FLAMMABILITY TESTING HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS BY BVCPS

Flammability testing to determine how easily a fabric or furnishing product used around the home will ignite or burn, when exposed to fire or heat.

Why is flammability testing important?

Flammability regulations were brought in to the UK in the 70’s following an increased number of fatal accidental fires around the home. The majority of these fires were caused by the ignition and continuous burning of household fabrics and furnishings.

If a fabric around the home has not been tested for flammability, not only does it cause a risk of ignition, it can also emit harmful chemicals and smoke into the room it is located. The inhalation of the chemicals and smoke from a household fire can cause serious respiratory complications and in a lot of cases prove to be fatal.

Fire safety regulations for household furniture and furnishings

It is a criminal offence to supply goods to the UK public which are not deemed to be safe and have not been tested for regulations such as flammability. You can even be charged for supplying unsafe products even if nobody has reported an injury.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (which were amended in 1989, 1993 and 2010) set the standards for the levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other products containing upholstery which are sold to be used around the home.

The responsibility for enforcement of the regulations is down to local authorities, they have the power to select products from retail stores at random. Should any item fail to comply, they also have the power to start proceedings for prosecution.

Therefore it is in the suppliers' own interests and a requirement to have their products tested in a UKAS accredited laboratory and to the standards, to comply with the GPSR ‘General Product Safety Regulation'.

Did you know?

Fires that start in the living room or bedroom contribute to 73% of all fatalities of household fires? The number one cause is smoking and is started from a match or cigarette which has not been extinguished properly.

Bureau Veritas CPS flammability testing

Our UKAS accredited lab in Warrington Cheshire has a dedicated flammability department which specialises in Consumer Product testing. We take great pride in our technical governance, alongside a host of formal recognitions and accreditations from clients and industry authorities.

UK based testing with global standards

Our UKAS-accredited laboratory in Warrington, Cheshire, operates a comprehensive choice of testing services for softline consumer products, including safety, quality assurance, benchmarking and compliance.

If you would like to hear more about our flammability testing or to enquire about any of our other services, you can contact one of our experienced team on 01925 854 360 or visit our website at www.bureauveritas.co.uk/cps to see our full range of products.