Furniture fire safety: what has changed, and what hasn't, for hotels, pubs and restaurants
A year after the first changes to the 1988 furniture fire regulations came into force, the government is still weighing a bigger reform. Where things stand, and why contract furniture works to different standards.
The first changes, from 30 October 2025
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 cover upholstered furniture sold for use in the home. In January 2025 the government's Office for Product Safety and Standards said the rules were out of step with modern product safety, and a first set of amendments came into force on 30 October 2025. They:
- removed the requirement for a display (swing) label
- took certain baby and children's products out of scope
- extended the time limit for prosecutions from six months to twelve
The bigger reform is still being decided
A consultation ran from 31 March to 23 June 2026. Its proposals included a smoulder-based test in place of the mandatory open-flame test, a choice between testing the finished piece or its parts, and taking re-upholstery, repair and second-hand furniture out of scope. When we wrote this, the government was still analysing the responses and had not published its decision.
Contract furniture works to different standards
The reform is about furniture for the home. Furniture for hotels, pubs, restaurants and other workplaces falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which asks whoever is responsible for a building to assess whether its furniture suits the fire risk. In practice:
- Hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants are generally treated as medium hazard.
- Seating is classified under BS 7176, and mattresses and bed bases under BS 7177. At medium hazard both include the test known as Crib 5 (ignition source 5).
- Some hotels and hostels are judged high hazard, where beds face a tougher test (ignition source 7).
- Curtains and drapes are covered by BS 5867.
- Most holiday lets are regarded as domestic use, so the domestic rules apply there.
What this means when you buy from us
Every upholstered piece we make is to BS 5852 Crib 5, the level hospitality venues usually need. If your fire risk assessment calls for something different, such as high-hazard bedding, tell your account manager at the start and we will specify to suit.
This is a summary for buyers, not legal advice. Your fire risk assessment, and your fire safety adviser, decide what your venue needs.
Sources
- Fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture: policy paper (GOV.UK, 22 Jan 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/531 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Product regulation: fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture, consultation (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
- Fire safety: furniture and furnishings (VisitBritain, updated 14 Aug 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Fire testing of beds (SATRA) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on 29 October 2026.
