Talking Stick - September/October 2014 - 37

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Buying Mattresses for Live-In Faculty?
Here's What You Need to Know

by Paul Bailey, President
University Sleep Products

So much to know, but so well worth
knowing. After all, university live-in
faculty members need comfort, reliability
and safety when they sleep, just like the
rest of the resting world.
That's why it's critical to make a
purchasing decision based on the most
reliable information available. For
example, university buyers have three
main mattress types from which to
choose:

2. Beware of Vendors Who Don't Have
the Testing and Certification You Need
to be Protected. When buying a
mattress for your school, make sure
you're buying a MDM with at least the
following protections:
* Mattresses pass the most stringent
fire test: Boston Fire Department
IX-11.

* Tape-Edge Mattresses - The cheapest
type of mattress, this truly is a
"bed-bug hotel." These
mattresses are a
serious liability to
MDMs last the
universities, colleges
longest, are the
and their faculty and
and provide
students.

* The cover should be certified as fluid
proof, be a barrier to allergens, and
also pass the ASTM Method F test
for Blood and Penetration.

safest

universities with the
lowest Total Cost of
Ownership (TCO).
MDMs come with all
of the testing and
certifications needed
to protect an
institution and its
residents.

* Institutional Mattresses
- Made for all types of
institutions, these are
not, however, specifically designed for use
and reuse in faculty
housing. While they
may initially appear to
be a better bargain,
they almost always
contain some of the
internal design flaws of a
traditional tape-edge mattress.

* Modern Dormitory Mattress - Specifically made for university live-in faculty
and dormitories, MDMs last the
longest, are the safest and provide
universities with the lowest Total Cost
of Ownership (TCO). MDMs come with
all of the testing and certifications
needed to protect an institution and its
residents.
Here are the top five things university
buyers need to know when purchasing
mattresses for live-in faculty.
1. Tape-Edge or Institutional Mattresses
with a Border Rod are a Big Liability.
Tape-edge and institutional mattresses
have a border rod that connects the
individual inner-springs in a mattress,
but an MDM mattress will not. Instead,
an MDM's inner-spring unit is encased
within firm, foam rails that: 1) make the
mattress more comfortable to sit on
(have you ever sat on a wire?) and 2)
prevent the mattress from being
damaged if the border rod is bent.

* The cover should be
certified as free from
Antimony, a toxic
element sometimes
used in fire retardants.
(For a full MDM Spec Sheet,
please e-mail Paul Bailey at
paul@universitysleep.com)
3. MDMs Should Have a
Non-Prorated Six (6) Year
Warranty. You need to
protect your institution
with a long, non-prorated
warranty. Mattress
vendors should build
quality products that they
stand behind. Always.

4. Mattress Vendors Should Have a
Long, Credible History in the University and College Marketplace. Getting
a long warranty is only a real protection
if your vendor is in business when you
need to make a claim. Make sure you're
doing business with a vendor with a
long - and credible - history of serving
colleges and universities.
And just as your vendor needs to have
testing done by an independent
laboratory, they should also be vetted
by a trusted association, such as E&I.
Sadly, many companies make claims
about workmanship, delivery capabilities and certifications that just simply
aren't true. Fortunately, colleges and
universities can take advantage of
purchasing cooperatives that evaluate
reputable companies.
5. Comfort is Important! Make Sure
Your MDM Has Specific Comfort
Features. Your mattresses must be
safe and well-built - and they should
be built with comfort in mind. Here's
what to look for:

* The manufacturer uses at least 2" of
high-density, pressure reduction 1.8
lb/ft(3) foam to provide long-lasting
comfort for the sleep surface. (You
don't want residents to feel the
innerspring of the mattress.) No one
should claim that 1.5 density foam is
"good enough" - it is not.
* The sleep surface is convoluted (has
an egg-crate design) for air-flow and
comfort. Sleeping on a flat foam
surface can be very hot.
* The mattress uses two different
types of pressure-reduction foam so
one side of the mattress is Firm and
other is Plush, accommodating
different sleep preferences.
Purchasing the right mattress for live-in
faculty is important, so staying informed,
checking sources and resources, and
turning to the right vendors is your best
solution.
All residents deserve safety and comfort,
and university buyers deserve to provide
their institutions with a true Low Total
Cost of Ownership. This means buying
the right MDM from the right vendor - a
well-vetted, reputable supplier whose
products pass the most rigorous testing,
carry the longest warranty and are built
for comfort. With these protections, you
can rest-assured that your investment
will be a good one.
Paul Bailey is the president
of University Sleep
Products, the national
leader in the Modern Dorm
Mattress and a pioneer in
dorm-mattress technology,
durability and safety.
Trusted by hundreds of
colleges and universities
across the United States
and in business since
1905, USP is a Subject
Matter Expert (SME) in
intelligently engineered congregate-living mattresses
and mattress covers.
For more information on university/college mattresses
and the Modern Dormitory Mattress (MDM), please call
800-548-2072 or email Paul Bailey at
paul@universitysleep.com.
University Sleep Products is located at One Woodside
Dr., Suite L101, Richmond, IN 47374. Website:
www.universitysleep.com.
http://www.universitysleep.com http://www.universitysleep.com
Talking Stick - September/October 2014

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