Smarter Regulation: Fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 were introduced to protect consumers from injury and death resulting from highly flammable upholstered furniture. Important changes are required to take account of modern day hazards and risks. This consultation seeks views from a wide range of stakeholders on the proposed new approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture, in particular:

• the scope of the regulations
• the essential safety requirements
• the conformity assessment procedure
• the labelling requirements
• the technical file requirements
• the proposed timescales for the implementation of and transition to the new regulations
• measures to encourage and enable a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants

This new approach is based on safety outcomes that will be underpinned by a set of essential safety requirements which all products in scope of the regulations must meet in order to be placed on the market. It will maintain and improve fire safety for consumers by better representing the safety of the product as it appears in their homes, while facilitating manufacturing innovation and a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants.

The consultation includes:

• a consultation document setting out the rationale for the new approach and the proposals
• an impact assessment setting out the estimated costs and benefits of the new approach
• a set of draft regulations to illustrate the new approach in legislative form

The evidence base supporting the consultation includes a new independent research report that assesses the fire risks of upholstered products.

The proposed policy remains subject to review and may change as a result of the evidence and views provided by stakeholders in response to this consultation.

See our news story: OPSS consults on smarter regulations in boost for business