United Furniture to Provide
Bunk Bed Modification Kit
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, United Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., is providing
consumers a free safety modification kit for their bunk beds. On
United bunk beds sold without cross wires, the mattress and
foundation may collapse causing injury or death to a bed occupant or
to a child playing under a bed.
The Commission is aware of four deaths of children which
occurred where the mattress and foundation of bunk beds became
dislodged and fell on them. The bunk beds in these incidents were
not manufactured by United Furniture. However, bunk beds sold by
United Furniture have a mattress support system similar to three of
the beds involved in the incidents.
United Furniture manufactures three difference models of bunk
beds: #500, #600 and #700. On models #600 and #700, the berths can
be switched, resulting in either berth being the upper or lower unit.
The berths on model #500 can not be separated. The firm's name is
found only on the state law tag attached to mattresses. Since many
beds are sold without mattresses, see the attached pictures for
identification of the bunk beds. Retail prices for the beds range
from about $139.00 for the model #500 to about $270.00 for the model
#700.
Approximately 20,000 bunk beds were manufactured and sold east
of the Mississippi since April 1984. Bunk beds sold after February
1985 may have two cross wires on the upper berth only. Two cross
wires per each berth are necessary to prevent mattress collapse
whether used as a bunk or as two single beds.
Consumers should examine their bunk beds. If ledges attached to
the bunk bed side rails are the only means of support for the
mattress and foundation on either berth, they should call United
Furniture collect at 803-879-7373 for a free modification kit.
To report an unsafe consumer product or receive safety
information, consumers may call the CPSC toll-free hotline number at
800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is
800-638-8270.
