What Is California TB 117-2013?
The flammability standard you’ll see on nearly every commercial furniture spec, explained — what it tests, what it covers, and how to document it.
The short definition
California Technical Bulletin 117-2013 (TB 117-2013) is a flammability standard for upholstered furniture that tests the smolder resistance of its components — cover fabrics, filling materials, and barriers. It replaced the earlier open-flame version of TB 117 with a cigarette-style smolder test, which most manufacturers meet without added chemical flame retardants.
What it covers
The standard applies to the materials in an upholstered seat: the cover, the foam and fills, and any barrier layers. It is a component smolder-resistance test — a measure of how those materials resist ignition from a smoldering source — not a rating of the finished frame or a durability spec. It began as a California standard, and since June 25, 2021 the same test method has applied nationwide: the Consumer Product Safety Commission adopted it as the federal flammability standard for upholstered furniture under 16 CFR Part 1640.
Why procurement asks for it
Specifiers and procurement teams list TB 117-2013 on submittals because many commercial projects — restaurants, hotels, casinos, and multifamily amenity spaces — require documented flammability compliance for the furniture they install. Naming the standard on a spec is how a buyer confirms the seating meets a recognized baseline and closes out their compliance file.
How Trend handles it
Trend’s foams and fills meet California TB 117-2013, on hardwood frames engineered for round-the-clock commercial use, and we provide compliance and construction details for your submittals. Because every piece is built to order, fills and materials are specified per project at shop-drawing stage — so if your project carries an additional requirement, tell us on your quote request and we’ll address it before anything is cut.
Speccing for compliance?
Send your spec and we’ll confirm TB 117-2013 details for your submittal — with a firm quote in about two business days.
Request a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
What does TB 117-2013 test?
The smolder resistance of an upholstered piece’s components — cover fabric, filling materials, and barriers — using a cigarette-style smolder test rather than an open flame.
Is TB 117-2013 required outside California?
Yes. It began as a California standard, but since June 25, 2021 the same test method has applied nationwide as the federal flammability standard for upholstered furniture, adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under 16 CFR Part 1640. What still varies by project is the documentation your spec, jurisdiction, and occupancy call for.
Does TB 117-2013 mean the furniture has flame retardants?
Not necessarily — the 2013 smolder test can typically be met without added chemical flame retardants, one reason it replaced the earlier open-flame version.
Does Trend furniture meet TB 117-2013?
Yes — Trend’s foams and fills meet California TB 117-2013, on hardwood contract-grade frames, and we provide compliance details for your submittals.
What if my project requires another standard?
Tell us the requirement on your quote request. Because every piece is built to order, the spec is confirmed at shop-drawing stage before anything is cut.