Consumer Product Safety Commission March 1, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) requests comments on a proposed three year extension of approval of information collection requirements in the Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads. 16 CFR part 1632. The standard is intended to reduce unreasonable risks of burn injuries and deaths from fires associated with mattresses and mattress pads. The standard prescribes a test to assure that a mattress or mattress pad will resist ignition from a smoldering cigarette. The standard requires manufacturers to perform prototype tests of each combination of materials and construction methods used to produce mattresses or mattress pads and to obtain acceptable results from such testing. Manufacturers and importers are required to maintain the records and test results specified under the standard. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) previously approved the collection of information under control number 3041-0014. OMB's most recent extension of approval will expire on August 31, 2007. The Commission will consider all comments received in response to this notice before requesting an extension of approval of this collection of information from OMB. An additional mattress standard was promulgated under section 4 of the Flammable Fabrics Act, 15 U.S.C. 1191-1204, effective July 1, 2007, to reduce deaths and injuries related to mattress fires, particularly those ignited by open flame sources such as lighters, candles and matches. 16 CFR part 1633. That standard established new performance requirements for mattresses and mattress sets that will generate a smaller size fire from open flame source ignitions. Part 1633 also contains recordkeeping requirements to document compliance with the standard. OBM approved that collection of information under Control Number 3041-0133, with an expiration date of June 30, 2009. 71 FR 37910. In May 2006, an Interim Enforcement Policy for Mattresses subject to 16 CFR parts 1632 and 1633, effective May 1, 2006, was issued that reduced prototype surface testing and recordkeeping requirements from six mattress surfaces to two mattress surfaces for each new prototype created after March 15, 2006. That policy is available at https:// www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/Interimmattress.pdf. Mattress prototypes created before March 15, 2006, are subject to the full requirements of part 1632. In addition, mattress pads are not subject to this policy and must continue to adhere to all the requirements set forth in part 1632.