The sofa, the mattresses, the armchairs: the soft furnishings in your let are also potential fuel for a fire. That is why furniture fire regulations apply to what you provide, and why every Oxfordshire owner should know how to check their furniture passes.
What the furniture fire regulations require
The Home Office guidance says furniture and furnishings provided in your premises should comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended). These regulations set the levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture and other products containing upholstery, controlling how easily they ignite and how fast flames spread once they do.
Look for the label
Compliance is usually easy to confirm. The guidance says it is normally indicated by a permanent label attached to the item. The All-Wales guidance adds that this label should be present on both new and second-hand furniture, and that you should only buy furniture and furnishings carrying a permanent label, or ensure the furniture complies with BS 7177. When you check your property, look for these labels on sofas, armchairs, mattresses, headboards, scatter cushions and similar items. No label is a red flag.
Why it matters so much
Older foam furniture that predates the regulations can ignite quickly and produce thick, toxic smoke within seconds. It is that smoke, not the flames, that kills most people in house fires, often before they wake. Compliant furniture is designed to resist ignition and slow the spread, buying precious time for guests to reach the escape route.
Second-hand and inherited items
It is tempting to furnish a let cheaply with second-hand finds, but the same rules apply. An old sofa with no fire label, however charming, does not belong in paying-guest accommodation. The 1988 regulations apply regardless of where the item came from or how little you paid for it.
Record it and recheck
Note furniture compliance in your fire risk assessment, and check labels are still present whenever you replace items or buy second-hand. Build it into your annual review. Further information is published by FIRA, the furniture industry body.
Get advice if unsure
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can advise, and a competent assessor will check furnishings as part of a full assessment.
How the furniture rules apply to your let
Upholstered furniture you supply should meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations, which set ignition resistance standards for sofas, armchairs, beds, mattresses and similar items. The simplest sign of compliance is the permanent fire safety label that compliant furniture carries, so keep those labels on and check for them when you buy. Second-hand and very old pieces are the usual problem, since items made before the regulations, or with labels removed, may not meet the standard. Compliant furnishings slow how fast a fire grows, which buys guests time to use the escape route. Note the position in your assessment. Non-compliant foam can produce thick toxic smoke within minutes, so when you replace an item, keep the receipt and the label reference with your records, and check labels at least annually.
If you are furnishing on a budget, new compliant furniture is the false economy to avoid, since non-compliant foam ignites fast and gives off dense smoke. Check labels when stock arrives and again at your annual review, and replace anything whose label has been lost or cut off over the years.
Get the right advice for your property
Not sure your furniture meets the regulations? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
