David Perry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Components major Leggett & Platt and The Felters Group are set to jointly manufacture and distribute fire-resistant bedding barrier products.

The new strategic alliance made its first showing at the recent International Sleep Products Assn. Expo in San Antonio, where Felters was an exhibitor, showing the jointly developed L&P products as well as its own.

“Felters’ capabilities in chemistry, product development and manufacturing processes are an ideal complement to L&P’s sales, manufacturing and distribution systems,” said Don Van Compernolle, president of L&P’s Fiber Division.

John Burns, vice president and fire-retardant program manager at Felters, said, “Felters has always been concerned with consumer safety in a variety of industries, and these products bring the best of that technology to the bedding industry. The purpose of these products is not to inhibit the fire but actually to extinguish it.”

Felters, based in South Carolina, developed its Sleep-Safe chemistries with its development partner, Synalloy Corp.

L&P will market the products under the Sleep-Safe High Loft and Sleep-Safe Duplex names. Both products can be used as a top panel or a border, and consist of safe, flexible FR fibers designed to eliminate a foam layer in the mattress, according to the companies.

They said their FR solutions are “non-irritating to the skin, safe to the environment and a true value.” The Sleep-Safe family of chemistries can be applied topically to a variety of fabrics and products, or embedded in latex, foams or urethane products.

The companies said that accelerated aging tests allow producers “to warrant the flame-retardant qualities for 12 years without sacrificing a luxurious, comfortable sleep surface.”

Felters’ own Sleep-Safe products include:

* Sleep-Safe Knit Fabric, to be used just below the ticking or to replace conventional quilt backing materials.

* Sleep-Safe Slip Sheet Fabric, to be used as an exterior, non-skid surface on single-sided beds, or on the top of foundations with continental-style edging.

* Sleep-Safe cotton and polyester woven ticking, which can satisfy California’s open-flame mattress standard, the companies said.

All of the Sleep-Safe barrier products are tested by independent lab facilities to meet or exceed all state and federal regulations, the companies said. The FR products do not use bromines or fiberglass, and are safe for the environment, Felters and L&P said.

New FR product applications are in development, including a four-way stretch product for visco beds, the two companies said.