When export increasing mattress to US, China confront a "fireproofing wall ". If China enterprise can not break through this "fireproofing wall", China enterprise will be immersed in passivity in international competition even loose US market. A new act of US show it will actualize new federation fire retardant standard 16CFR-Partl633 which is a very strict fire retardant standard while all mattress sold to US should reach this standard.
It is not easy for major China mattress enterprises to pass this standard test, therefore, many US company and laboratory with this qualification have come to China to exploring big market actively by offering assistance to China enterprise.
It is known that by reporter that on January.1,2005, US California have established this"fireproofing wall" and implement this fire retardant standard that is more strict than TB-117. During the test, mattress is burned in the fire that is withdrawn until the mattress side being burned for 50seconds while the top of mattress being burned for 70 seconds. Within 30minuites after fire being withdrawn, the flame of mattress must wink by itself gradually.
According to TB-603. a mew federation act of US is carried out. It is anticipated that US will issue a new fire retardant standard-16 CFRPartl633, therefore, in the near future, the mattress sold to US must fit to the standard of TB-603 completely.
US new mattress fire retardant standard will bring a big ruffle. For China enterprise, it is an austere challenge as well as a great chance. US Security Inspection Laboratory think that the far-sighted enterprise can grasp this opportunity to seize the market share of the enterprises in Mexico, Vietnam and other countries who is waiting passively.
However, tt is known by reporter that major China enterprises have not grasped this opportunity currently except Zhejiang Ningbo Mengshen Mattress Co. . The statistic show that influenced by TB-603 new fireproof standard, China mattress is losing market share in the competition with Canada, Mexico and Vietnam. During January.1,2005 to March.17,2006, US California government took out a great number of mattress , the failure rate of import mattress reaching 55% while the one of China mattress is higher. Since October, 2000, US California government have cancel the qualification for 32 China enterprises distributing mattress and soft furnishings in California. The statistic show that the price for China mattress in US also dropped. In 2005, the average price of China mattress s $11.6, decreased by $1.2 compared with $12.8 in 2004. It is obviously that the influence of new fire-proof standard is fatal to China mattress.
The expert remind that the source of fireproof material can not offer TB-603 attestation while the inspection unit do not accept any requirement about examine and attestation of fire-proof material put forward by any material supplier but demand manufacturer and wholesalers offer the complete"finished product" of mattress and plead instead of any examination of sole fire-proof material.
It is a big chance for inland supplier of mattress material, but it is known by the reporter that there is not a China enterprise in the list of mattress accessory enterprises who pass the attestation of UL. Therefore, to China soft mattress enterprise and mattress accessory enterprise, US "fire-proof wall" is a big trial.
