Contract furniture and Crib 5

All furniture that’s to be used in commercial establishments, has to meet exacting UK fire prevention regulation.  So if your business falls into one of the following categories, you need to be especially careful about the furniture you buy:

• Bed & Breakfasts
• Boarding schools
• Care homes
• Guest houses
• Halls of residence
• Holiday lettings
• Holiday parks
• Hostels
• Hotels
• Private landlords
• Residential homes
• Student accommodation

Three test to pass

All furniture – for domestic and commercial, must pass the following British Standard (BS):

• BS EN 597-1 – Smouldering cigarette test
• BS EN 597-2 – Match test

On top of that, furniture for use in commercial establishments must also pass:

• BS 7177 – Flame retardant test, sometimes know as ‘Crib 5’, or the ‘Source 5’ test.

This last test is specifically concerned with upholstery and furniture coverings and is designed to check that upholstered furniture won’t easily catch fire – with normal usage.  It’s important to remember that furniture that meets the Crib 5 regulations isn’t fireproof, but it’s designed to significantly cut the risk of a fire being started, which could save lives.

The Crib 5 test is usually undertaken by the manufacturer of the product before it’s stocked by a retailer.

Failing to comply could work out very expensive….

Failing to comply with the Crib 5 regulations is a criminal offence.  If you were to be convicted, you could face a fine of £5,000 per item that doesn’t comply, plus six months in jail and you could even be charged with manslaughter if there’s deaths involved…. it doesn’t bear thinking about.

What’s more, there’s a risk that your insurance company will regard your policy null and void in the event of a fire.

Finally, relax

All the furniture featured at www.mayfairfurniture.co.uk meets the Crib 5 regulations.