California TB 117 ：The USA Standard for Fire Resistance of Upholstered Furniture

California TB 117 ：The USA Standard for Fire Resistance of Upholstered Furniture

California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117) is a mandatory flame retardancy standard established by the State of California for upholstered furniture (such as sofas, chairs, mattresses, etc.), aimed at reducing fire risks. This standard has significant global influence and serves as a reference for many other states and countries when formulating furniture flame retardancy regulations.

 1. Scope of Application

- Applicable Products:  

  - Upholstered furniture (e.g., sofas, armchairs, office chairs, mattresses)  

  - Furniture filling materials (e.g., polyurethane foam, cotton batting, down)  

- Applicable Regions:  

  - Furniture sold in California must comply with TB 117 (other states may voluntarily adopt it)  

 2. Testing Requirements (Latest Version: TB 117-2013)

In 2013, California revised the TB 117 standard, shifting from reliance on flame-retardant chemical coatings to requiring filling materials to have inherent flame retardancy (to reduce the use of toxic chemicals).

 (1) TB 117-2013 (Current Standard)

- Testing Methods:  

  - Open Flame Test (for filling materials):  

    - A small propane flame is used to ignite the filling material, and combustion behavior is observed  

    - The flame must self-extinguish within 12 seconds, with a burn length ≤10 cm  

  - Smolder Test (for fabrics and filling materials):  

    - Simulates cigarette smoldering to evaluate self-extinguishing and flame spread  

    - Requires no smolder propagation, with a burn area ≤5 cm  

- Key Revisions:  

  - Prohibits compliance through flame-retardant coatings alone; requires filling materials (e.g., foam) to have inherent flame retardancy  

  - More environmentally friendly, reducing the use of toxic flame retardants (e.g., TCEP, TDCPP)  

 (2) Old Version TB 117 (Pre-2013)

- Primarily relied on chemical treatments such as halogenated flame retardants  

- Phased out due to health and environmental concerns (e.g., carcinogenic risks)  

3. Comparison with Other U.S. Standards

 4. Compliance Requirements

1. Material Selection:  

   - Use inherently flame-retardant filling materials (e.g., flame-retardant polyurethane foam, aramid fibers)  

   - Avoid halogenated flame retardants to comply with environmental regulations (e.g., California Proposition 65)  

2. Testing & Certification:  

   - Conduct TB 117 testing through third-party labs (e.g., UL, SGS, Intertek)  

   - Obtain a Certificate of Compliance (CoC)  

3. Labeling Requirements:  

   - Product labels must indicate compliance with CAL TB 117-2013  

 5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 Q1: Is TB 117 mandatory nationwide in the U.S.?

- No, it is only mandatory in California, but due to the state's market significance, many manufacturers voluntarily comply  

 Q2: Difference between TB 117-2013 and TB 133?

- TB 117 applies to residential furniture, while TB 133 targets public spaces (e.g., hotels, hospitals) with stricter requirements  

 Q3: How to avoid health risks from flame retardants?

- Use halogen-free flame retardants (e.g., phosphorus-based) or physical flame-retardant structures (e.g., flame-retardant fibers)  

 Q4: Is TB 117 testing mandatory for U.S. exports?

- Required for products sold in California; other states may refer to federal standards (e.g., 16 CFR 1633 for mattresses)  

 6. Summary

- TB 117-2013 is California's core flame retardancy standard for upholstered furniture, requiring inherent flame retardancy of filling materials  

- More environmentally friendly than the old version, reducing toxic flame retardant use  

- Compliance keys: Inherently flame-retardant materials + third-party testing + proper labeling