Ispa Introduces Exclusive Flammabilty Education Forums

Furniture World News

The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) will present two unique approaches to help inform mattress industry professionals about the new California mattress flammability standards and developing federal requirements at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, along with related technical requirements and compliance issues. Each of the educational forums are based on ISPA’s sold-out SHOPtalk workshops titled “California TB603: Implementation and Beyond,” which took place this past February in four major U.S. cities in cooperation with ISPA affiliate, the Sleep Products Safety Council (SPSC). These two new educational offerings were created to bring timely information on this key industry issue to those ISPA members who were unable to attend the popular earlier live events, and to help provide a refresher to those who were able to participate. The first offering, a SHOPtalk Audio Webcast, will be available beginning May 11, 2004 on ISPA’s Web site, www.sleepproducts.org. At their convenience, registrants will be able to log on to the site for select audio presentations and accompanying slides from the original SHOPtalk workshop, which featured presentations by leading flammability experts including Gordon Damant, SPSC Technical Consultant; Dennis Kemp, SPSC Combustibility Committee Chairman; Lynn Morris, former Chief of California’s Bureau of Home Furnishings; and John McCormack of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings. The second ISPA distance-learning offering, a SHOPtalk Audio Conference, is scheduled for June 17, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. (EST). This live conference call will be available to individuals and company groups for a discussion about technical aspects of TB603 and components of the burn test, compliance tips, and pitfalls to avoid. Registrants can take advantage of an open dialogue with SPSC Board Chair Al Klancnik, Serta, Inc.; Margaret Neily, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Director for Combustion and Fire Sciences; and Gordon Damant. “ISPA and the SPSC are working to support the industry’s commitment to help establish an effective national standard that will improve home safety,” stressed ISPA Chairman Tom LeDuc of Spring Air West. “These two new educational offerings are designed to reach a broad segment of the membership with timely and critical information on developments that will affect all of us. I hope ISPA members take advantage of these unique educational opportunities.” For more information or to register for the SHOPtalk Flammability Audio Web Cast and Audio Conference, visit the ISPA Web site at www.sleepproducts.org/shoptalk/flammability. Established in 1915, the International Sleep Products Association, www.sleepproducts.org, is the trade organization for mattress manufacturers and their component suppliers around the world. ISPA hosts the biennial ISPA EXPO trade show and publishes BedTimes and Sleep Savvy magazines. The Sleep Products Safety Council, www.safesleep.org, is a non-profit organization established in 1986 by the mattress industry. SPSC’s mission is to provide consumer safety information, support research, and promote activities aimed at reducing hazards associated with mattresses and other sleep products.