Polyurethane Foam Association

FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION IS AN ONGOING PFA ACTIVITY

Video Fire Safety Public Service Announcement

Full in English (Mov File 2.9 Meg)
Full in Spanish (Mov File 2.9 Meg)
Clip in English (Mov File 1.5 Meg)
Clip in Spanish (Mov File 1.5 Meg)

Audio Fire Safety Public Service Announcement

Full in English (Wav File .33 Meg)
Full in Spanish (Wav File .33 Meg)
Clip in English (Wav File .16 Meg)
Clip in Spanish (Wav File .16 Meg)

WAYNE, NJ -- The Polyurethane Foam Association (PFA) puts a high priority on household fire prevention. PFA membership is made up of 16 manufacturing companies that together represent about 72% of all flexible slabstock produced in the United States. Additional associate members include suppliers of raw materials, equipment and services for polyurethane foam producers.

Most of today's upholstered furniture, mattresses and automotive seating designs rely on polyurethane foam as the primary cushioning material. In these applications, quality polyurethane foam products provide the lasting comfort and support that end-users demand. But, like all other organic materials, when exposed to an ignition source with sufficient heat, polyurethane foam products will burn. The Association dedicates a large portion of its communications resources to fire prevention education.

In household furnishings polyurethane foam is almost always used in combination with other flammable materials such as polyester fiberfill, wood and fabric. PFA believes that flammability tests on foam alone are not representative of the performance of finished products found in the home. In addition, no matter how well a product performs in laboratory flammability tests, small scale laboratory tests cannot duplicate how actual fire conditions will effect the entire contents of a room. The solution to reducing the number of household fires, resulting injuries and associated loss of life will not come from the development of "flammability tested" furnishings; rather, from fire prevention education.

PFA fire safety programs work to help eliminate conditions that can cause household fires. PFA messages urge consumers to guard against the possibility of fire and to be cautious handling possible ignition materials around household furnishings. The Association's fire safety communications advocate detection, alarm and suppression principles using familiar consumer language, so that in the event of a fire, occupants can escape unharmed. PFA is an active supporter of RFSI, the Residential Fire Safety Institute (formerly known as Operation Life Safety). The Residential Fire Safety Institute is a public interest group created in 1982 to promote fire-safe homes through built-in fire protection and fire safety education. To learn more about RFSI activities, you can view a Real Video stream entitled, "The Case for Residential Life Safety Sprinklers".

PFA also distributes public service announcements to television stations nationwide in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.

PFA's public service announcement program has been targeted by tradition to home owners. Beginning in 1994, PFA messages were directed toward a population segment with greater fire risk: apartment renters. Thirty second television and radio announcements give examples of how apartment fires can be prevented, detected, and suppressed. Apartment renters are encouraged to be careful with smoking materials, to have an escape plan, to have a fully-charged fire extinguisher, to install a smoke detector, and to check to be sure detector batteries are working.

For more information on the Polyurethane Foam Association and its fire safety programs, please contact

Mr. Robert Luedeka, Executive Director, PFA
9724 Kingston Pike
Suite 503
Knoxville, TN 37922
T 865.690.4648
F 865.690.4649
rluedeka@pfa.org