The SOFFA Act is part of a bill that was passed by Congress in late 2020 that adopts the California flammability standard TB 117-2013 as the federal standard for upholstered furniture. In addition to meeting the requirements of TB 117-2013, the upholstered furniture must also be labeled according to the SOFFA Act.
SOFFA Act Applications at Via Seating
All Via Seating products manufactured with Via Seating in-stock fabrics meet the requirements of the SOFFA Act.
COM & SOFFA Act
COM fabrics are not guaranteed to be SOFFA Act compliant. Please contact the COM supplier directly to determine the flame-retardant nature of any COM supplied to Via Seating.
TB117-2013
What is TB117-2013?
TB 117-2013, the latest CAL-117 Tech Bulletin, is a flammability standard for upholstered furniture. It mandates that, beginning January 1, 2015, all filling materials (i.e. foam) in California must meet the smolder-resistant requirements of the TB 117-2013 Resilient Filling Material Test. These test methods are intended to estimate the performance of upholstered furniture under conditions of exposure to a smoldering cigarette and the flammability resistance of the inner materials.
TB117-2013 Application at Via Seating
All Via Seating product manufactured with Via Seating in-stock fabrics meet the requirements of California TB 117-2013.
COM & TB117-2013
COM fabrics are not guaranteed to pass TB 117-2013. Please contact the COM supplier directly to determine the flame-retardant nature of any COM supplied to Via Seating.
TB133
What is TB133?
Technical Bulletin 133 is a test procedure designed to test seating furniture subjected to ignition sources that may be typical of arson, incendiary fires, or common accidental fires in public buildings. Unlike TB 117-2013, TB-133 tests the entire chair. TB 133 has been repealed by California’s Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation, effective January 22, 2019.
A recent change to the Boston Fire Prevention Code removes the requirement for furniture to comply with California Technical Bulletin 133 (Cal TB 133) in a fully sprinklered buildings; however, if the assembly space is not sprinkler protected, compliance with CAL TB-133 is still required in the City of Boston.
TB133 Application at Via Seating
The chairs presented within this price book, unless otherwise specified, do not meet TB-133. Most Via Seating chair models can be prepared to meet the flame-retardant requirements of TB-133 and the Boston Fire Code. Via Seating does not add flame retardant chemicals to comply with TB-133, the fire resistance is accomplished by upholstering the chair with a naturally flame-retardant fabric barrier (i.e. Kevlar® or equivalent). Additionally, most plastic components (i.e. seat pan, back shell, shrouds, etc.) must be either removed or completely upholstered with a flame-retardant material.
Please note, any chair models specified to comply with TB-133 may not resemble what has been photographed and shown in marketing materials. Via Seating is not responsible for determining the requirement of TB-133 compliance. Check with your local building departments to determine if TB-133 is required on your order. To specify TB-133 on Via Seating chairs, please refer to the optional add-on found by series’ pricing pages within this price book, when applicable. compliance. Check with your local building departments to determine if TB-133 is required on your order. To specify TB-133 on Via Seating chairs, please refer to the optional add-on found by series’ pricing pages within this price book, when applicable.
COM & TB133
Additional COM/COL is required for TB-133. Please send in COM/COL requirements for seat/back cushions and the back shell.
