therapeutic specification, to be used in connection with the treatment or management of a named individual's physical illiness or injury, shall be considered a “one of a kind mattress” and shall be exempt from testing under the Standard pursuant to § 1632.2(b)(4) thereof: Provided, that the mattress bears a permanent, conspicuous and legible label which states:
(2) The manfacturer of a mattress or mattress pad exempted from testing under this paragraph shall, in lieu of the records required to be kept by paragraph (c) of this section, retain a copy of the written prescription or other comparable written medical therapeutic specification for such mattress or mattress pad during a period of three years, measured from the date of manufacture.
(3) For purposes of this regulation the term physician shall mean a physician, chiropractor or osteopath licensed or otherwise permitted to practice by any State of the United States.
WARNING: This mattress or mattress pad may be subject to ignition and hazardous smoldering from cigarettes. It was manufactured in accordance with a physician's prescription and has not been tested under the Federal Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses (FF 4-72).
Source: eCFRURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-16.xmlFetched: 7/26/2026