Flame Retardant (FR) Mattress Ticking

High-Risk and Regulated Applications

FR textiles are mandated or highly recommended for applications where fire safety is a critical public health concern:

• North American Market: Essential for passing federal regulations such as 16 CFR 1633 (Open Flame Standard) and 16 CFR 1632 (Smoldering Cigarette Standard).
• Contract and Institutional Use: Hotels, cruise ships, hospitals, and student accommodations often require fabrics meeting standards like NFPA 701 or BS 7177.
• Commercial Upholstery: Used for sofa and seating covers in public spaces to enhance safety compliance.

Testing Standards and Specification

Core Advantages of FR Ticking

• Regulatory Gateway: Provides the certified compliance necessary for selling finished mattress products in highly regulated consumer markets.
• Invisible Protection: Achieves safety standards without altering the fabric's visual design or tactile qualities.
• Durability of Effect: Treatments are designed for long-term effectiveness, often maintaining their properties for the lifetime of the mattress.
• Weight Reduction: Using an FR ticking allows manufacturers to potentially reduce the weight and cost of internal fire barrier components.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: Do topical FR treatments affect the fabric's hand-feel or flexibility?
• A: Modern FR topical treatments are formulated to minimize impact. While a slight change in stiffness is possible, our process controls are optimized to maintain the soft-knit or flexible nature of the ticking.

• Q: Are the FR chemicals used safe and non-toxic?
• A: We prioritize halogen-free and formaldehyde-free chemical compositions that comply with international safety standards, including REACH. Documentation proving the low-toxicity profile is supplied.

• Q: Can an FR fabric pass both the cigarette and open flame tests?
• A: Successfully passing both requires a coordinated fabric system. The fabric must first pass the smoldering cigarette test (CFR 1632) and then, when integrated into the full mattress system, contribute to passing the open flame test (CFR 1633).

Selecting the FR Solution

The choice of FR method impacts cost, durability, and texture:

• Inherent FR Fibers: Highest cost, permanent FR property, no need for re-treatment. Best for maximum washability.
• Topical FR Treatment: Lower cost, applied on standard ticking. Effectiveness is durable but may decrease after extreme washing (though mattress ticking is rarely washed). Best for high-volume, cost-sensitive production.

Production and Compliance Reporting

Our production service for FR fabrics includes critical testing and documentation:

• Recipe Control: Precise metering of FR chemical agents during the finishing process to ensure required pick-up levels are met.
• Internal Certification Testing: Conducting laboratory-scale vertical flame tests on every batch to verify treatment efficacy before shipment.
• Documentation: Providing the necessary lot-specific Certificates of Compliance (CoC) required by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for importation.