FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 9, 1988

            FTC CHARGES NEW YORK HOME INSULATION FIRM
                        VIOLATED FTC RULE

     The Federal Trade Commission has charged C-M Fiber, a home
insulation company, with overstating the insulating ability of
its product in violation of the FTC's R-value rule, in a com-
plaint filed in federal court.

     C-M Fiber and its owner, R. Eugene Crandall, are charged
with displaying R-values in labels and advertisements that were
not determined according to procedures required by the rule. 

     R-value in insulation is a measurement of resistance to heat
flow.  The FTC's R-value rule requires that R-values given in
labels, fact sheets, advertisements, and promotional materials
must be based on tests done under conditions  designed by the
American Society of Testing and Materials.

     The complaint also charges that the company sold home insu-
lation having an actual R-value more than 10 percent below the R-
value stataed in its labels and advertisements, which is a vio-
lation of the rule.

     The complaint was filed Sept. 8 in the U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of New York.  C-M Fiber is located in
Port Byron, N.Y.

     NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has "reason
to believe" that the law has been or is being violated, and it
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public
interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the de-
fendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided
by the court.

     Copies of the complaint will be available shortly from the
FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania
Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502
                             # # # 
MEDIA CONTACT:      Office of Public Affairs, 202-326-2180
STAFF CONTACT:      Kent Howerton, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
                    202-326-3013
(Civil No. 88 CV 950)
(FTC File No. 852-3117)
(CMFiber)