Upholstered Furniture and Furnishings - Domestic
Overview
In 1988 the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations were introduced to reduce the rising numbers of deaths and injuries in domestic dwellings suffered in fires started in upholstered furniture, especially armchairs and sofas filled with polyurethane foam.
The Regulations apply to all persons in the business supply chain from the supply of materials for use in furniture and furnishings through to supply of the finished article.
Products Covered by the Regulations
These include any of the following which contain upholstery:
- furniture intended for private use in a dwelling, including children's furniture
- beds, head-boards of beds, mattresses (of any size)
- sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles
- nursery furniture
- garden furniture which is suitable for use in a dwelling
- furniture in new caravans
- scatter cushions and seat pads
- pillows
- loose and stretch covers for furniture
Tests
The tests referred to in the regulations are as follows:-
SCHEDULE 1,
PART I - Ignitability test for polyurethane foam in slab or cushion form.
PART II - Ignitability test for polyurethane foam in crumb form.
PART III - Ignitability test for latex rubber foam.
SCHEDULE 2,
PART I - Ignitability test for non-foam filling materials singly.
PART II - Ignitability test for composite fillings for furniture other than mattresses, bed-bases, cushions and pillows.
PART III - Composite test for ignitability of pillows and cushions with primary covers.
PART IV - Ignitability test for composite fillings of mattresses and bed-bases.
SCHEDULE 3, Ignition resistance test for interliner.
SCHEDULE 4,
PART I - The cigarette test
PART II - Cigarette test for invisible parts
SCHEDULE 5,
PART I - The match test
PART II - The match test for stretch covers
PART III - The match test for invisible parts of covers
For further information, please contact Paul Doherty (Paul.Doherty@bttg.co.uk), alternatively you can contact us on +44 (0)113 2591 999.