by The science of mattresses has seen remarkable evolution with time. They are no longer simply a dense layer of foam or spring. Now mattresses provide dedicated contouring and temperature regulations. With continuous development in the inside of a mattress, keeping it safe from fire and other damages is also essential. For instance, memory foam provides excellent comfort and support but is also highly flammable.
That’s why the American Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it mandatory for all mattress companies to add fire retardants to their mattresses.
This post contains a comprehensive guideline for fiberglass material as a fire retardant in a mattress, its uses, and its health implications. Read till the end to have a thorough understanding.
Our #1 Fiberglass-Free Mattresses in 2023
Saatva is well-known for its exclusive mattresses and for choosing exotic natural elements to build them
They have an arsenal of great mattresses that provides a surreal sleeping experience, and Saatva Classic is a perfect example of first-class craftsmanship. This mattress is a futuristic version of the classical innerspring mattress. From top to bottom, the Saatva classic is all about luxurious comfort and ultimate support in the most natural way possible.
The idea behind this mattress is to provide you with extra comfort and keep you cool throughout the night (check the top rated cooling mattresses for hot sleepers). The whole mattress comprises five exclusive layers with individual features that elevate the sleeping experience.
The center of attention is the top memory foam mattresses’ cover which consists of multiple benefits. The fabric choice is organic and premium cotton for a relaxed and healthy effect. This fabric undergoes Guardian® botanical antimicrobial treatment, which protects against bed bugs, mildew, molds, and bacteria. These fiberglass-free mattress covers have Euro pillow quilting that provides zonal lumbar support for an excellent night.
The Saatva’s signature all-natural vegan thistle-pulp flame barrier is underneath the top mattress cover.
The placement of the second layer is pretty strategic. The dense memory foam provides additional back support, which also helps in spinal alignment in every sleeping position (check 8 amazing high density foam mattresses). This layer is especially effective at the middle and lower-end support for maximum contouring and comfort.
The third layer is all about superb body contouring and motion isolation (check the top rated mattresses for motion isolation). This layer has precisely 884 pocket springs which are sourced from robust 14.5 gauge recycled steel. Choosing recycled steel shows how much Saatva focuses on environmental sustainability and promotes recycling. These coils are highly responsive to your movement and contours according to your body weight so that you get perfect pressure relief throughout your sleep.
What is Fiberglass?
Have you seen the insulation in your home’s attic and wondered, what is that material? The answer is that the layers of fiberglass protect your home from thermal energy and fire. However, there is more to what fiberglass is. It is a material that consists of glass fibers, which makes it very strong and lightweight.
The most common use of this material is its transformation into thin woven sheets, which makes a perfect alternative to wood, metal, or concrete. Moreover, its utilization is cheap and highly durable.
Since fiberglass is highly effective against fire, many mattress manufacturers use tiny fiberglass beads as fire retardants.
Type of Fiberglass
The following are the types of fiberglass:
A-Glass:
This fiberglass has one of the finest finishes, almost identical to the actual window glass. Being resistant to chemicals is its most prominent feature. An A-glass is known as alkali glass.
C-Glass:
A.K.A chemical glass has a solid and resilient property. This type of fiberglass is effective against chemicals.
E-Glass:
“E” in this fiberglass type is known as electrical. As its name suggests, E-glass fiberglass is pretty practical as an electrical insulator.
AE-Glass:
This has the ability to be quite resistant against alkali.
S-Glass:
This fiberglass type is unique as it has mechanical properties. The “S” in the name stands for structural.
Must Mattresses be Flame Retardant?
From an ethical and safe point of view, every flammable product, including a mattress, must have a flame retardant, whether in chemical form or natural state. Understanding the need for any fire-resisting layer in a mattress is essential. Fire retardants are necessary to prevent the start or spread of accidental fire. Moreover, this layer helps you to evacuate from the scene without getting hurt.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it mandatory for each mattress to have any fire retardant that is effective against fire and can sustain it for a suitable period of time. In most cases, a fire retardant should hold fire until the time period when everybody evacuates the place.
How Do You Know if You’re Buying a Mattress Which Contains Fiberglass?
Fiberglass is a cheaper option for inserting a flame retardant inside a mattress. Although a lot of mattress companies are refraining from using fiberglass, the following factors can help you to detect fiberglass inside your mattress:
Price: Mattresses retailing at lower prices are likely to have fiberglass and other possibly harmful chemicals. However, this is not always the case.
Label: Always check the mattress label to identify the manufacturing materials. Keep an eye on technical jargon often used by mattress companies. For instance, glass fibers or glass wool are fancy words for fiberglass.
Country of Origin: if a mattress is not made in America, there are chances that it contains fiberglass.
Inquire about Customer Service: Before buying any mattress, ask the company’s customer service about the fiberglass inside it.
Health Effects of Fiberglass
Although fiberglass in a mattress is usually due to fire retardant properties, it can create minimal adverse health implications if exposed. Illinois Department of Public Health declares that large size of fiberglass can have various health issues such as rash on the skin, red or irritable eyes, sore throat and nasal irritation, and stomach irritation. However, tiny fibers are more dangerous as they can form a lung layer leading to acute asthma or bronchitis.
Similarly, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has declared particular inhalable glass wool fiber as reasonably anticipated human carcinogens.
Pros & Cons of Fiberglass in Mattress?
Pros
- Fiberglass is highly effective in preventing a fire from happening or expanding on a mattress.
- It is a cheaper flame retardant solution, resulting in a low-price mattress.
Cons
- Highly dangerous to health
- Fiberglass spread is hard to clean
- Its exposure affects other things in a room apart from a mattress.
Why is Fiberglass Used in Mattresses?
All the mattresses are highly flammable, especially the one with a memory foam layer. It is vital to have any fire retardant to mitigate fire risk. As fiberglass is cheaper for a fire-resisting agent, most low to medium-size mattress companies use fiberglass in their mattresses.
Furthermore, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it mandatory for mattress makes to add any fire retardant in their mattresses to avoid or reduce fire risk.
Is There Fiberglass in Memory Foam Beds?
Mattress companies that use fiberglass as fire retardants will add this layer with a memory foam bed. However, not every memory foam bed or layer in a mattress needs to have a fiberglass fire retardant. Many mattress companies use other materials, such as silica or wool, to create a fire barrier.
Since fiberglass is cheap, mattress companies are tempted to add it as a fire retardant.
Fiberglass Contamination from Mattress
Getting fiberglass contamination to form a mattress is highly possible, especially if you don’t handle it with care. In most circumstances, removing the cover of a mattress with a fiberglass layer will expose these shiny little glass pieces. With a slight disturbance, these particles will spread throughout the room with the help of air. This spread is so lethal that it affects your bedroom and home. After that, you will need professional cleaners to clear the whole area.
Moreover, fiberglass contamination is also dangerous for your health. It can cause skin rashes, acute asthma, other respiratory infections, eye irritation, and stomach irritation.
Is Fiberglass in Mattresses Safe
Fiberglass in a mattress is more dangerous than it is valuable, so it is not safe to use fiberglass in a mattress. Since a mattress company cannot use fiberglass in isolation, they have to mix it with other chemicals to make a fire retardant, so the chemical in the mattress itself is not healthy for you to sleep on.
Another significant implication of fiberglass is its risk of contamination. If there is fiberglass contamination, it will not only destroy your bedroom but also spread in your entire home. Fiberglass exposure is dangerous for health.
What Does Fiberglass Look Like on Mattress?
Fiberglass is usually woven inside a mattress, only visible upon removing the cover. A fiberglass layer looks like a shiny white sheet that looks translucent and feels like a piece of fabric with plastic threads.
How to Get Rid of Fiberglass from Mattress
First, not buying a fiberglass fire retardant mattress is the perfect solution for getting rid of fiberglass.
However, if your mattress has fiberglass, then taking a few measures can reduce its impact:
- Get rid of your mattress and get a new one without fiberglass.
- If contamination occurs, use a lint roller to remove glass fibers from your mattress.
- Thoroughly vacuum your whole bedroom and the entire house. Use a HEPA filter to do an effective cleaning.
Conclusion
Adding fire retardants to mattresses is legally mandatory and safe for us. A fire retardant keeps your mattress from catching or spreading fire in case of an actual fire event. There are two types of fire retardants: chemical-based and organic-based.
Fiberglass is mainly mixed with chemicals, harming health and surroundings. Although fiberglass as a fire retardant is very effective, its exposure supersedes its benefit.
After reading this post, you will have more knowledge of fiberglass in mattresses and will now make a better decision for yourself when buying a new mattress.
Resources:
https://www.cpsc.gov/Business–Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Mattresses
https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/toxicology/hazardous-substances/fiberglass.html
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2011/june10/index.cfm
Fiberglass Mattress What you Need to Know FAQs
Is It OK to Have a Mattress with Fiberglass?
Most of the time, mattress companies mix fiberglass with other chemicals to make a robust fire retardant layer which is very effective against fire. However, fiberglass can create severe contamination if there is any damage to that mattress. This contamination has health implications which makes the mattress unsafe to use.
Therefore, it is always good to avoid a mattress with a fiberglass layer.