Fire safety in our furniture

How UK fire safety regulations apply to the upholstery we sell, and what to look for on the label.

UK fire safety in upholstery

All upholstered furniture sold in the UK must meet the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended. We don't sell anything that doesn't. Here is what that means in practice.

What the law requires

Component	Test
Filling material	Schedule 1, Part I — ignitability test
Cover fabric	Match test (BS 5852: Source 0)
Permanent covers (fixed by manufacturer)	Combined product test

The label to look for

Every compliant piece of upholstered furniture carries a permanent label confirming it meets the regulations. If the label is missing, the piece should not be in retail. Check ours before you take it home.

Vintage and antique furniture

Furniture made before 1 January 1950 is exempt from the regulations. If you are buying anything mid-century or earlier from us, we will tell you the date and explain the exemption.

Contract / hospitality requirements

If you are buying for a B&B, holiday let, care home, school, hotel or restaurant, you have additional duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We can supply contract-grade upholstery that meets BS 7176 Medium Hazard or higher. Ask the trade team.

Smoke alarms and the room

Soft furnishings are slower-burning today than they were a generation ago, but a fire still demands working smoke alarms and a clear escape route. Scottish law requires:

A smoke alarm in every habitable room (sitting room, hallway).
A heat alarm in the kitchen.
Interlinked so that if one sounds, all sound.

If you're replacing a sofa, it's a good moment to check the room's alarms.

Disposal of upholstered furniture

From 2026, additional regulations apply to the disposal of upholstered furniture that may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs — old flame retardants). Orkney Islands Council's recycling centre can advise on the current local route; our take-back partners handle it within the law.

Children's furniture

Nursery and children's upholstery is held to the same flammability standards. For mattresses for babies and young children, additional safety standards apply (BS 1877-10:2011) — we will only sell mattresses that meet them.

Last updated 2026-05-26 · J & M McEwen, Kirkwall