State lab accredited, reports flammability and labeling failure patterns; DTSC cooperation continues

The bureau’s laboratory updated the advisory council on testing results and accreditation status, saying assessors commended record keeping and that the lab now holds ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for upholstery, furniture and bedding testing.

Lab manager Carrie Kathalee Fowle said the lab moved to the newer ISO 17025:2017 standard after assessments in 2016–2018 and that the accreditation is valid through October 31, 2020; the lab also expects NAVLAP assessment of its thermal‑insulation program in January. The assessor praised the bureau’s procedures, sampling plans, calibration records and quality records.

Testing results and trends. Fowle presented recent test failure rates by category: a 12 percent fail rate on a small flammability sample set (50 samples) in a selected table; a 15 percent fail rate on the federal mattress open‑flame standard (16 CFR 1633); a roughly 5–6 percent typical failure rate across the fiscal year for certain flammability tests; and a high labeling failure rate (around 80–85 percent) primarily for minor labeling issues such as terminology or format. She said only major labeling failures are forwarded to the compliance unit for enforcement and that labeling problems often result in corrective notices rather than citation action.

Flame retardant chemical testing and document review. The lab described its coordination with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for chemical analyses and explained the bureau’s SB 1019‑driven document review process. Fowle said roughly 35 percent of selected samples are sent for DTSC analysis and that DTSC’s annual chemical list and methods are a moving target that manufacturers should check. In DTSC chemical tests the lab reported roughly an 11 percent failure rate; the bureau’s document review (where firms submit records to show components lack regulated flame retardants) also showed about an 11 percent failure rate, though the failing samples are not necessarily the same.

Consumer and worker safety in the lab. The lab manager described on‑site safety controls for sample cutting and handling — personal protective equipment and a vacuum system for the foam saw — and said most foam waste is bagged and disposed under contract. Accreditation assessors reviewed those safety, calibration and QA practices as part of their evaluation.

Labeling and federal coordination. Council members and staff discussed the relationship between state testing and federal efforts. The bureau said it follows federal mattress testing methods (16 CFR 1633 current version) and forwards failures to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for possible additional action. Staff said it will discuss labeling changes and SB 2998 (state law restricting flame retardants) at upcoming workshops.

Why this matters: accreditation strengthens the legal and technical defensibility of lab results used for enforcement; the lab’s fail rates and DTSC analysis guide what products go to compliance and what documentation manufacturers must provide.

Next steps: the bureau will continue DTSC coordination, send samples for analysis and host public workshops in February about labeling and mover regulations.