Mattresses, Futons and Bedding

Fires causing death, injury and property damage can occur if a mattress, futon, or bedding comes into contact with a burning cigarette, portable heater, or an open flame source such as a candle, a lighter or matches.

Health Canada has set fire safety standards that require mattresses and futons to resist catching on fire from a smouldering cigarette. Bedding that does not meet strict flammability standards is not allowed to be sold in Canada. Even though this improves safety, these standards do not make your mattresses, futons and bedding fireproof.

To prevent bed fires, Health Canada recommends that you:

• do not smoke in bed
• keep burning candles and portable heaters away from bedding and anything else that can ignite
• keep matches, lighters, and burning candles out of the reach of children

You can read more about mattresses, futons and bedding below:

•  Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
• Canadian Standard to Address Open Flame Ignition of Mattresses
•  Hazardous Products (Mattresses) Regulations
• Industry Guide to Futon Flammability Requirements in Canada
• Canada Consumer Product Safety Act Quick Reference Guide
• Test method for evaluating mattresses for combustion resistance by the cigarette smouldering test