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Cushions and Fillings

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What do I need to know about selecting foam interiors?

Foam interiors for furniture are required to be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. This means they are expected to adequately support a user throughout the life of the furniture. Selection of the wrong foam can result in excessive cushion softening which manifests itself as cushion hollowing, loss of comfort, bottoming out, cushion collapse and cover bagging.

Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Regulations – labelling, identification and record keeping

All new furniture must carry a display label at the point of sale. It is the retailer’s responsibility to ensure that furniture on display carries the correct label. A collection of furniture items such as a three-piece suite or set of dinning chairs must wear the display label on each individual item.

Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Regulations. Introduction

The UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations is a legal document designed to ensure that fabrics and foams used in the UK are safe.

Specifying leather for furniture

Leather has been used as an upholstery cover for centuries and present-day furniture styles and designs, coupled with modern leather finishing techniques and types, have increased its market share considerably in recent years. However, the attractiveness and popularity of today’s leather upholstery must not detract from the fact that the leather, like any other material, must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose

Fire safety requirements for mattress toppers, pads and protectors

This article discusses the fire safety requirements for bedding products such as mattress protectors, pads and toppers

Upholstered Furniture Fire safety regulations – measurement of ignitability

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations contain a series of Schedules which detail the method by which upholstery materials are to be tested to demonstrate compliance.

What do I need to know to sell domestic seating in the UK?

All domestic seating products must be fit for purpose, of satisfactory quality and safe. The fire safety of domestic upholstered seating is controlled by legislation – not discussed here for more information click on ‘Upholstered furniture regs intro’ The General Product Safety Regulations acts as a catch all relating to other safety issues or concerns and as such the producer must be able to demonstrate he has taken steps to ensure the product is safe

What do I need to know to sell office seating in the UK?

Office seating must be safe and suitable for use. Defining characteristics for performance and safety include: stability, strength, durability, fire safety.

Leather types, characteristics and maintenance

Leather can be made from the skin of any animal. Most leather is grain leather finished by various methods to produce different effects. Leather furniture in a normal domestic environment should need little attention, cleaning should only be carried out when necessary.

Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Regulations – fabric treatment options

The furniture regulations specify a level of ignition resistance for all upholstery fabrics but they do not insist on a cover fabric being flame retardant treated. Nevertheless most cover fabrics need some form of treatment to satisfy the fire safety regulations.

Upholstered Furniture Fire Safety Regulations – filling requirements

Any filling material, whether foam or non-foam, intended for use in furniture, must meet specified ignition tests. This means any material included for the purpose of filling or stuffing the upholstered parts of the furniture.

Fire Safety Controls – non-domestic or contract upholstered seating

There are no mandatory regulations in the non-domestic/contract furniture sector that detail precisely the ignition resistance requirements for furniture. However, the fire safety of the premises in which the furniture is used is controlled by the Fire Precautions Act.

‘Hi Fibre’ research – improving the quality and performance of fibre filled cushions

There has been considerable concern in the UK furniture market in recent years over the quality and performance of loose, fibre filled cushions for upholstery applications. This had become a siginifcant competitiveness issue which needed to be addressed for UK manufacturers to maintain their well-earned reputation for high quality upholstery products.

'Furnitureweld' research – the laser welding of furniture textile seams

Laser welded textile and upholstery seams can perform as well as, if not better than, traditionally stitched seams. There are, according to FIRA, other potential benefits of this technology.

Fire Safety Controls – domestic mattresses, divans and bed bases

Fire safety controls for mattresses divans and bed bases are governed through two sets of regulations. The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amd ‘89 and ‘93) The General Product Safety Regulations 1994.

Reduce upholstery fabric complaints through testing

When designing or selecting upholstery fabrics performance requirements should not be an afterthought but a first consideration, and if suitable levels are not achievable the fabric is not suitable for use no matter how attractive it may be.

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