Also, do cushion inners need to meet an FR standard. In a domestic setting cushions – if they’re scatter cushions, smaller than 60x60cm, and not intrinsic to a piece of furniture (e.g. it’s not the actual seat cushion) only the filling has to comply – fabric doesn’t need to pass fire codes.

Domestic bed throws have no regulations

In a non-domestic setting, the standard for upholstery would apply to cushions.  There are no exemptions for cushions in the RRFSO.  So BS7176 is generally used.  However, it’s important to reiterate, in the non domestic setting, regulations are not product based, it’s all down to the risk assessment.  So someone may take the view that the risk is the filling, not the fabric and authorise an untreated fabric.

Bed throws should be treated as bed linen – recommend BS7175 to the appropriate test level.

Every time you clean a piece of fabric you will degrade the coating.  A fabric should withstand general use for 5-7 years.  However as above, if you clean a coated fabric you only have a limited number of cycles before it loses its FR properties.

This is purely for upholstery.  In the domestic sector, if the fabric is at least 75% natural (e.g. wool, cotton etc) and IF it has been tested for cigarette resistance, you can use an interliner without needing to treat the fabric.  If the fabric is not composed of at least 75% natural material, or it doesn’t pass the cigarette resistance test, the fabric must be treated – an interliner on its own will not suffice.

In the non-domestic sector, it is not advisable.  Furniture manufacturers will want to use foam, wood and fabric which all meets FR regulations, so they can be certain their piece of furniture will pass the BS7176 test.  If a manufacturer accepts a fabric which does not pass BS7176, and then adds an interliner, they must test that entire piece of furniture and certify it themselves prior to it being installed.  An interliner on its own does not guarantee a pass, and an interliner on its own does not certify a piece of furniture for BS7176

The FR Certificates are accessible via the Test Certificates tab below each contract fabric. For any additional information please contact our Customer Service team on 01772 651199 or email sales@smd-textiles.co.uk 

You may have heard that if a fabric is natural – like a wool - it is inherently fire retardant and doesn’t need to be treated.

This isn’t a hard and fast rule. For the domestic sector, fabric manufacturers should still have the test certificates to show whether fabrics pass cigarette and match standards, or can advise on what treatment is required. In a non-domestic setting again, certificates should be provided by the fabric manufacturer to confirm the test passes. Rely on your fabric manufacturer and their certificates, not the composition of the fabric.

For the domestic sector, almost all fabrics can be treated to cigarette and match, although not all fabrics will be suitable for upholstery.  In the non-domestic setting, it’s more complicated.  The method of coating fabrics for curtains (dipping) can affect high pile fabrics like velvets, leaving them sticky or tarnished.  The coating applied to the reverse for the upholstery standards are more reliable but some fabrics still would not take the coating well, and thin fabrics may require so much coating that they become too thick and unworkable.  Always check with the fabric manufacturer and if in doubt ask for a piece to be tested and see the physical result.

The main thing to think about is what the end use is of the fabric. If you are making curtains or bed throws for a commercial space, the benefit with an inherent yarn is that it’s cleanable for the lifetime of the yarn – the FR properties don’t degrade over time. If you were to coat a non-fr fabric and then clean it (either in a washing machine or through dry cleaning) the FR coating degrades each time, and after several cleaning cycles the fabric is no longer fire retardant. It is substantially more expensive and difficult to retreat fabric once it has been made into something else. Likewise, it is important accurate cleaning records are kept so that at a point in time reference can be made to the level of remaining fire retardancy.

In contrast, if you’re making seating, on its own it’s very uncommon for inherently flame-retardant yarns to pass the non-domestic standard (BS7176) and it is better to coat the fabric.  That’s because part of the test requirement is a char barrier between the fabric and the foam.  An inherently flame-retardant yarn won’t guarantee, and indeed normally doesn’t pass BS7176, without additional treatment.

Inherently flame-retardant yarns are “modified” yarns that have additional components which mean they are fire retardant for the life of the yarn. Trevira CS is a brand name for one manufacturer of inherently flame-retardant yarns.  Think Tipex vs correction fluid.  There are other manufacturers who provide FR yarns but Trevira has become synonymous with the product. 

If you’re the supplier of the furnishings or the furniture to a non-domestic place, you really shouldn’t.  The law is clear that the person responsible for the building that has to undertake a risk assessment and make decisions based on that risk assessment.  The fire safety of the building isn’t just down to furnishings it’s down to fire suppressants, fire escapes and everything else.  You cannot have that overview so you should not offer advice.  If your customer doesn’t know how to proceed, they should be speaking to the authorities themselves.

Planes, trains and public transport all have their own regulations.  The maritime sector is governed by IMO regulations where part 7 covers drapery and part 8 covers upholstery. If you start a project in any of these sectors make sure you have a full understanding of what regulations are in place.  And lean on your fabric manufacturers.  They should have certification already if they work in these sectors, or be able to talk you through what’s possible.

You need to receive advice on the regulations to follow if you are at all unclear.  UK regulations (domestic or non-domestic don’t apply and won’t be accepted).  It is easiest to receive advice from your client – but that’s easier when they are a large organisation because they will have already done the research.  If they are a small organisation or private client you may need to encourage them to engage with local fire regulators to establish the specifications you need to work to.

Does that need certifying/treating? There are no regulations for the domestic market.

Outdoor furniture isn’t really covered by the regulations in the non domestic regulations. However, there are things to keep in mind.  Outdoor furniture can be used in areas that can change from being outdoors to indoors very quickly, for example, conservatory areas.  Also, furniture is now being designed to look like indoor furniture.  If outdoor furniture at any point becomes indoor furniture, it is subject to the same rules and regulations as indoor furniture (BS7176). 

It’s of course also important to consider risk assessments and ask safely.  It’s more common to have sources of ignitions like fire pits – outdoor areas should be risk assessed as well and fabric should be treated if there is a higher risk

If you’re looking for something different, our Bespoke Design service can create and deliver that special fabric for your project whatever the budget requirements.  We love a design or sourcing challenge and have a proven track record of creating special and unique fabrics for luxury hotels, care environments or high-end residential schemes. We are equally at home engineering a fabric to achieve a target price point.

Qualities available include plains and textures, embroideries, upholsteries, jacquard weaves, special vinyls and velvets. Our inhouse printing facility provides complete flexibility to produce unique designs and even convert woven or embroidery to print effects.  We work in several ways;

Firstly, we take your original design and digitally print it onto any of our selection of base cloths. Secondly you can work with our in-house design team to bring a bespoke design to life or thirdly if you want to choose or modify an existing design from our collections, we can recolour it to meet your requirements.

This only applies in a non-domestic setting.  It is applicable when something is permanently attached to the building structure.  E.g. Fabric wrapped onto MDF panels which then form a wall.  If you need a tool to remove it then it’s “permanently” attached.  The standard is BS 476 Part 6 and 7. (Class 0 or Class 1) 

Crib 7 is the name for when the results of the risk assessment in a non-domestic setting are High Hazard and Extremely High Hazard. These are areas where it’s generally impossible to leave the room or building – things like prisons, secure wings of hospitals, some oil rigs.  Crib 5 fabrics can generally be used here when combined with more rigorous FR foam.  Some crib 7 fabrics are also available.

Essentially, having furniture that’s Crib 5 (AKA Ignition Source 5) compliant means your furniture and furnishings have passed UK Fire Regulations for most commercial environments. This doesn’t mean items are completely fireproof, but it greatly reduces the risk of ignition, which can save many lives in the long-run.

This test is used in relation to upholstery and furniture coverings, and is conducted by building a small crib-like structure from wooden planks that have been glued together. These structures have to be five tiers high to be used in the test — hence the name, Crib 5. Another standard, referred to as Crib 7, is used to test materials that will go into prison cells and high-risk environments.

Lint is then attached to the bottom of the structure and propane-diol (a non-flammable liquid) is added. The structure is then ignited with a match.

For a material to pass the Crib 5 test, the flames must extinguish themselves within 10 minutes, and they mustn’t burn to the end of the material or through the padding behind it.

Domestic:

Upholstery (including headboards) should meet cigarette and match (EN1021 Parts 1 and 2).

Curtains have no domestic standards.

Non-domestic

Assuming a medium hazard from the risk assessment:

Furniture, cushions and headboards BS7176 (Crib 5)

Curtains BS5867 part 2,

Bedding BS7175

Not necessarily – the certificates you need are different and the tests are different.  You must have the correct certificate for the correct setting (domestic or non-domestic).  Just because something passes the (normally) more stringent non-domestic doesn’t guarantee it will pass for domestic.

Yes.  Things like Elderly Sheltered Accommodation.  The public areas are certainly non-domestic, the rooms – if unfurnished – would be classed as domestic, but if they are furnished as residents move in they would be classed as non-domestic.

Show homes.  If the owner is planning to sell the property with the furniture then it can be treated as domestic, but if they’re planning to remove the furniture afterwards before the sale it would likely be classed as non-domestic

Domestic:

• A private home or apartment
• Student flat (a self-contained property)
• Non-permanent holiday home or caravan
• A private dwelling treated as a holiday let
• An Air BnB property

Non-domestic (medium Hazard)

• Care Home
• Hotel
• School, University or Nursery
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Night Club
• Student Hall of residence
• Holiday Parks
• Office Spaces