Commission issues consent order with Contempo Futons

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced that it has entered into a voluntary consent order with David Butitta, proprietor of Contempo Futons of Iowa City, IA to cease and desist from manufacturing, distributing, and selling futons that allegedly fail to comply with the Commission’s Standard for Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads, 16 C.F.R. Part 1632.

A futon is a flexible tufted mattress generally used on the floor that can be folded or rolled up for storage. It usually consists of cotton batting and/or other resilient materials covered by a ticking material. Futons were specifically included in the list of products which fall within the standard’s definition of the term “mattress” when the mattress standard was amended in the Federal Register on October 10, 1984.

The futon mattresses made by Contempo that allegedly failed to comply with the standard were constructed with a tan colored ticking covering batting with a foam rubber core.

Neither the CPSC nor Contempo are aware of any complaints or injuries involving its product; however, a fire from a smoldering cigarette may occur. The Consent Order Agreement entered into by the parties requires the firm to cease and desist from manufacturing, distributing, and selling in interstate commerce futons failing to meet the Mattress Standard, to conduct prototype testing for each futon mattress design and to prepare and maintain written records of the prototype test results and manufacturing specifications.

Mattress and bedding fires cause more fire deaths each year than fires involving any other home furnishing except upholstered furniture. The mattress standard was issued to protect the public against risks of fires which have resulted from ignition of mattresses by cigarettes. Such incidents have led to smoldering fires with the production of toxic fumes in the bedroom and sometimes throughout an entire apartment or house prior to becoming open flame fires.

Author Notes:

Marcus Sharp contributes and publishes news editorial to http://mattressreviews.us. Choose from a large variety of mattress types and get a good night’s sleep!