Sofas and sectionals are standard in most homes in Mexico. What many people may not realize is that upholstered furniture can pose a significant safety risk in the event of a smoldering fire.
A regular house fire and a smoldering house fire are different. A regular house fire is a rapid combustion that produces flames, heat and smoke that can quickly spread throughout a structure. In contrast, a smoldering house fire is a slow burning fire that does not produce flames but produces a lot of smoke and heat. Smoldering fires often go unnoticed for a long time because they can burn for hours or even days before turning into a full blown fire.
Smoldering fires are particularly hazardous because they generally do not produce enough heat to trigger smoke alarms or sprinkler systems making them more difficult to detect and extinguish.
The danger of smoldering fires is why purchasing upholstered furniture that meets the UFAC (Upholstered Furniture Action Council) construction criteria is critical. UFAC is a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to promote safer upholstered furniture. The organization is made up of manufacturers, retailers and suppliers of upholstered furniture and its mission is to improve the fire safety of upholstered furniture.
The importance of having UFAC safe furniture cannot be overstated. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are approximately 350,000 home structure fires in the United States annually. (No statistics are currently available for Mexico). These fires caused 2,620 deaths, 11,670 injuries and USD 7.8 billion in property damage. While not all these fires were caused by upholstered furniture, having UFAC-verified furniture is an easy and effective way to minimize the risk of a smoldering fire.
UFAC construction criteria are designed to minimize the risk of smoldering fires by ensuring that upholstered furniture is made with materials resistant to smoldering, either naturally or treated with smolder resistant chemicals. Additionally, the criteria limit the use of highly flammable materials, such as foam and require that the foam used in upholstered furniture meet specific fire safety standards.
For those living in Mexico, choosing a UFAC verified brand is critical. Mexico does not have its own furniture safety standards, so many of the sofas and sectionals produced in the country are questionable regarding materials and whether they meet any safety standards.
One of the manufacturers in Mexico that has UFAC verification is the Palliser brand. Palliser has a manufacturing plant in Saltillo, Mexico and has been in business for over 70 years. The company is committed to producing high quality furniture that meets the standards of safety and comfort.
When shopping for a sofa or other upholstered furniture, it is essential to research and choose a UFAC verified brand. Doing so will give you peace of mind and keep you and your loved ones safer.
New condo? We offer furniture & furniture packages based on the items you need, your décor style and your budget range, free décor service and insured delivery to your condo. Visit us at our Puerto Vallarta store: 363A Constitucion or Bucerias store at Heroes de Nacozari 126. If you are not currently in Mexico, email us at furniture@solutionsmexico.com or send a text by Whatsapp to +52 322 136 5156.