The law tag on a mattress refers to a label required by law that contains important information about the mattress. This label provides details on the materials used, the company that manufactured the mattress, whether it meets flammability standards, and other specifics. Understanding what the law tag means can help consumers make informed decisions when mattress shopping and ensure they choose a safe, high-quality product.
Page Contents
- 1 What is the Purpose of the Law Tag?
- 2 What Information is on the Law Tag?
- 3 Are there Different Types of Law Tags?
- 4 Where is the Law Tag Located?
- 5 Why are Law Tags Required?
- 6 What is on a Typical Mattress Law Tag?
- 7 Do All Mattresses have Law Tags?
- 8 What Should You Do if a Mattress Law Tag is Missing or Altered?
- 9 Can you Remove a Mattress Law Tag?
- 10 Can a Mattress Law Tag be Reattached?
- 11 What Should You Do With the Law Tag if Disposing of a Mattress?
- 12 In Conclusion
What is the Purpose of the Law Tag?
The law tag on a mattress serves several important purposes:
- Provides information on materials – The tag lists the materials used inside the mattress, such as foam, cotton, polyester, etc. This helps buyers understand what they are purchasing.
- Identifies the manufacturer – The law tag states the name and location of the company that made the mattress. This provides a way to research or contact the manufacturer.
- Shows compliance with regulations – The tag confirms that the mattress meets standards for flammability and other regulations. Mattresses sold in the U.S. must comply with federal flammability standard 16 CFR 1633.
- Aids product identification – The tag includes identifying information like the model name/number, date of manufacture, and other details to help identify the exact product.
- Provides care instructions – The tag often includes directions for properly caring for the mattress, such as whether it can be flipped or rotated.
In summary, the mattress law tag gives consumers valuable information to guide their purchasing choice, ensures safety standards are met, and assists with ongoing product care. The tag is required by law to provide this important transparency.
What Information is on the Law Tag?
While the exact details on a mattress law tag can vary slightly between manufacturers, there are certain elements that are mandated by law. Here are some of the key pieces of information found on mattress law tags:
Manufacturer Name and Address
The company name, city, and state are provided so the manufacturer can be identified and contacted if needed. For example:
ACME Mattress Company
123 Main St.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Product Name and Description
The mattress model name, model number, and a brief description of the type of mattress are included. This helps distinguish specific products. For example:
Luxury Plush Euro Pillowtop
Model No. 53422
Materials Used
The materials inside the mattress must be listed, typically as a percentage breakdown by weight. Common materials include polyurethane foam, cotton, rayon, polyester fiber, etc. For example:
Materials:
20% Polyurethane Foam
15% Cotton
10% Polyester Fiber
5% Rayon
Date of Manufacture
The month and year the mattress was made must be stated on the tag. This helps identify the age of the mattress. For example:
Date of Manufacture: March 2022
Flammability Compliance
The tag must confirm the mattress meets federal and state flammability standards. Standard phrasing includes:
“This mattress meets the flammability requirements of 16 CFR 1633 and [state] regulations.”
Size
The dimensions of the mattress are provided, such as Twin, Full, Queen, King, etc. The actual length x width may also be listed.
Country of Origin
The country where the mattress was manufactured is stated, such as “Made in USA” or “Made in Canada.”
Certification Numbers
Unique identification numbers are assigned and included to confirm compliance with flammability testing.
Care Instructions
Directions for mattress care and cleaning approved by the manufacturer are often provided. This covers recommendations for rotating, flipping, spot cleaning methods, etc.
Are there Different Types of Law Tags?
There are a few main varieties of mattress law tags:
Permanent Tags
Most mattress tags are designed to remain on the product permanently. The typical white fabric tag is sewn into a seam or corner of the mattress cover. This tag stays intact for the life of the mattress.
Temporary Tags
Some temporary tags may be used at the time of purchase or during shipping before being removed. These often provide consumer information but are not intended to remain permanently affixed.
Hybrid Tags
Some mattresses have a combination of both permanent and temporary tags. For example, a temporary paper tag may list customer care instructions, while the permanent tag has the legally mandated details.
Where is the Law Tag Located?
The federal labeling law requires that the tag must be attached so it can be easily accessed by the consumer. For this reason, mattress law tags are typically sewn into a corner seam or side panel of the mattress cover.
Depending on the mattress style and construction, common tag locations include:
- On the bottom edge of the mattress near the foot of the bed
- Along one of the side panels against the mattress edge
- On one of the corners on the underside of the mattress
This consistent placement makes the law tag easy to find when flipping or rotating the mattress. The color and materials used also help it stand out from the mattress fabric.
Why are Law Tags Required?
Mattress law tags have been required in the United States since the early 1970s when the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) set labeling regulations. The original impetus was concerns around highly flammable bedding materials used at the time.
Law tags were mandated to:
- Create fire safety transparency – Listing materials used and confirming flammability standards helps ensure fire-safe products.
- Identify the manufacturer – Provides a way to contact the maker if issues arise with legal compliance, product quality, safety, etc.
- Prevent mislabeling – Deterring companies from making false claims about materials, compliance, etc.
- Aid recalls – If a safety recall is needed, tags help owners identify recalled products.
- Inform consumers – Allows buyers to make knowledgeable purchasing decisions.
These important reasons led to federal labeling regulations for bedding including mattress law tags. Some states also have additional labeling laws. Tags empower consumers and regulators to understand exactly what is inside a mattress.
What is on a Typical Mattress Law Tag?
Here is an example of what a typical mattress law tag looks like and the kind of information it contains:
| Manufacturer: | ABC Mattress Co., Atlanta, GA |
| Model: | Luxury Plush Eurotop |
| Materials: | 15% Polyurethane Foam, 20% Polyester Fiber, 10% Rayon, 5% Cotton |
| Flammability: | This mattress meets 16 CFR 1633 and CA Flammability Standard |
| Made: | March 2022 |
| Size: | Queen 60″ x 80″ |
| Country of Origin: | USA |
| Certification ID: | AB1234-5, AB1236-7 |
This provides all the legally required details in an easy-to-find format for the consumer. The tag is typically sewn into the bottom edge or side seam of the mattress.
Do All Mattresses have Law Tags?
By law, all new mattresses manufactured or sold in the United States are required to have permanent attachment law tags. These tags have been mandatory for all bedding materials since the 1970 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. There are a few exceptions:
- Used or secondhand mattresses are not required to have original law tags after initial sale.
- Antique mattresses made prior to law tag requirements may not have tags.
- Imported mattresses not originally sold in the US may lack tags.
- Some custom, handmade, or DIY mattresses could forgo law tags.
But in general, new, factory-produced mattresses sold commercially in the US will all have federally mandated permanent law tags to provide consumers with product details and safety information. Checking for this tag is an important part of the mattress buying process.
What Should You Do if a Mattress Law Tag is Missing or Altered?
It is very rare for a new mattress sold in a US retail store to be missing a law tag. But if you do discover a mattress for sale without a proper law tag, or with a tag that seems forged or modified, there could be cause for concern. Some steps to take include:
- Inspect carefully – Examine seams and edges to make sure tag did not just get torn off or fall off from use after purchase.
- Ask the retailer – Inquire with the store about the missing or modified tag.
- Contact manufacturer – With model details, contact maker to verify if mattress should have tag.
- Check regulations – Consult federal and state mattress labeling laws for requirements.
- Consider return – A missing law tag may justify cancelling purchase and returning mattress.
- Report issue – Can notify consumer protection agency if evidence of unlawful sale.
While an absent tag does not automatically mean there is a safety issue, consumers should still exercise caution when encountering mattresses without proper labeling. Contact the retailer and manufacturer promptly to determine if sale regulations are being violated.
Can you Remove a Mattress Law Tag?
Mattress law tags are intended to remain permanently affixed to the product, and consumers generally should not remove them. However, there are no laws prohibiting a person from detaching the tag after purchasing the mattress for personal use. You are unlikely to face legal penalties for simply removing a tag from your own mattress in your home.
With that said, there are some important downsides to removing a mattress law tag:
- Difficulty verifying date of purchase, return policies, or warranty claims
- Reduced ability to identify mattress details needed for replacements or exchanges
- Harder to check materials and confirm safety compliance
- Can’t reference manufacturer or model if issues arise years later
- Potential problems if trying to re-sell or donate mattress without tag
Overall, the permanent mattress label provides useful information throughout the life of the product. Consumers may want to reconsider removing it even after purchase. But removing your own tag is generally not prohibited like it would be for a retailer or manufacturer.
Can a Mattress Law Tag be Reattached?
If you realize the importance of the mattress law tag after removing it, reattaching the tag is typically an option. This is generally easiest to accomplish on sewn-in fabric tags:
- Use strong upholstery thread and needle
- Sew tag back into corner seam or side panel as originally installed
- Attach very securely to avoid re-detaching
- Take care not to damage law tag contents
For paper or adhesive tags, reaffixing can be trickier. Stapling or gluing the tag risks damage if it detaches again. Instead, you can laminate the tag then securely sew the plastic pouch to the mattress edge.
If the original tag is damaged or lost, contact the manufacturer for advice. They may be able to provide a replacement tag with the mandatory information. Note that the mattress may be harder to accurately identify and validate without the original tag.
What Should You Do With the Law Tag if Disposing of a Mattress?
When disposing of an old mattress, you need to determine the best course of action for the attached law tag:
- Donating – Leave tag intact if donating to help new owner identify mattress.
- Private sale – Keep tag on mattress when selling to document details for new owner.
- Recycling – No need to remove tag if mattress will be dismantled and recycled.
- Curbside pickup – Check local ordinances, but typically no need to detatch tag.
- Landfill disposal – Recommended to cross out personal information but leave tag on.
- Destroying mattress – Must remove and destroy tag along with mattress so info is not misused.
In most cases, the law tag can be left as-is if the mattress will be reused or destroyed responsibly. Only remove the tag if you plan to render the mattress completely unusable. When in doubt, check your local regulations on mattress disposal and tagging.
In Conclusion
The mattress law tag is an important piece of labeling legally mandated to provide consumers with valuable information on materials, safety standards, and more. Take time to carefully inspect this tag when shopping for a new mattress and keep it intact once purchased for reference. While you can technically remove your own tag after purchase, doing so means losing a useful identifier and product guide. If buying or disposing of a mattress missing a law tag, exercise caution and check that no unlawful labeling violations occurred. Use the information on the mattress law tag as an aid, not an obstacle, for making wise purchasing choices.