| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| July 12, 1978 | |
| Release # 78-062 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 12 ) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced plans to enforce an interim standard that will address the flammability and corrosiveness of cellulose insulation.
The "Emergency Interim Consumer Product Safety Rule Act of 1978," signed into law by President Carter requires CPSC to issue an interim safety standard for cellulose insulation.
The standard, which will soon be issued by CPSC, should enable consumers to buy cellulose insulation during this Fall's heavy demand period with assurance that the products meet minimum Federal safety requirements.
The new CPSC standard employs a test to measure flame spread from a U.S. General Services Administration specification (HH-I-515C) used to procure insulation for the Federal Government. When the standard becomes effective 60 days from now, cellulose insulation must be able to pass this test when placed in a 25-foot Steiner tunnel and ignited. If the flames spread too far within a certain time, the insulation cannot legally be sold.
The Act requires all containers of cellulose insulation to be conspicuously labeled: "Attention: This material meets the applicable minimum Federal flammability standard. This standard is based upon laboratory tests only, which do not represent actual conditions which may occur in the home."
In addition the Commission's staff is also preparing a rule that would require manufacturers to provide consumers with information concerning proper installation.
The standard also prohibits sale of cellulose insulation that does not pass a corrosiveness test in the GSA specification. Some chemical treatments used to reduce the flammability of cellulose insulation, such as large amounts of sulfates, can corrode metal and may undermine the structural integrity of a building.
The Act requires the Commission to incorporate into the interim standard GSA revisions to the flammability and corrosion provisions of the GSA specification, unless the Commission finds that these revisions are not necessary to protect consumers or that these revisions will create an undue burden. Since GSA has recently issued HH-I-515D, a revision to HH- I-515C, the process of amending the interim standard has also begun. The Act also allows the Commission to issue a final standard if the interim standard does not provide adequate protection.
Enforcement of the standard will begin in early September with CPSC inspection of more than 200 cellulose manufacturers over the next year to check compliance with the standard and to collect samples for flammability and corrosiveness testing. CPSC's staff is preparing an enforcement strategy. A detailed statement on that strategy is due to Congress 45 days from today, followed in six months by test results of samples of cellulose insulation made by at least 25 manufacturers, and in another six months by test results of samples from at least 50 different cellulose manufacturers.
Violations of the standard could bring civil penalties up to $2,000 per count with a maximum $500,000 fine, or criminal penalties up to $50,000 or one year in jail or both.
To instruct cellulose manufacturers, consumers, and other interested parties about the new Federal requirements, CPSC has scheduled meetings in large cities from coast to coast. The meetings will be held in: Chicago, Aug. 22; Seattle, Aug. 29; San Francisco, Aug. 30; Los Angeles, Aug. 31; Boston, Sept. 6; New York City, Sept. 7; Pittsburgh, Sept. 8; Kansas City, Sept. 20; Atlanta, Sept. 21; Salt Lake City, Sept. 26; Twin Cities (Minneapolis- St. Paul), Sept. 27; and Cleveland, Sept. 28.
A "Fact Sheet /,91: Home Insulation Safety" is available as an aid to consumers who are insulating or reinsulating their dwellings. Copies can be obtained free-of-charge by writing: Home Insulation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207. Consumers with questions about the new safety standard are urged to call CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772.