What is Fire Retardant Carpet?

Fire retardant carpet is carpet that has been treated with a fire retardant chemical. Treatment of carpet can occur at the manufacturer, upon installation, or the treatment can be applied to the carpet by a homeowner after the carpet has been installed. Fire retardant carpet is typically treated with the same fire retardant chemical used to treat mattresses. Boric acid and boric anhydride are chemicals considered to be the cheapest and most widely used, though there is controversy regarding their toxicity to humans. People of a safety conscious mind may want fire retardant carpet in their homes to minimize destruction in the event of a fire. While there is some evidence that treated carpet, as well as other treated upholstery, can slow the spread of fire, there is no evidence it is a safety precaution of such magnitude as to save money on your homeowner’s insurance the way fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and deadbolt locks can. On the other hand, many people prefer to avoid the ...  more