- Adjustable Bed – A bed that can achieve different positions through motion
- Air Bed – A mattress that uses air chambers for support instead of springs, foam, or water
- Allergen – Any substances that causes a histamine response (allergic reaction)
- Alignment – The proper position of the spine
- Anti-microbial – Term used to identify materials that are naturally or been treated to prevent or discourage the growth molds and bacteria
- ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials. An organization devoted to the establishment of standard methods and procedures for testing materials
- Ball Rebound – A test procedure used to measure the surface resilience of FPF. It involves dropping a standard steel ball of known mass from a predetermined height onto a FPF sample and measuring the percent of rebound.
- Bamboo fabric – Natural rayon made from the bamboo plant, soft, breathable, antimicrobial, and able to absorb and wick away moisture
- Bed Riser – Any extension or block placed under the bed to raise it higher off the floor
- Bed Frame – A frame, usually made of metal, that supports the mattress and its boxsprings or foundation
- Blended Latex – Latex that combines both natural and synthetic latex milk
- Body Alignment – Anatomically correct positioning of the spine, muscles, and joints
- Body Impression – A minor indentation formed on the surface of the mattress resulting from comfort layers contouring to the sleeper’s body
- Bonding – The combination of two (or more) components into a layered composite
- Bonnell Coil – Innerspring coil which an hourglass shape
- Border – The side or edge of the mattress
- Border Rod – A heavy gauge wire used around the perimeter edge of a mattress
- Bottoming Out – Feeling the bottom of the mattress
- Boxspring – Foundation made of wood and steel, sometimes containing springs, provides a flat surface on which the mattress rests, also acts as a spacer to get the mattress higher off the frame
- Boxtop Pillowtop – A type of pillowtop that has a square edge and more thickness than a typical pillowtop
- California King – Measures 72″ x 84″
- Cell – Cavity remaining in the structure of polyurethane foam surrounded by the polymer skeleton
- CFC – Chlorofluorocarbons which are used as auxiliary blowing agents
- Closed Cell Foam – Foam having cells with intact cell membranes thereby reducing or eliminating passageways for airflow
- Coil Count – Total number of coils in an innerspring mattress
- Coil Density – Number of coils that would be in an innerspring mattress with foam encasement if the foam was replaced with coils
- Coil Fatigue – Used to describe an innerspring or coil softens that loses its load bearing capacity
- Comfort – The absence of pressure
- Comfort Life – The length of time a mattress will provide proper support and maintain comfortable sleep
- Conformability – Shaping to a sleeper’s body
- Continuous Coil – Innerspring construction type where each row of coils is made from one piece of wire
- Convoluted Foam – Foam that is run through special cutting equipment to produce a surface with peaks and valleys
- Corner Guards – Plastic or metal cover attached to the four corners of the foundation or boxspring
- Cover – Fabric surrounding the mattress
- Damask – Fabric that features a design woven into a thick fabric
- Density – Measurement of weight volume usually expressed in pounds per cubic foot
- Double Bed – Measures 54″ x 75″, also called a full
- Dunlop Process – Process of making latex where the foam is mixed and poured into a mold where it sets while being baked, it is then sometimes sliced or cut
- Durability – Ability of a material or product to maintain its shape and usefulness
- Dust Mites – Microscopic animals (related to spiders) found in bedding, carpets, and soft furnishings that feed on dead skin flakes and bacteria, their feces are a major trigger of allergies and asthma
- Dust Mite Covers – Fabric cover with a dust and moisture control barrier providing an effective barrier for dust and dust mites for allergy
- Egyptian Cotton – Cotton containing long staple, strong fibers
- Euro Pillowtop – Extra side panel added to the top of a mattress with an additional tape edge to form a pillowtop
- Eurotop – see Euro Pillowtop
- Feather Bed – feathers contained within a fabric shell usually laid on top of a mattress as a topper to provide additional padding and comfort
- Firmness – General and subjective term used to describe a range of mattress support levels
- Foam – A common mattress component that can be used for comfort, durability and in some cases, as the support layer. There are a variety of foam technologies using different formulas, unique designs and various densities. A lightweight cellular material resulting from the introduction of gas bubbles into a reacting polymer
- Foam Encasement – Foam support around the perimeter of the mattress that provides a firm sitting edge and minimizes the feeling of roll-off when approaching the edge of the bed
- Foundation – Similar to a box spring, however, a foundation contains no springs and provides a hard, flat surface on which the mattress rests, also acts as a spacer to get the mattress higher off the frame
- FR Compliant – As of 2007, all mattresses manufactured or imported in the U.S. are required to adhere to strict flammability guidelines prescribed in 16 CFR, part 1633
- Full – Measures 54″ x 75″, also called a double
- Futon – Cotton filled mattress, can also refer to a frame that can convert to a bed from a sofa or chair
- Gauge – Measurement of the thickness of the wire used in a spring, a lower gauge number equates to a heavier wire, while a higher gauge is thinner, common innerspring gauges range from 13 to 15½
- Hand – Feel of the fabric surface as it is rubbed lightly
- Helical Wire – Spiral shaped wire that is used to connect coils in a non-pocketed innerspring unit
- Hevea brasiliensis – Tree found in warm areas along the equator that is the source of natural rubber milk, cutting the bark of this tree releases the natural sap which is collected and processed into natural latex rubber, sap has been “cloned” to make synthetic milk
- House brand – Retailer’s private labeled brand that is only available through their store
- H
- igh Resilience) Foam
– HR foam has a greater surface resilience than conventional foams because of its less uniform (more random) cellular structure, HR foam adds support, comfort, and resilience - Hybrid Mattress – Mattress that combines two different types of support technologies, e.g. memory foam and innersprings
- Hypoallergenic – Used to describe certain foams, fibers, fabrics or other materials that reduce the presence, growth, and build up of allergens
- Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) – Measures the firmness of foam, a 4″ thick piece of foam is compressed 25% of its original height, the force required to indent the foam this distance is measured in pounds, higher ILD = harder foam, also referred to as the IFD (Indention Force Deflection)
- King – Measures 76″ x 80″
- Knit – Type of cover fabric that is knitted rather than woven, it has a soft feel’ it may pick easily
- Lamination – Bonding of layers of foam and/or other materials together into a composite layer using adhesives and/or heat
- Latex Foam – Material manufactured partially or wholly from rubber tree sap, it is naturally anti-microbial and resistant to dust mites. May be 100% natural rubber, 100% synthetic rubber or a combination of the two
- Loft – Height or “lift” gained by the depth of a filling material
- Low-Profile Box Spring or Foundation – A shorter height box spring or foundation used to lower the overall height of the set
- Marshall Coil – Springs individually wrapped in cloth, usually bonded together to create an innerspring unit, also referred to as pocketed coils
- Mattress Topper – See Topper
- Memory Foam – See Viscoelastic foam
- Molded Foam – Foam product having the shape of the mold cavity in which it was produced, commonly used in pillows
- Motion Transfer – Used to define the movement one feels from their partner moving in bed
- Non-Prorated (NPR) Warranty – Type of warranty covers full repair or replacement of a defective product for the entire warranty period
- Offset Coil – innerspring coil that has squared edges to provide more flexibility when connected to other coils
- Open Cell Structure – Permeable structure in foam where there is no barrier between its cells so that gases (or liquids) can pass through
- Overlay – See Topper
- Peeling – Process where thin sheets of foam are cut from a cylinder of foam
- Percale – Plain weave with a guaranteed thread count of 180
- Pieced – Foam that has been bonded together from smaller pieces usually used to create special shapes
- Pilling – Tendency of fibers of fabrics to eventually work loose from the surface and form little balls that remain attached to the surface of the fabric
- Pillowtop – Type of mattress that features a gusseted panel which allows additional comfort layers to be added to the mattress
- Pocketed Coils – Flexible coils enclosed in a flexible fabric pocket
- Polyol – substance (usually oil-based) containing three or more hydroxyl groups, used as an ingredient in the manufacture of polyurethane foam
- Polyester – Synthetic fiber used in textiles, it is durable and resistant to moisture, wrinkles and shrinkage
- Polyurethane – Polymer connected by urethane groups which result from the reaction of various polyols and water
- Pressure Points – Areas on the body (usually the shoulders and hips) where pressure builds up resulting in discomfort, pain, or numbness causing a sleeper to toss and turn which disrupts restful sleep
- Prorated Warranty – A warranty that requires the owner to pay a portion of the replacement cost a certain period of time
- Queen – measures 60″ x 80″
- Quilting – Top layers of foams and fibers that are stitched directly to the fabric (ticking)
- Resilience – Indicator of the surface elasticity (springiness) of ofam, it is measured by dropping a steel ball onto the foam from a given height and measuring the percentage the ball rebounds
- Sag – Excessive depression in the mattress surface
- Sateen – Weave that has more vertical than horizontal yarns resulting in an extremely soft fabric
- Sleep Set – Mattress and box spring or foundation
- Slow-Recovery Foam – See viscoelastic foam
- Single – Measures 54″ x 75″, also called a twin
- Single-Sided Mattress – Mattress construction designed with only one sleep surface eliminating the need to flip the mattress, rotating it is still beneficial
- Spring Count – Total number of coils in an innerspring mattress, also referred to as coil count
- Spring-on-Spring – Mattress construction featuring an innerspring unit with a second innerspring unit on top of the first
- Springs – Wire shaped spirals used that provide support and resistance when weight is applied, consists of individual turns
- Swedish Foam – Proprietary type of viscoelastic foam used exclusively by TempurPedic
- Talalay Process – More advanced method making latex where the liquid material is injected into a mold that is then vacuum sealed, flash frozen, and then heated and cured, the resulting material is very consistent and easily produced in a wide range of ILDs
- Tape Edge – Sewn seam along the edge of the mattress that attaches the top and side panels
- Tensile Strength – Pounds per square inch of force required to stretch a material to the breaking point
- Thread Count – Measurement of fabric density reflecting the number of threads per square inch counting both the warp and weft
- Ticking – Fabric that encases the mattress and the foundation
- Tight Top – Mattress type that does not have an extra gusset to contain the upholstery padding material (no pillowtop)
- Topper – Layer of foam or other material placed on top of a mattress to enhance its comfort and reduce pressure points, also referred to as a mattress topper
- Tufting – A process that ties the various layers of a mattress together by running a tough cord through the entire mattress from the top quilt panel through to the bottom, can be done manually or by machine
- Twin – Measures 38″ x 75″, also called a single
- Twin Long – Measures 38″ x 80″
- Upholstery – Layers of foam and other cushioning materials on top of the innerspring or other support unit and the cover
- Viscoelastic Foam -Specialized slower recovery type of polyurethane foam, responds to the sleeper’s temperature getting softer as the foam gets warmer
- Warranty – Statement by the manufacturer that indicates under what terms they will repair or replace a product, can be either prorated or non-prorated (NPR)
- Zoning – Used to describe areas on a mattress that have been reinforced with additional support or padding, often found through the center third of the mattress