Flammability
Flame retardants are typically added to consumer products to meet flammability standards for furniture, textiles, electronics, and building products like insulation. The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (FFRs) were introduced in 1988 to address the fire risk posed by the use of highly flammable materials in upholstered furniture. To increase the fire safety of products Chemical Flame Retardants (CFRs) are widely used. In the recent years, it became clear that certain CFRs are harmful to human health and the environment.
The UK government wants to reduce the exposure to CFRs if the risk of exposure is greater than the fire risk of upholstered household furniture, without compromising fire safety. They have announced plans to reform and update the FFRs 1988. This update should also ensure that the obligations of manufacturers, importers and other suppliers of upholstered and re-upholstered furniture for indoor use are clearer.
Proposed changes
The changes introduced by the draft Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 are:
Meaning of the terms
Terms such as “domestic premises”, “new”, “second-hand” or “upholstered product” are described more clearly.
Change of scope
Removal of certain baby and children’s products (mattresses, play mats, baby walkers, car seats, etc) from the scope. A full list of products excluded from the scope will be included in Annex A.
Flame-Retardant Technology Hierarchy (FRTH)
The FRT Hierachy can be used to determine whether or not it is necessary to use CFRs to make a product fire-safe.
Conformity Assessment
- New Essential Safety Requirements (ESR) for new upholstered products or used foam;
- New British Standards, to support compliance.
- An accredited laboratory must carry out tests on the final form of the upholstered product or the first batch of the foam, and periodically in the case of serial production;
- Declaration of Conformity, to demonstrate the conformity with the Essential Safety Requirements.
Labelling
The manufacturer must affix a permanent label to the upholstered product stating “Carelessness Causes Fire” and “Do not remove this label”. The manufacturer must also state that the product complies with the new FFR.
Technical documentation must contain:
- Contact details of manufacturer and supplier;
- A document listing the applicable ESRs and risks;
- A complete document which demonstrates that an accredited laboratory carried out the tests;
- Safety data sheet from chemical supplier, if CFRs are used;
- Declaration of Conformity.
Importers
In addition to the above-mentioned obligations for manufacturers, importers have the following (shared) obligations:
- Placing a safe product on the market;
- Verifying that the manufacturer has fulfilled all its obligations;
- The product is marked properly;
- Providing contact details and information on the product to ensure traceability;
- Keeping a copy of the technical file from the manufacturer for 10 years.
When an importer places an upholstered product on the market under his own name or trademark or modify the furniture he will become manufacturer.
Re-upholstered furniture
Materials used for re-upholstering furniture must also comply with ESRs, labelling and document requirements.
You can find more details in the Policy paper, published 22 January 2025.
TRIS
TRIS refers to the Technical Regulations Information Systems database that is used by (EU) countries to inform each other about draft regulations. It gives the countries an opportunity to prevent new technical barriers to trade.
The UK has started the (EU) 2015/1535 notification procedure regarding its intention to update its Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. The European Commission and EU countries have 3 months to submit a detailed opinion or comments on the new technical regulation before it is adopted.
