Environmentally Preferable Approaches for Meeting Furniture Fire Safety Standards

Slide 1:Environmentally Preferable Approaches for Meeting Furniture Fire Safety Standards Mark Buczek Supresta American Fire Safety Council

Slide 2:Design for the Environment Program Collaborative partnerships with industry sectors Industry leaders Trade associations Public interest groups Non-Regulatory Risk reduction through access to EPA�s chemical information and models Convener, facilitator, information broker

Slide 3:Flame Retardancy PartnershipOverview Partnership Development Project Goals Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Low-density foam Next Steps

Slide 4:Partnership DevelopmentEvents Influencing FRs in Furniture Fire Safety US Consumer Product Safety Commission ANPR California TB117 - Proposed update American Home Fire Safety Act (S 1798 IS) Environmental Several PBDEs detected in human breast milk and the environment Voluntary phase-out and SNUR for penta- and octa-BDE Significant New Use Rule � Residential Upholstered Furniture State legislation banning select PBDEs

Slide 5:Partnership DevelopmentKey Stakeholders San Francisco roundtables Furniture manufacturer interest AHFA and BIFMA Broad interest and support CPSC AFSC NIST BFRL GreenBlue ISPA and SPSC

Slide 6:Project Goals Facilitate industry decision-making Level the playing field New and existing chemicals Drive innovation toward environmentally safer flame retardancy methods Develop a model for alternatives assessment

Slide 7:Current Activities Flame retardant alternatives report Finalize report on flame retardants in low-density foam (primary focus pentaBDE alternatives to meet TB117 requirements) Make information available to facilitate industry decision making Broaden Partnership to include mattress industry

Slide 8:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Overview Enable industry to weigh environmental considerations as they consider cost and performance in decision-making Provide information on : General characteristics of flame retardant chemicals Exposure to flame retardant chemicals in foam Toxicology and exposure for pentaBDE alternatives Alternative technologies Discuss considerations for selecting a replacement for pentaBDE

Slide 9:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Hazard Assessments Detailed hazard reviews Based on publicly available literature Determine whether endpoints can adequately be characterized based on OECD guidelines Summary of chemicals in flame retardant formulations Detailed hazard reviews Measured confidential data from EPA and chemical companies Estimations from EPA New Chemicals Program Professional judgment of EPA staff Summary of EPA assessment for environmental and human health endpoints High, Medium, Low

Slide 10:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Hazard Assessments Toxicity Summary Table

Slide 11:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Exposure Routes Description of key elements for exposure assessment Industrial releases and exposures Chemical manufacturing Foam manufacturing Furniture manufacturing Consumer and general population exposures Potential routes of exposure based on physical chemical properties

Slide 12:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Exposure Routes Fate/Exposure Summary Table

Slide 13:Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Considerations in Selecting Alternatives to PentaBDE Positive Environmental Attributes Aesthetic and Performance Considerations Process, Equipment and Cost Considerations Alternative Technologies and Design

Slide 14:Low Persistence It breaks down quickly in the environment Breakdown products are not hazardous Low Bioaccumulation/Low Bioavailability It is not easily absorbed by living organisms Reacts FR chemical chemically reacts with other chemicals during foam production Low Toxicity Less potential for harm, even if some exposure occurs Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Considerations in Selecting Alternatives to PentaBDE Persistence: (less amt., less time); Breakdown Products non-hazardous: (lower toxicity) Low bioaccumulation: less amt. Persistence: (less amt., less time); Breakdown Products non-hazardous: (lower toxicity) Low bioaccumulation: less amt.

Slide 15:Draft report available on website http://www.epa.gov/dfe/projects/flameret/index.htm Reviewing comments � plan to finalize in Spring 2005 Flame Retardant Alternatives Report Review Process

Slide 16:Next Steps Develop a process to adequately characterize risk FR Options Analysis � focused on CPSC standards (planned furniture standard and proposed mattress standard) Fabric, alternative foams, filling materials, barriers, alternative construction/design Drive innovation through a labeling program, innovation challenge, or other means to encourage and recognize environmentally safer FR technologies