Furniture and furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988

The Furniture and furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 introduced to reduce the threat of fire in dwellings.

The law was designed to ensure that upholstery components and composites used for furniture supplied in the UK meet specified ignition resistance levels and are suitable labelled. It covers many categories which include 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 

The Regulations also apply to:

• loose and stretch covers for furniture 

The Regulations do not apply to:

• sleeping bags

• bed-clothes (including duvets)

• loose covers for mattresses

• pillowcases

• curtains

• carpets

You can read more about Fire Safety generally in our online guide here

You can download a very helpful Government Guide to Furniture and furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 HERE

And you can download the ACT itself HERE