Backyard swimming pools create oases of relaxation for homeowners, but there’s a lot of work to get to that point. It starts during planning with basic design decisions and continues through the life of the pool with ongoing maintenance required to keep it serviceable and looking good. Read More
In a fire, the time available to building occupants to escape or be rescued makes the difference between life and death. Today, interior designers are seeking guidance for selecting those components of contract furniture that will be most protective of lives and property in commercial settings... Read More
Antimicrobials are protective agents registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that may be added to everyday products, including durable coated fabrics... Read More
The upholstery materials preferred for CDC-designated non-critical furniture applications in healthcare settings share certain characteristics. In addition to meeting physical and performance standards, being available in a broad palette... Read More
Effective January 1, 2015, furniture and toppers made of flexible polyurethane foam and upholstered or reupholstered furniture sold in California must comply with a new flammability standar... Read More
PU or PVC for Upholstery? Which coated fabric is the better choice for upholstery, polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? The answer likely depends on design goals and the intended ap... Read More
*Revised from March 2013 Version Proposition 65, the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to provide a “clear and reasonable” warning before... Read More
*Revised from March 2013 Version Phthalates are a class of plasticizers, some of which have been used for more than 80 years to soften or “plasticize” vinyl plastics in order to make them flexible... Read More
*Revised from July 2011 Version CFFA standards address product performance via testing that replicates anticipated conditions of normal usage. The tests measure both the strength of the coated fabric and also its ability... Read More
Fifty years of studies and monitoring have concluded that PVC, or vinyl, is being used safely in household, health care and building applications. Found in products of all kinds that meet ... Read More
FOCUS 3 is in review.
A plastic can resist fire in one of two ways. Fire-retarding chemicals may be added to the polymer to delay ignition or slow flame spread if ignition occurs. But in the case of vinyl produ... Read More
FOCUS 1 has been retired. Please see FOCUS 10 for the latest information on surface disinfection.