Quick Answer: Every mattress sold in Canada must comply with SOR/2016-183, the federal Mattresses Regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. The regulation requires mattresses to pass the cigarette ignition test described in CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2013: charring must not extend more than 50mm from the cigarette, and combustion must stop within 10 minutes. No more than 1 of 10 test specimens can fail. These requirements apply equally to residential and commercial mattresses. There is no separate "hotel grade" standard. Health Canada confirms compliance is achievable without chemical flame retardants.
12 min read
Why Fire Code Compliance Matters for Your Property
If you operate a hotel, hostel, B&B, Airbnb, or any commercial accommodation in Canada, every mattress on your property must meet federal flammability standards. This is not optional, it is law.
Most hospitality operators know this in general terms. What many do not know is what the standard actually requires, how it is tested, and what documentation they should have on file. This guide translates the regulatory language into practical knowledge for property owners who are not fire safety engineers.
Statistics paint a clear picture of why this matters. Mattresses and bedding are among the first items ignited in residential and commercial fires. The Canadian regulation exists specifically to slow the rate at which a mattress catches fire from a smouldering ignition source (like a cigarette), giving occupants time to notice and respond.
SOR/2016-183: The Regulation Explained in Plain Language
The Mattresses Regulations were registered on June 22, 2016, under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. The regulation is published on the Justice Laws Website and applies to every mattress manufactured, imported, or sold in Canada.
What the Regulation Defines as a "Mattress"
SOR/2016-183 defines a mattress as "an item that is intended, promoted or normally used for the purpose of being slept on that contains resilient material enclosed within a ticking."
This includes: Hotel beds, hostel mattresses, bunk bed mattresses, futons (with resilient filling), sofa bed mattresses, air mattresses with foam components, rollaway beds.
Excluded: Mattress pads (toppers), infant multi-use pads, crib/cradle/bassinet mattresses (covered under separate regulations), upholstered furniture parts not sold separately, one-of-a-kind prescription mattresses.
The single requirement of SOR/2016-183 is that every mattress must pass the flammability test described in CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2013, published by the Canadian General Standards Board.
How the Cigarette Ignition Test Actually Works
The test method is precise and reproducible. Here is exactly what happens in a testing laboratory.
Specimen Preparation
- 10 test specimens are cut from the mattress, each measuring 300mm x 300mm x 25mm
- 5 specimens come from each side (or all 10 from one side for single-sided mattresses)
- Specimens are mounted in uncovered flame-resistant boxes
- Firmness must match the point-of-sale condition (no pre-conditioning)
Test Procedure
- A lit cigarette is placed centrally on each specimen
- The cigarette is positioned along a crevice or seam where ignition risk is highest
- Observations are recorded until the cigarette extinguishes naturally, then for 10 additional minutes
Pass/Fail Criteria
A specimen fails if EITHER condition occurs:
- Charring or melting of the surface extends more than 50mm in any horizontal direction from the nearest point of the cigarette's original location
- Continuing combustion is observed anywhere in the mattress assembly 10 minutes after the cigarette has extinguished
Overall mattress compliance:
- 0-1 specimens fail = COMPLIANT (legal to sell)
- 2 or more specimens fail = NON-COMPLIANT (illegal to sell in Canada)
Source: SOR/2016-183, Section 3
The 50mm threshold and 10-minute observation window are the numbers that matter. They are measurable, objective, and leave no room for interpretation.
Canadian vs. American Standards: They Are Not the Same
This is where hospitality operators sourcing mattresses from US manufacturers or distributors need to pay attention. The Canadian and American flammability standards test fundamentally different fire scenarios.
| Feature | Canada (CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7) | United States (16 CFR 1633) |
|---|---|---|
| Ignition Source | Lit cigarette (smouldering) | T-shaped propane burner (open flame) |
| What It Tests | Resistance to slow, smouldering ignition | Resistance to rapid, open-flame ignition |
| Test Duration | Until charring stops or 10 min post-extinction | 30 minutes continuous |
| Pass Criteria | Charring under 50mm, no combustion after 10 min | Peak heat release under 200 kW, total heat under 15 MJ in first 10 min |
| Specimens | 10 small specimens (300mm x 300mm) | 3 full-size mattress sets |
What This Means Practically
A mattress certified to 16 CFR 1633 (the US standard) is not automatically compliant with Canadian requirements. The tests measure different things. If you are importing mattresses from a US manufacturer or wholesaler, you must verify that the product has been separately tested and certified to CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2013. Do not assume US certification covers you in Canada.
Flame Retardants: What Health Canada Actually Says
Flame retardant chemicals in mattresses are a legitimate concern for health-conscious operators and guests. Here is Health Canada's official position:
"Compliance with the flammability performance requirements can be achieved without the use of flame retardant chemicals."
Source: Health Canada, Industry Guide to Mattress Flammability Requirements
Modern mattress manufacturers achieve compliance through barrier fabrics, inherently fire-resistant synthetic materials, and the natural properties of certain polyurethane foam formulations. Chemical flame retardants (like PBDE compounds, which were phased out due to health concerns) are no longer necessary.
For hospitality operators marketing to health-conscious, eco-aware, or family travellers, this is worth knowing. You can truthfully tell guests that your mattresses meet federal fire safety standards without relying on chemical treatments. Some manufacturers provide specific documentation of their non-chemical compliance methods upon request.
Ontario-Specific Requirements for Hotels and Hostels
Ontario's Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07 under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997) applies to all commercial accommodation, including hotels, hostels, motels, and B&Bs. The provincial fire code governs operational fire safety, including maintenance of fire safety equipment, exit routes, and fire safety plans.
Ontario Fire Code and Mattresses
The Ontario Fire Code does not set separate mattress flammability standards beyond the federal SOR/2016-183 requirement. However, it does require building owners to maintain fire-safe conditions throughout their properties. Using non-compliant mattresses could be considered a failure to maintain fire-safe conditions, which carries its own enforcement consequences.
Fire inspectors in Ontario can and do inspect commercial accommodations. Having SOR/2016-183 compliance documentation for your mattresses readily available demonstrates due diligence.
Enforcement: What Happens If You Are Non-Compliant
Health Canada conducts compliance verification projects. The most recent publicly available data (2023-2024 fiscal year) tested 14 mattress samples, 7 imported and 7 domestically produced. All 14 passed. That is encouraging, but the enforcement mechanisms exist for good reason.
Available Enforcement Actions Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
- Voluntary commitment by the supplier to correct the issue
- Negotiated voluntary removal from the market
- Mandatory recall order
- Seizure of non-compliant products
- Administrative monetary penalties
- Criminal prosecution under the CCPSA
A real example: a Shikibuton cotton mattress was subject to mandatory recall after failing the flammability test. Health Canada's recall notice was published publicly and remains searchable. No injuries were reported in that case, but the brand damage and cost of a nationwide recall are significant.
Source: Health Canada Compliance Verification Project 2023-2024
Insurance Implications
While no specific Canadian insurance policy requirements for mattress compliance were found in publicly available documentation, the principle is straightforward. Commercial property insurance for hotels, hostels, and other accommodations includes fire coverage. Using furnishings that do not meet federal fire safety standards could, in theory, provide grounds for an insurer to contest a fire-related claim.
In comparable jurisdictions (the UK applies BS-7177 fire standards to commercial bedding), failure to comply with applicable fire standards can invalidate fire-related insurance coverage. We recommend consulting your insurance provider about their requirements for fire-rated commercial furnishings.
Practical Advice
Keep a file containing compliance certificates or test reports for every mattress model in your property. When your insurance broker visits or when fire inspectors review your property, having this documentation readily accessible costs you nothing and demonstrates professionalism. It takes five minutes to request from your supplier and could save significant headaches later.
Compliance Checklist for Hospitality Operators
Your Mattress Compliance Checklist
- Verify supplier compliance. Ask your mattress supplier for written confirmation that their products meet SOR/2016-183 requirements, tested to CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2013.
- Request test documentation. Reputable manufacturers maintain test reports. Keep copies in your property management files.
- Check import origins. If mattresses are imported from the US or internationally, confirm they have been tested to the Canadian standard specifically (not just 16 CFR 1633).
- Review labels. Canadian mattresses must carry bilingual (English/French) labels with fire safety use instructions.
- Document your inventory. Maintain a list of mattress models, purchase dates, and associated compliance documentation for each room or sleeping position.
- Inform your insurance provider. Share compliance documentation with your insurance broker to ensure your coverage is not at risk.
- Plan for replacement. Non-compliant or undocumented mattresses from previous owners should be replaced. The cost of replacement is minor compared to the liability risk.
- Stay current. An updated version of the test standard (CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2023) has been published. While the regulation still references the 2013 version, being aware of upcoming changes is prudent.
Compliant Commercial Mattresses from a Source You Can Trust
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford that has been serving Ontario hospitality properties since 1987. Every commercial mattress we sell meets SOR/2016-183 requirements, and we provide compliance documentation with every order. No minimum quantities, no pressure.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
What is SOR/2016-183 and does it apply to my hotel?
SOR/2016-183 is the federal Mattresses Regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. It applies to every mattress sold in Canada, including those used in hotels, hostels, B&Bs, Airbnbs, and all other commercial accommodations. The regulation requires every mattress to pass the cigarette ignition test per CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7-2013. There is no exemption for commercial or residential use.
Does a mattress certified in the United States meet Canadian fire safety standards?
Not necessarily. The US standard (16 CFR 1633) uses an open-flame propane burner test, while the Canadian standard (CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7) uses a cigarette ignition test. These test fundamentally different fire scenarios and are not interchangeable. A mattress certified only to the US standard must be separately tested and certified to the Canadian standard before it can legally be sold or used in Canada.
Do commercial mattresses contain harmful flame retardant chemicals?
Not necessarily. Health Canada explicitly states that "compliance with the flammability performance requirements can be achieved without the use of flame retardant chemicals." Modern manufacturers achieve compliance through barrier fabrics and inherently fire-resistant materials. If this is a concern for your property, ask your supplier specifically about their compliance method and request documentation confirming no chemical flame retardants are used.
What documentation should I keep on file for fire inspections?
Keep a compliance certificate or test report from the manufacturer for each mattress model in your property, along with purchase invoices showing the manufacturer and model. A simple spreadsheet linking room numbers to mattress models and their compliance documentation is sufficient. Fire inspectors in Ontario can inspect commercial accommodations, and having this documentation readily available demonstrates due diligence.
What happens if a mattress on my property does not meet Canadian fire safety standards?
Enforcement mechanisms under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act include voluntary correction, mandatory recall, product seizure, administrative monetary penalties, and criminal prosecution. For hospitality operators specifically, using non-compliant mattresses could also be considered a failure to maintain fire-safe conditions under Ontario's Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) and could potentially affect insurance coverage for fire-related claims.