The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended in 1989, 1993 and 2010) set fire safety requirements for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other products containing upholstery.
The Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) has produced a guide to the UK regulations which provides some additional clarification:
access the guide to the UK regulations
The main elements contained within the Regulations are:
- Filling materials must meet specified ignition requirements
- Upholstery composites must be cigarette resistant
- Covers must be match resistant (with certain exceptions as outlined in Section 8.2 and Appendix A5)
- A permanent label must be fitted to every item of new furniture (with the exception of mattresses and bed-bases)
- A display label must be fitted to every item of new furniture at the point of sale (with the exception of mattresses, bed-bases, pillows, scatter cushions, seat pads, loose covers sold separately from the furniture and stretch covers)
- The first supplier of domestic upholstered furniture in the UK must maintain records for five years to prove compliance.
The Regulations cover six product groups (A to F)
A. All types of upholstered seating including chairs, settees, padded stools and ottomans. Children’s furniture, foot stools, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles, bean bags and floor cushions, nursery furniture and upholstered items designed to contain a baby or small child. Domestic upholstered furniture that is supplied in kit form for self-assembly. Second hand furniture, upholstered head-boards, footboards and side rails of beds.
B. Furniture for use in the open air (garden and outdoor furniture) which is suitable for use in a dwelling (homes and caravans), upholstery in caravans (although not vehicles or boats). Cane furniture which includes upholstery.
C. Divans, bed-bases, mattresses, pillows, and mattress pads (toppers) (FILLING MATERIAL ONLY)
D. Scatter cushions and seat pads (FILLING MATERIAL ONLY)
E. Permanent covers for furniture (textiles, coated textiles, leather, etc) Loose and stretch covers for furniture. Covers for non-visible parts of furniture
F. Foam and non-foam filling material for furniture
More on burning behaviour testing for upholstered furniture in the UK & Europe