Flame retardants
Chemicals added to foam, fabric and electronics to slow ignition. They migrate out of the product into household dust rather than staying in it, and several classes accumulate in the body. Many were added to meet a flammability standard that has since been revised.
Definition and health context from NIEHS.
We checked 3,681 products and found flame retardants reported or likely in 15 of them.
Where flame retardants turns up
Categories we grade, worst first, as a share of what we scored in each.
| Category | Flagged | Scored | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couches | 16 | 20 | 80% |
| Office Chairs | 7 | 15 | 47% |
| Carpet | 16 | 39 | 41% |
| Mattresses | 5 | 15 | 33% |
| Artificial Turf | 5 | 30 | 17% |
| Curtains | 2 | 15 | 13% |
| Area Rugs | 1 | 15 | 7% |
| Insulated Travel Mugs | 1 | 15 | 7% |
| Tents | 1 | 20 | 5% |
| Yoga Mats | 1 | 24 | 4% |
| Cycling Jackets | 1 | 28 | 4% |
| Ski Jackets | 1 | 32 | 3% |
Where we found real evidence
Reported or likely, lowest scoring first. Not plausibility.
Polyester tents typically require flame-retardant finishes to meet US flammability standards. Ozark Trail does not disclose whether they use brominated, chlorinated, or phosphorus-based systems. Halogenated FRs can accumulate in indoor air and dust if coating
Storm-FIT DWR is not publicly disclosed as PFAS-free. Most polyester athletic apparel DWR finishes remain fluorinated; degradation or wash-out may release these compounds over the jacket's lifetime.
Sofa foam must meet flammability standards (16 CFR 1633 in the US); formulations are not disclosed by Bob's Discount Furniture. Brominated or organophosphate flame retardants are standard in budget upholstered furniture, and some (polybrominated diphenyl ether
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1633) require flame retardants in upholstered seating. Macy's does not specify which class is used in the Radley 86. Older brominated formulations (decabromodiphenyl ether, TDBPP) carry neurodevelopmental and thyroid
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1633/1634) require most sofas to meet ignition resistance; Macy's does not disclose whether brominated compounds, organophosphates, or other additives are used. Polyester blends often receive chemical flame retardant
Polyurethane foam in upholstered sofas commonly contains brominated or phosphorus-based flame retardants to meet flammability codes. These are not always disclosed by retailers. While regulatory limits apply, off-gassing and dermal contact over years of use re
- Stainmaster STAINMASTER 8-in x 8-in Impassioned II 68.3-oz sq yard Polyester Textured Indoor Carpet30likely
Polyester residential carpets typically receive flame-retardant treatment to meet fire codes; Stainmaster does not specify which chemistry is used. Brominated retardants and some phosphate compounds have been linked to developmental effects in animal studies,
Synthetic carpet tiles in residential use are often treated with flame retardants to meet flammability codes. These chemicals can off-gas over weeks and are not disclosed on product labels. Long-term inhalation exposure is a concern in enclosed spaces.
Budget upholstered furniture almost universally includes flame retardant-treated polyurethane or polyester foam to meet flammability codes. Brominated or chlorinated phosphate compounds are typical; long-term leaching risk is low under normal conditions, but d
Modern upholstered sofas almost universally contain flame retardants applied to polyester or blended fabrics to meet flammability standards. AllModern does not disclose which class (halogenated, phosphorus, non-halogenated) or concentration is used in the Rae
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1632/1633) require flame-barrier compliance; polyester upholstery typically achieves this via chemical flame retardant additives or topical treatments, not inherent fiber properties. AllModern does not disclose which
US federal flammability regulations (16 CFR 1633) require furniture to meet smolder resistance; Crate and Barrel likely uses chemical flame retardants in the fabric backing or batting. Specific chemistry (brominated, chlorinated, or phosphate-based) is not dis
What to buy instead
Highest scoring products with no flag for it, in the categories where it is worst.
Common questions
What is flame retardants?
Chemicals added to foam, fabric and electronics to slow ignition. They migrate out of the product into household dust rather than staying in it, and several classes accumulate in the body. Many were added to meet a flammability standard that has since been revised.
Which products contain flame retardants?
Of the 3,681 products we have graded, 57 are flagged for it and 15 on reported or likely evidence rather than plausibility. Upholstered Furniture is the worst category at 80% of what we scored there.
Is flame retardants in upholstered furniture?
More than in anything else we grade. 16 of the 20 upholstered furniture we scored carry a flag for it, which is 80%. The full breakdown per product is on each product page.
What can I buy instead?
In the categories where it turns up most, the highest scoring products with no flag for it are Avocado Avocado Organic Hybrid Mattress at 100, Avocado Avocado Organic Wool Mattress at 100, Avocado Avocado Vegan Mattress at 100. Every one of those was graded on the same rubric as the products above.
How do you know?
We do not lab test. Every grade here is built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third party lab results where those already exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so, and where a brand publishes nothing we score the silence rather than guessing.
2% of everything we grade carries a flag for flame retardants. See every hazard we track or browse the full products list.