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BHGS lab reports high failures for some insulation and mattress tests; labeling compliance remains a problem
Summary
Laboratory manager Jacob Baker said thermal-insulation sampling produced a 28% failure rate and mattress testing has shown about a 32% failure rate in recent quarters; label reviews found major or moderate violations in a majority of samples.
The Bureau of Household Goods and Services laboratory reported increased thermal-insulation testing activity and persistent compliance issues in mattress testing and product labeling, lab manager Jacob Baker told the advisory council on May 8.
Baker said the lab’s recent focus on thermal-insulation sampling — a resource-intensive series of tests that can take days or weeks per sample — produced about a 28% failure rate across samples recently processed. The lab has been coordinating accreditation work and plans to consolidate accreditation providers to reduce audit burden.
On mattress (16 C.F.R. §1633) testing, the bureau reported a roughly 32% historical failure rate and said failures remain a concern. The lab is upgrading its burn room and expects mattress testing volumes to increase once the burn-room upgrades are complete.
Baker also reviewed flame-retardant sampling: most submitted product-tags now declare “no added flame retardant chemicals,” and the bureau has been sending targeted samples to the Department of Toxic Substances Control for confirmation. Label review statistics showed only about 22% of labels were fully compliant; 40% had moderate violations and 15% had major violations that could lead to enforcement action.
Bureau staff said they will continue targeted mattress sampling, expand online-seller compliance approaches, and pursue procurement and facility upgrades to support increased mattress testing.
