California Department of Public Health
Investigation into Residential Fiberglass Contamination
CDPH Health Advisory
Breakdown of Nectar mattress fiberglass lawsuits, zipper warnings, and health risks of cover removal.
Legacy Nectar mattresses manufactured prior to late 2022 contain an inner fire barrier sock woven with glass fibers (fiberglass). While the outer cover features a zipper for manufacturing assembly, unzipping or removing this cover tears the inner glass sock, discharging millions of microscopic glass shards into household air and HVAC systems. Multiple federal class-action lawsuits were filed alleging respiratory, ocular, and dermatological contamination.
Legacy models utilize an internal fire sock containing approximately 60% glass fiber.
Unzipping the outer cover breaches the fragile sock, releasing airborne glass shards.
Recent 2023+ production has transitioned to fiberglass-free silica polyester knit.
Explore an example related to this answer.
Inspect the physical law label tag, decode the state Uniform Registry Number (URN), and review certified material percentages under CPSC 16 CFR Part 1633.
Under FTC 16 CFR Part 303 and IABFLO uniform law label standards, bedding manufacturers must disclose exact net filling weights using standardized generic fiber terms. Marketing buzzwords are prohibited under federal penalty.
UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THIS TAG NOT TO BE REMOVED EXCEPT BY THE CONSUMER
ALL NEW MATERIAL CONSISTING OF
Certification is made by the manufacturer that the materials in this article are described in accordance with law.
Specifications
Values and benchmarks recorded for this question.
| Specification | Measured value | Benchmark | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Flame Sock Fiber | Glass Fiber (Fiberglass) Detected | Fiberglass-Free Recommended | warning |
| Zipper Removal Hazard | High Risk of Contamination | Removable Washable Outer Cover | warning |
| CPSC Complaint Docket | Active Product Safety Dockets | Zero Consumer Incident Notices | warning |
| Law Label Disclosure | Discloses Glass Fiber on Ticking | Transparent Material Disclosure | neutral |
Standards reference: Benchmarks derived from ASTM D3574 (flexible cellular foam), CPSC 16 CFR 1633 (open flame flammability), and clinical capillary closing thresholds (32.0 mmHg).
Checklist
Step-by-step physical inspection procedure for flame barrier integrity and law label compliance.
Inspect the zipper pull at the base of the mattress and leave it locked in place.
Watch for: DO NOT UNZIP OR REMOVE THE MATTRESS COVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Turn off lights and shine a bright beam across fabric to detect escaping crystalline fibers.
Watch for: Never use a conventional household vacuum; it will aerosolize glass dust.
Encase the entire mattress in a heavy-duty waterproof zippered protector.
Watch for: Do not shake or agitate bedding if glass shards are visible on surfaces.
Sources
Read the source documents behind the thresholds, measurements, and policy details used here.
California Department of Public Health
CDPH Health Advisory
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA Synthetic Fibers