Difference shows in UK and Euro flammability standards
A recent demonstration showed the big difference between UK and European flammability standards.
Organised by The Alliance for Consumer Fire Safety in Europe (ACFSE), a fire test involving a Dutch sofa and a UK sofa was conducted at Delft in Holland.
Representatives from SANCO, the EU’s Safety Unit, and the European Burns Casualties Association were guided through the test procedures by Bob Graham, head of the ACFSE, who was instrumental in the introduction of the UK flammability regulations in 1987-88.
The Dutch sofa was fully on fire within four minutes, while the UK sofa resisted all attempts at ignition – even when exposed to the naked flame of a Bunsen burner.
The tests were filmed, and will help inform member states and MEPs as they consider changes to the General Product Safety Directive.
Phil Reynolds, FIRA Head of Commercial Services, said: “The UK sofa uses combustion modified foam and fillings in conjunction with covers that are cigarette and match resistant. The combination of these materials means that it is very difficult to start a fire within a piece of upholstery that meets the UK Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regs.
“The European sofa is likely to have only a cigarette resistant cover over a non-combustion modified filling. This means that as soon as the cover burns, the foam in the sofa will ignite and the fire spread very easily. Unfortunately the UK and Ireland are the only countries to have such stringent measures in place.”
A recent demonstration showed the big difference between UK and European flammability standards.