Question
Is my papasan chair treated with fire retardants?
I have a 15-year-old papasan chair that has all-polyester filling and a 100% cotton cover with a bamboo frame. It does not have a tag stating it complies with fire safety laws. Do you think it is likely to have been treated with any type of fire retardants, such as PBDEs or other?
Answer
Several questions come to mind, but most importantly, where was it manufactured?
The chair frame is probably rattan (similar to bamboo) and it could even have received some other chemical coatings to protect it. There are labeling requirements which require that fire retardants be identified. You find them in lots of furnishings but especially those made with foam (such as mattresses).
You may want to purchase a new cover for your papasan chair by researching a source that uses non-chemical covers.
For more information:
To learn more about flame retardants in furniture, read Mary Cordaro's "Do BFRs (brominated flame retardants) offgas or persist in upholstery? Would they be in the stuffing of a sofa, or in the fabric cover?"
