Furniture Fire Safety

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The Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 1993These Regulations came into force on first March 1993. All furniture to comply with the Regulations must have a permanent label clearly showing that they are fire resistant. Failure to comply can incur penalties of up to a five thousand pounds and or 6 months imprisonment. Letting Agents should refuse to let the where furniture does not comply with the Regulations.What furniture should comply?These Regulations apply to any upholstered furniture intended to be used in dwellings. These include:

  1. Three-piece suites, armchairs, sofas
  2. Sofa-beds, futons, and other convertible furniture
  3. Beds, head-boards, divans, mattress, bed bases
  4. Nursery and children’s furniture
  5. Covers for furniture
  6. Scatter cushions and seat pads
  7. Pillows
  8. Garden furniture that can be used in dwellings

Regulations do not apply to:

  1. Bed clothes including duvet
  2. Loose covers on mattress
  3. Furniture manufactured before 1st January 1950

Landlords and Letting Agents are advised to carry out checks, record them, to ensure that the safety labels are present on the furniture in the dwellings to be let. If any furniture does not comply to the Regulations above they should be removed completely from the premises.