Section 25-H100. MATTRESSES

 

100.1Each person, firm, or corporation in the District who manufactures, renovates, or deals in mattresses shall register with the Department the following information:

 

(a)The name of the person, firm, or corporation; and

 

(b)The location of the establishment where the mattresses are manufactured, renovated, stored, or offered for sale.

 

100.2For the purposes of this section, "mattress" shall mean any quilt, comfort, pad, pillow, cushion, or bag stuffed with hair, down, feather, wool, cotton, excelsior, jute, or any other soft material; and designed for use for sleeping or for reclining purposes.

 

100.3All materials used, or intended to be used, in the manufacture or renovation of mattresses, shall be kept in a clean place at all times.

 

100.4Finished mattresses intended for sale, gift, or exchange shall be kept from dampness and dirt.

 

100.5Each mattress, whether new or renovated, in the possession of any person in the District for sale, exchange, gift, or delivery from a sale, shall have a tag or label attached to it that is required by D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. §§ 8-501 through 8-508.

 

100.6The tag or label required in §112.6 shall be made of muslin, linen, or other material of like durability, and shall contain information about the material and the process used in the manufacture of the mattress as required by the Act.

 

100.7The tags or labels required by D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. §8-503, shall be used as follows:

 

(a)Four (4) white tags or labels, printed in black ink, for mattresses made of "all new material";

 

(b)A white tag or label printed in red ink, for mattresses that have been renovated or that have been made of "secondhand material" or "new and secondhand materials."

 

100.8Before the tags or labels required in §§112.5 through 112.7 are used, a copy of the proposed tag or label shall be submitted to the Department for approval.

 

100.9Applications for approval of sterilizing and disinfecting processes shall be made to the Director, and shall be accompanied with plans of the apparatus or device which set forth the processes to be used.

 

100.10No method or process of sterilization or disinfection shall be used until approved by the Director.

 

100.11All tags or labels required by D.C. Code, 2001 Ed.§§ 8-501 through 8-508, shall describe in plain, legible type in English, the kind of materials used in the manufacture or renovation of the mattress to which it is attached, as follows:

 

(a)If labeled as "felt," it shall consist wholly of felted cotton of the same grade of filling throughout;

 

(b)If "kapok," the filler shall be of "kapok" from the kapok tree, and shall be designated by no other name;

 

(c)If made from any filler of shredded wood, the mattress shall be labeled "excelsior," and shall name the kind of material used for topping;

 

(d)The term "combination" shall not be used unless the materials are named, and the proportion of each is given;

 

(e)The term "curled hair" mattress shall be held to mean a mattress filled with hair that has been curled in the rope;

 

(f)If "Tampico" or other fiber has been added, the label or tag shall state this fact;

 

(g)Mattresses made of cow or other animal hair not curled in the rope shall be sterilized, and the mattress label shall bear the words "uncurled cow hair" or "uncurled animal hair," and shall name the kind of hair the mattress does contain; and

 

(h)Mattresses made of any kind of filling material not mentioned in this subsection shall bear labels naming the particular kind of filler used and, where more than one (1) filler is used, the label shall state the kind of fillers and proportion of each.

 

100.12No material shall be used in the manufacture or renovation of any mattress offered for sale, exchange, or gift in the District under the following conditions:

 

(a)When the material has been shredded from worn clothing of any kind;

 

(b)When the material has been used as a floor covering and then shredded;

 

(c)When the material comes from an animal or fowl and has not been properly approved by the Director.

 

(d)If the material contains any bugs, insects, or vermin of any kind; and

 

(e)If the material contains jute fiber shredded from burlap that is unclean or that has once been used for bailing purposes.

 

100.13Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10) or more than forty-five dollars ($45) for each offense.

 

source

8 DCRR §§ D-410, D-420, D-430, D-440, and D-460 (1965).