New legislation (AB 97) was introduced this week in Nevada to regulate both flame retardants and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill would limit the use of organohalogenated FRs (OFRs) to 1,000 PPM per component in a mattress and several other consumer products. Nevertheless, the bill exempts from this requirement mattresses subject to federal flammability standards. Since all residential mattresses sold in the United States must meet 16 CFR Parts 1632 and 1633, the OFR limits do not appear to pose problems for mattress manufacturers.
The PFAS provisions of this bill would require companies in the state that use and store PFAS to register with the state and meet requirements for capturing and disposing of the chemical. (Textiles can be treated with PFAS to make the material water resistant.) In addition, the bill would prohibit the use of PFAS in class B firefighting foam and require the state to set maximum PFAS contaminant levels for drinking and surface water.
ISPA will continue to monitor this legislation carefully.