California required flame retardants in the past
In 1975, California enacted a furniture flammability standard called Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117) which led to the use of chemical flame retardant chemicals in furniture and children’s product foam. (source)
We now know that most of these flame retardants are harmful.
Polyurethane foam products manufactured prior to 2005 are most likely to contain PBDEs. Between 2005-2015, the main flame retardant changed to Tris, which is also toxic.
This California regulation was followed across all of North America.
California’s change in law
California revised TB 117 to a new standard TB 117-2013, which became mandatory for new furniture manufactured after January 1, 2015.
The new standard allows for products to be made without added flame-retardant chemicals.
This is the time that most sofa and mattress companies eliminated chemical flame retardants in the US.
California new disclosure
A California law called SB 1019 requires upholstered furniture to have a label stating whether or not the item contains flame retardants.
States are banning flame retardants
Since the beginning of 2021, several bills have been published to restrict flame retardants in a variety of products.
These include children’s products, residential upholstered furniture, mattresses, and electronic enclosures.
New York state initiated two bills to ban halogenated and phosphorus-bromine flame retardants which are still in process s of 2024, and Delaware signed a bill that only allows for trace amounts of TBB, antimony, TBPH, SCCP, Deca-BDE, HBCD, TBBPA, TDCPP, TCEP and TCPP, effective in 2023 (source)
Which flame retardants are used currently?
In mattresses and couches it is rare to see added chemical flame retardants to the foam in the US, especially if it’s an American-owned company.
It is possible the furniture coming into the country through third-party sellers and made abroad could still contain flame retardant in the foam (even if they are banned in the state that they are being imported to).
As of 2024, I only know one American-owned furniture company using flame retardant in their foam, it is ammonium dihydrogen phosphate.
It is also common, especially in mattresses to use a barrier cloth, this could be silica, rayon, or fiberglass.
Flame-retardant-safe furniture
For sofa brands without flame retardants see my article on non-toxic sofas.
For mattresses without chemical flame retardants or fiberglass see my article on non-toxic mattresses.
Where we still see flame retardants
Car Seats
Car seats are unfortunately an unavoidable source of chemical flame retardants (usually tris).
To reduce exposure, use a HEPA vacuum. Ideally, change clothing when you get home.
However, tris in cars gets into the air as well.
Faux leather upholstery may be able to block some of the flame retardant migration but only if it fully encases the foam.
Child Car Seats
Child car seats often contain chemical flame retardants, though in the last few years more and more brands are offering flame retardants free models.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
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