TB-117

TB-117 is a Technical Bulletin of the State of California from 1975 making it mandatory for manufacturers to make upholstered furnishings resistant to an open flame test. As such, most of the United States and Canada followed suit to this Technical Requirement and largely furnishings containing foams (which are flammable) have been treated with flame retardant chemicals.

Since, great concern as to the chemical toxicity of flame retardants upon human health has developed in addition to the question as to their actual efficacy in fire prevention. TB-117 has since been revised to TB117-2013 which went into effect on January 1, 2014. The revision allows manufacturers to transition from the open flame test to a smolder resistance test over the course of 2014. As of January 1, 2015, it is mandatory that all furniture manufacturer's comply with TB-117-2013. Largely this means that foams will no longer need to be treated with flame retardants as they can be covered with fabrics such as polyester batting that complies with the smolder test.