CAL 117 Standard Test for Upholstered Seat Flammability

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of the CAL 117 standard. California Tech Bulletin 117, also known as CAL 117 for short, is a regulation that sets the standard for upholstered furniture flammability in the furniture industry.

While the regulation is only legally binding in the state of California, it has become a nationwide standard because the state represents such a large market. CAL 117 requires certain materials used in residential furniture to pass both the open flame and smoldering test.

The tests are conducted inside a closed test chamber where technicians can measure how fast an open flame spreads and grows. This test involves placing a lit cigarette on the furniture and measuring the length of the charcoal formed.

CAL 117 now comes with the following requirements:

• Upholstery cover fabrics, padding, and other materials must pass certain smolder resistance requirements.
• If these components do not meet flammability standards, a barrier material must be added for protection.
• Flame retardant chemicals can be added to furniture, although they are subject to their own requirements.
• Manufacturers failing to comply with flammability or labeling regulations are subject to a number of fines and will have to cover the cost of further compatibility testing.

There are some exceptions, such as furniture that will only be used outdoors. Otherwise, you'll want to research products that come with the CAL 117 label. This shows that you are investing in a product that meets certain standards and in a manufacturer that cares about its customers.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with CAL 117 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.