Flammability Testing for Furniture and Furnishings in the UK, Ireland and Europe

Whether you're a manufacturer, importer, supplier, or retailer, ensuring your furniture and furnishings meet fire safety regulations is essential for market access and consumer protection in Europe. But compliance is not only a legal requirement, it is also a vital component of product quality, consumer trust, and brand reputation. Meeting applicable fire safety standards strengthens your product offering, supports smoother market entry, and helps you avoid costly market recalls, delays, fines, or liability risks.

We offer expert flammability compliance services for the specific requirements of the UK, Ireland, and Europe. Our accredited laboratories provide robust flammability testing services tailored to your target countries and product categories—such as upholstered furniture, bedding, curtains, cushions, and other soft furnishings. From smouldering ignition and open flame testing to guidance on specimen preparation, classification, and documentation support, we help ensure your products are tested to the right standard, at the right time.

Furniture and furnishings sold in Europe are subject to different fire safety regulations depending on the target market.

Furniture flammability regulations in the UK

In the UK, upholstered furniture has historically been a major contributor to the severity and fatality of home fires—particularly due to foam-filled materials that were highly flammable and prone to ignition from common sources like cigarettes. In response, the UK government introduced the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, which remain among the most stringent flammability regulations in the world. These regulations set out strict requirements for ignition resistance of cover fabrics and fillings, composite testing, and permanent labelling, all aimed at protecting consumers in the domestic market.
Our experts help you navigate the unique demands and complexity of UK legislation, from selecting the correct test methods based on your product type (e.g. Schedule 1 Part I for fillings, Schedule 4/5 for composites) to ensuring proper labelling in line with Schedule 6. 

BS flammability testing standards we cover include:

• BS 5852 parts 1 & 2 (upholstered composites for seating)
• BS 5852:2006 (upholstered seating)
• BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 (contract/non-domestic upholstered furniture)
• BS 6807:2006 (mattresses, upholstered divans and upholstered bed bases)
• BS EN 597-1 and 2 (mattresses and upholstered bed bases)
• BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 (mattresses, mattress pads, divans and bed bases)
• BS EN ISO 12952:2010, parts 1 & 2 (bedding items)
• BS 5867 part 2:2008, Type A, B & C (fabrics for curtains and drapes)

Flammability compliance requirements for furniture in Ireland

In Ireland, flammability compliance for domestic upholstered furniture is governed by S.I. No. 316/1995 Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order, which mirrors the structure and intent of the UK’s Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. The regulation applies to a wide range of domestic furniture products, including upholstered seating, headboards, and mattresses, and focuses on ignition resistance of covers, fillings, and composite materials.
While largely aligned with UK requirements, manufacturers and suppliers should be aware of market-specific nuances in product scope and documentation expectations. We offer expert guidance on testing protocols, specimen preparation, and compliant documentation to help ensure smooth market access and ongoing regulatory alignment in Ireland.

Irish flammability testing standards we cover include:

• I.S. 254:1983 (upholstered furniture)
• I.S. 419:2011 (upholstered furniture)
• EN 1021-1:2006 and EN 1021-2:2006 (upholstered furniture)
• I.S. 418:1988 (mattresses)

EU furniture flammability compliance 

While there is currently no unified EU-wide flammability regulation for furniture and furnishings, general safety obligations under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 apply. Under this regulation, all products placed on the EU market must be safe for consumers under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, which includes resistance to fire hazards. It establishes specific obligations for businesses ensure it. In addition, individual EU Member States may enforce their own national flammability standards, depending on the product category and intended use—adding complexity for manufacturers and suppliers operating across borders. 
We help you demonstrate compliance by testing your furniture and furnishings against standards that are widely recognised and often accepted in various national contexts in Europe. This includes stricter British standards and relevant European standards such as EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2, which assess the ignitability of upholstered furniture when exposed to smouldering cigarettes and open flames. 

For marine furnishings or contract use, additional standards (e.g. IMO FTP Code 2010) may also be relevant.