WASHINGTON — Furniture trucks will have to bear orange “hazardous materials” signs if the National Assn. of State Fire Marshals has its way.


The group has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation to classify polyurethane foam and some products containing it — such as furniture and mattresses — as a hazardous material because it is flammable and can give off toxic gases when burned.

Warning signs on trucks would protect first responders to a fire, the fire marshals said.

In its petition, the association said polyurethane foam is listed and controlled as a hazardous material in manufacturing and consumer applications. “Ironically, when the risks are least manageable – in transportation – (polyurethane) foam is not officially considered hazardous. This petition aims to correct this inadvertent oversight,” it said.

The petition also mentions the American Home Furnishings Alliance in discussing accidents that may involve fires: “NASFM is especially interested in incidents that may involve the GMC Savana cargo van that is recommended for furniture deliveries by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, yet has been the subject of two DOT supervised recalls because of potential fire hazards related to defective brakes and electrical components.”

Andy Counts, CEO of the AHFA, told Furniture|Today that the AHFA is looking at the petition but did not have an official response yet.  Although, he said that “AHFA has never recommended the use of a particular truck for delivering furniture.  I have no idea where they got that information, but it is false.”.