Legislation planned to guard against foam fumes

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 37

Legislation planned to guard against foam fumes

PA Wellington The Fire Service and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs are working on legislation aimed at setting standards for upholstered furniture, according to the service’s director of fire safety, Mr Kevin Henderson. Mr Henderson was commenting on the demand by British fire chiefs 'for their Government to act to reduce the death toll from the poisonous fumes of burning foam-filled furniture. In Britain the demand

is for a complete ban on all types of polyurethane foam which produce the toxic fumes when burning. Mr Henderson said that, in New Zealand, many house fires started in furniture and bedding, and these often involved foam.

“But banning the product is not a realistic way to tackle the problem,” he said.

“Plastics are a part of our lives. It is surprising just how much plastic material you find in any one 'room. We have to

learn to protect such materials from fire and to protect ourselves if fire does occur.” New Zealand has adopted standards to reduce the likelihood of upholstered furniture catering fire. “The next step is a law requiring foam fillings to be enclosed in fire-retar-dant material,” Mr Henderson said. The Fire Service was working with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to develop suitable legislation.

People needed to be aware of all fire risks, not just those related to plastics, he said. People should also be aware of the value of sprinklers in containing fires and reducing smoke' and fumes.

In the United States, people increasingly used sprinklers in private homes as well as in public buildings. In the California city of Salinas legislation on fire protection was expected to reduce fire losses — life and property — more than 90 per cent within five years, he said.