What Does CPSC 16 CFR 1631 Compliant Mean

Federal Law Requirements

Federal law requires that carpets and rugs comply with flammability standards and other requirements, including the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (cpsia).

Manufacturers and importers of carpets for general use must certify in a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) that the carpets comply with applicable standards after being tested or subjected to a reasonable testing program and/or are properly labeled in accordance with the standards.

Manufacturers and importers of carpets primarily designed or intended for children aged 12 or younger must certify in a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) that the carpets comply with applicable standards, including additional requirements after testing by a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory.

What Is a Carpet or Rug?

1. Large Carpet/Rug: A finished fabric or related product intended for use as a floor covering, measuring more than 6 feet in length and over 24 square feet in area. This includes “carpet squares” intended for installation that exceed those dimensions. It does notinclude resilient floor coverings such as linoleum or vinyl tile.

2. Small Carpet/Rug: Meets the same definition, but does not exceed 6 feet in length or 24 square feet in area.

Purpose of Carpet Standards

These standards reduce the risk of deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by carpet ignition. They establish a test to determine the surface flammability of carpets and rugs when exposed to small ignition sources.

Applicable Standards

- 16 cfr 1630: Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs

- 16 CFR 1631: Standard for the Surface Flammability of Small Carpets and Rugs

Requirements for Carpets

All carpets manufactured, imported, or sold in the U.S. must meet the flammability acceptance criteria in the standards.

Small carpets that fail may still be manufactured, imported, or sold in the U.S., but must bear a permanent label stating:

FLAMMABLE (FAILS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STANDARD FF 2-70): SHOULD NOT BE USED NEAR SOURCES OF IGNITION

Surface Flammability Test

- Eight 9 × 9-inch conditioned specimens are exposed to a timed methenamine tablet in a specified test chamber.

- Testing apparatus and materials are specified in 16 CFR §§ 1630.4(a) and 1631.4(a).

- A specimen passes if the charred area does not extend within 1 inch of the test frame hole.

- Acceptance Criteria: At least 7 out of 8 specimens must meet the passing requirement.

Labeling Requirements

- Carpets treated with flame retardants or made from flame-retardant fibers must be labeled with the letter “T.”

- In commercial installations, the “T” must also appear clearly on invoices or related documents.

- Noncomplying small carpets must bear the permanent flammability warning label above.

Special Requirements for Certain Carpets

- Carpets treated with flame retardants or made of flame-retardant materials must undergo 10 washings as specified.

- Large carpets containing alumina trihydrate in adhesive/foam/latex backing are temporarily exempt from washing.

- Sheepskin, hair-on-hide, or wool fleece rugs without synthetic fibers may follow alternative washing procedures in 16 CFR §§ 1630.61/1631.61 and must carry the corresponding permanent labels.

- Wool flokati rugs may follow alternative procedures in 16 CFR §§ 1630.62/1631.62 and must also bear the corresponding labels.

Warranty Requirements for Retailers/Distributors

- Reasonable, representative testing is required before issuing a guaranty.

- Each style/line of carpet must be tested at least once per 25,000 linear yards produced/imported/received, and once per additional 50,000 yards.

- Records supporting the guaranty must be maintained as specified in 16 CFR §§ 1630.31(g)/1631.31(g).

Additional cpsia requirements for Children’s Carpets

Carpets primarily intended for children 12 and under must also comply with CPSIA requirements, including:

1. Surface Coating Limit: No paint with lead content above 0.009% (90 ppm).

2. Lead Content Limit: Accessible parts must contain no more than 100 ppm (0.01%) total lead.

3. Testing & Certification:

 - General-use carpets for adults/children over 12 require a GCC.

 - Children’s carpets (12 and under) must be tested by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab, with a CPCissued by the domestic manufacturer/importer.

4. Tracking Labels: Children’s carpets must bear permanent distinguishing marks (on product and packaging) with required information such as manufacturer, production date, and batch/lot details.