Fiberglass is a composite material that is made from reinforced plastic using glass fibers and synthetic chemicals. Fiberglass is flexible, low-cost, and extremely durable. This is why it is used in many industries to make a variety of products. Many manufacturers use fiberglass in their mattresses.
You wouldn’t expect fiberglass to be found in a mattress. It’s an inexpensive way to comply with industry fire regulations while still being able to sleep in your comfortable, flammable bed. Memory foam mattresses are particularly vulnerable to fire damage and fiberglass is common.
What is the role of fiberglass as a flame retardant agent? Fiberglass acts as a temperature insulator, a thermal barrier, and a protective layer. If your mattress is set on fire, it will melt rather than burn freely. It slows down the spread and heat of the fire, so it takes longer for the flames from your mattress to reach the combustible material.
It sounds like a great idea, right? But, not so fast.
The Dangers Of Fiberglass Mattresses
The fiberglass is usually woven into mattresses by manufacturers, either underneath or directly into the inner cover. This keeps the fiberglass out of sight and out of mind. Mattresses with fiberglass can trigger inflammatory reactions in children and adults.
You’ve probably touched fiberglass insulation that looks like cotton candy before and you know how itchy it can make your skin. Your mattress cover can become damaged or removed, irritate your eyes, cause irritation, and worsen your asthma symptoms if it is inhaled. The tiny fibers can reach the lower lobes, increasing the risk of serious and adverse health effects.If you are interested in queen mattresses head over to Sleep Republic
Worst, fiberglass can be difficult to remove once it has escaped your best queen size mattress. It can spread all over your home, including your carpet, furniture, clothes, and even your carpet. It is like dust that settles everywhere, except it is made up of tiny pieces of glass. Fiberglass is expensive and difficult to clean up. Depending on the severity of the problem, the cost to remove fiberglass fibers from your house can run into the thousands or even tens of thousands.
Even though fiberglass can be used as a flame retardant in mattresses, it is not worth the financial and health risks, especially when there are safer materials.
How To Find Fiberglass In A Mattress Shop?
It’s almost impossible to see fiberglass in a mattress because it is woven into its fabric. To help you identify fiberglass in a mattress, you can check the reviews, product descriptions, and labels.
The Biggest Red Flags
Very Low Costs: Mattresses as low as $400 are more likely than others to contain fiberglass and other potentially dangerous materials. This is to reduce the cost.
Labels “Made In China”: While China’s manufacturing industry offers many benefits to companies, it can also come at the cost of consumers’ health because of its stricter regulations.
Terms Of Greenwashing: Mattress companies may use terms such as “silica,” glass fiber, or “glass wool” to mislead their customers into believing that their mattresses do not contain fiberglass. This is especially common with polyfoam and all-foam mattresses.
Polyfoam: Based memory foam: While real memory foam can be quite expensive, some mattress manufacturers use polyfoam which may include fiberglass or other low-quality materials to advertise their memory foam.
The Label Warns You Not To Remove The Cover: If a mattress tag says “Do Not Remove the Cover”, it is almost certain that this is because it would expose the fiberglass layer beneath.
You can also check for certifications that the mattress’s materials are safe for your health. It’s a good rule of thumb to limit your search to the best mattress without fiberglass made from organic or eco-friendly materials. These mattresses are usually free of VOCs and chemicals.
