The use of fire retardants

Carbon Footprint Calculator Template - 2023 Factors

Calculate your business emissions with this furniture industry carbon footprint calculator which enables you to produce ...

Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities in the Furniture Industry

FIRA publish Sustainability Challenges Guide for members

Modern sustainability thinking and possible options organisations can take to improve the sustainability of their produc...

New restriction for formaldehyde from wood published

Restriction added to Annex XVII of EU REACH on the release of formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) from a range of products includ...

Carbon Technical Forum outcome and statement

Key points raised by Members and plans of support for the furniture supply chain

'Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template' devised to support members

Template incorporates waste, supply chains, timber, packaging, energy, community relations and more

Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template

Business template developed by furniture Industry expert to help measure and improve sustainability performance

DEFRA releases results of study into POPs in domestic upholstery waste

The BFC, represented by technical personnel from FIRA, NBF and the BFM, sat on the working group to represent the furnit...

Downstream user import notification deadline approaching

Notifications should be submitted through the appropriate HSE portal

Another Matrix for REACH - children's furniture

Matrix addresses the substance, restriction, test method (where available) and materials for different components

REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M3 Children's Furniture

REACH - children's furniture matrix - substance, restriction and tests methods (where available)

UK REACH accredited stakeholders

FIRA granted Occasional Stakeholder status and will be represented by John Hubbard

Environmental Policy Guidance and Template

Help for the furniture industry with creating an environmental policy, why companies should have one and what it should ...

GB Biocidal Products Regulation - Labelling Treated Articles Template

Two matrixes for REACH - upholstered furniture and mattresses

Each matrix addresses the substance, restriction, test method(s) and materials for different components of each product

REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M2 Mattresses

REACH - substance, restriction, test method(s) and materials for different components of mattresses

REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M1 Upholstery

chemicals, restrictions, test method(s) and materials for different components of upholstery

Government consults on extended producer responsibility for packaging

Proposals will remove the current chain of custody responsibilities and impose a single charge on the packaging producer...

Packaging and Sustainability: Guide to Alternatives

'Guide to Alternative Packaging and Sustainability' for the furniture industry

Horizon Scanning: Guide to New Hardline and Softline Materials

REACH update: Brexit changes, additional chemical restrictions

Key things to note are an additional restriction on residual nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPE)

REACH Update January 2021 - SVHC

New substance added to the Substances of Very High Concern list

EUTR Update

Businesses will need to show imports from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) have been legally harvested

Focus on EUTR compliance for third recorded training session

This session joins the recently released training on REACH and biocides

Introduction to EUTR Training

To help members who first place timber or timber products onto the European Market to understand their obligations

Introduction to Biocidal Products Regulation Training

Recorded training session to give high-level guidance on the EU Biocides Regulation (528/2012)

Introduction to REACH Regulations Training

Recorded training session to give members a high level overview of REACH and where their responsibilities lay

REACH update report - July 2020

Total of 209 chemicals now on the SVHCs

REACH Update July 2020 - SVHC

New substances added to the Substances of Very High Concern list

ECHA releases SCIP database

Information on substances of concern

Revision to REACH - Update on SVHC - January 2020

Latest update report concerning (REACH) Regulations

REACH: Guide to the Regulations

Understanding REACH and the restricted and banned substances in the furniture industry

First office furniture Remanufacturing Standard

Covers office and contract chairs / seating, office and contract tables / desking, office and contract storage units

Remanufacturing - FIRA Standard FIRA/REMAN001: 2019

FIRA Standard which specifies the requirements for the remanufacture of office and contract furniture including seating,...

Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life

Statement on the publication of the EAC's 'Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life'

DecaBDE as a barrier to the Circular Economy

Whether an analysis of the impact of DecaBDE being added to the UNEP POP list for the UK furniture industry is viable an...

New ‘Guide to European Biocidal Products Regulations’

Three groups of biocides widely used across the furniture industry

Biocidal Products Regulation Guide

Guide to help companies and their suppliers to comply with the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR) Regulation (EU) 528/2...

Vietnam-EU legal timber agreement signed

The EU has signed an agreement to support the Vietnamese government.

Benchmarking Carbon Footprints of Furniture Products - Feasability Study 2011

Study looking at carbon footprinting of furniture products and the difficulties that need to be overcome before the benc...

PEFC Annual Stakeholder Event Report October 2018

Stakeholder meeting to discuss sustainable forestry and receive an update on PEFC scheme

REACH Update Report - New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - May - 2018

The Furniture Industry Research Association has produced a REACH Update Report regarding two new substances

Improved Performance for Businesses Implementing ISO 14001

This article is a beginner's guide to performance measurement

REACH - Potential Further Restriction of Formaldehyde

​Following a European Commission, ECHA has started preparing a restriction dossier on the use of formaldehyde and its re...

FIRA Members: A Guide to the Environmental Legislation for Weeds and Non Native Species

The new document is a simplified guide to the Regulations that govern the identification and management of weeds and non...

New FIRA guide to the European Timber Regulations

The new guide is aimed to help Furniture Industry Research Association members understand more about the EUTR, and how t...

REACH Update - Updated guidance for SME's on 2018 Registration deadline

A new update report concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations ...

REACH Update Report - July 2017

A new update report concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations ...

REACH Update Report - June 2017

The purpose of this paper is to update members of the Furniture Industry Research Association with regard to the UK’s pr...

Sustainability Hotspot Analysis for the Furniture Industry

The Furniture Industry Research Association presents the wide ranging aspects of a sustainability hotspot analysis by re...

​REACH Update Report - New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - Feb -2017

The Furniture Industry Research Association has produced an update report to educate companies of their obligations surr...

​Sustainable Forestry & PEFC scheme updates​

On Wednesday 11th January, FIRA joined approximately 20 other industry stakeholders at a PEFC UK workshop in London to d...

REACH Guide 2017 (Archived)

This guide is designed to give a general introduction to REACH awareness and user obligations

Research Report - Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

Report summarising the finding of a project which compares the potential of remanufactured furniture versus brand new pr...

Biomass Subsidies and their impact on the British Furniture Industry

This report focuses on the Renewables Obligation woody biomass subsidy and the detrimental effect it is having on Britis...

Research Association members respond to Government Flammability Regulations Consultation

Collective member feedback on the 19 questions raised in the Government consultation

Flammability Regulations Consultation Update – OPSS responds to questions

Answers from Government regarding questions raised by members at our Flammability Consultation Forums

Flammability Checklist for Products Guidance

Checklist to help companies identify that products have the correct test certification to comply with the UK Flammabilit...

Flammability Checklist for Products Guidance now available for members

Resource to help with checking that a product has been tested to the correct flammability standard(s)

Flammability technical forum documents now available

Output from the forum is now available to all members

New Flammability Tracker Template available to members

Supporting members in demonstrating compliance to the relevant fire performance or flammability requirements

Flammability Tracker Template

Furniture Flammability testing tracker to help you manage your flammability testing responsibilities

'Characteristics of modern domestic fire scenarios'

This forms part of the current review into the UK domestic flammability regulations

New Approach ...to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations

Fourth in a series of newsletters from OPSS is now available

The Irish Fire Safety Regulations for Upholstered Furniture Update

Further guidance and clarity from the Irish authorities is needed

FIRA and Trading Standards confirm flammability requirements for office work chairs used in a domest...

The guidance covers four ‘scenarios’ and clarifies whether the FFFSR would fully apply, alongside the role of the GPSR

New Approach … to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations

As part of the review of the UK domestic flammability regulations, OPSS share updates on the project

Flammability Guidance for Contract Seating: Fire Safety of Office Work Chairs in Domestic Environmen...

In conjunction with Trading Standards, clarifies whether the FFFSR would fully apply in four scenarios

Meeting the requirements of the Irish Fire Safety Regulations

The BFC, BRC and UKTLF are working together on guidance for the industry on the differences between the two sets of Regu...

Upholstered furniture supplied to ROI must now meet Irish regulations, not UK regulations

This is a change in advice previously received and must be implemented with immediate effect

The 'why' and 'how' of flammability testing for domestic and contract Furniture’ playback

Replay available to all members via our service provider, FIRA International

Webinar: Demystifying the flammability regulations

Playback available, which centers on regulations for furniture and beds, across domestic and contract markets

UK / Ireland flammability regulations clarification

Upholstered furniture that meets UK fire safety regulations will continue to be accepted in Ireland post Brexit

Fire safety of contract seating in domestic settings - News - The Furniture Industry Research Associ...

Draft guidance document on the fire safety of contract seating in domestic environments to be produced

Clarifications from Trading Standards regarding contract chairs in a domestic environment

Clarification relates to 'legacy’ chairs (marketed pre-pandemic), contract chairs (marketed post-pandemic) and mesh back...

New approach …to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 2021

January newsletter from OPSS

Fire safety of contract seating in domestic settings - News - The Furniture Industry Research Associ...

We've set up a cross sector steering group to establish clear guidelines that can be applied to office chairs used in th...

Contract flammability regulations are the fifth and final training session for members

Gives high level overview of the regs and address some of the main queries

Introduction to Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Contract Sector Training

Recorded training providing a high level overview of the contract flammability regulations

Consumer attitudes to fire safety information on furniture

Results from The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) research

Domestic flammability regulations are the focus of a new training session

Includes requirements, responsibilities, testing and labelling

Introduction to the Domestic Flammability Regulations Training

Recorded training to help you understand the fire safety regulations for household furniture

Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended

Due to Covid-19 OPSS have been revising their timetable and does not expect to have new regulations ready until 2022

Implications of providing office/contract chairs for employees who are working at home

Clarification from OPSS: do office chairs in the home need to comply with the FFFSR if they've been tested to BS 7176: 2...

Implications of providing office/contract chairs for employees who are working at home

Clarification from the OPSS (Office for Product Safety Standards) via the Hertfordshire Trading Standards Office (TS), t...

Interim enforcement policy for mattresses and mattress pads

CPSC’s Office of Compliance is revising the Interim Enforcement Policy

California AB2998 and ASTM E05 Fire Committee

California regulation prohibiting flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture

BS 7176 compliance: Guide for manufacturers seeking to claim compliance

The route for claiming compliance with BS 7176 - Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for n...

Furniture Fire Safety​

Key point: upholstered furniture has a significant impact on domestic house fires

Westbridge recognised as ‘certified company’ under fire compliance scheme

Three of Westbridge’s UK production sites were assessed during audit process

Whitemeadow achieve ‘Certified Company’ status under compliance scheme

Compliance Scheme includes upholstery manufacturers, retailers and suppliers.

ACL 2002 LTD gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire compliance scheme

Part of the process to become a ‘Certified Company’ was an in-depth audit

Mobus first fabric supplier to gain ‘Certified Company’ status under compliance scheme

They underwent thorough audit of processes and procedures

Interim policy for mattresses and mattress pads

Policy for mattresses subject to 16 CFR part 1632

Buoyant Upholstery gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire compliance scheme

“Compliance and Safety is always at the forefront at everything we do"

Lebus Upholstery become first independent manufacturer to gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire...

The audit demonstrated that Lebus Upholstery have robust processes and procedures in place.

DFS gain further ‘Certified Company’ status under upholstery compliance scheme

Furniture manufacturers, DFS Furniture Company Ltd, has achieved ‘Certified Company’ status under the Furniture Industry...

New 'Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture'

The new Compliance Scheme has been in operation for a month, and the first two companies to gain Certified Company statu...

DFS gain ‘Certified Company’ status under new fire compliance scheme

​Furniture retailer DFS​ has gained ‘Certified Company’ status under the Furniture Industry Research Association’s (FIRA...

Advances in the substitution of Hazardous Flame Retardants In Home Textiles

FIRA recently attended a meeting in Brussels that outlined the scope of an EU funded project promoting research into red...

ScS first UK retailer to achieve Certified Company status under new FIRA Compliance Scheme

ScS​, one of the UK’s leading furniture and flooring specialists, has become the first national furniture retailer to ac...

Compliance Scheme benefits for manufacturers

FIRA Compliance Scheme benefits for manufacturers, Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, ...

How to join the FIRA Flammability Compliance Scheme

Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, furniture flammability compliance scheme

European Chemical Agency calls for evidence on flame retardants used in polyurethane foams

The European Chemical Agency (ECHA), with support from the Danish EPA, has recently published a draft screening report w...

FIRA Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture

Scheme for companies to show their commitment and compliance with the UK furniture fire safety Regulations

Compliance Scheme benefits for retailers

Benefits for retailers, Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, furniture flammability comp...

BFC Proposal for updating UK Flammability Regulations - June 2017

Summary of the British Furniture Confederation’s Proposed Revision of Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regula...

​​Consultation on updating Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations

FIRA was informed yesterday that the Government has re-started the consultation into a potential revision of the fire sa...

​Report into current and alternative flame retardant technologies for furniture and furnishings

Cause for concern over the potential toxicity of some flame retardant chemicals has prompted the UK's largest furniture ...

The potential impact of flame retardants on the 'end of life' of upholstered furniture and furnishin...

This report investigates the impact of the presence of flame retardants on the furniture industry in relation to the dis...

Current and Alternative Flame Retardants for Upholstered Furniture

The use of flame retardants in furniture and furnishings is of great significance, especially in the UK, where fire safe...

Flammability Testing: Best Practice Guide (FRQG)

Guide to help manufacturers and suppliers of upholstery and components to identify the flammability testing requirements...

Contract Flammability Guide: Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Non-domestic Sectors

This guide intends to clarify the regulations and explain the requirements for non-domestic furniture and furnishings, o...

Flammability Guide: Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Home

This guide outlines the UK Furniture and Furnishings Flammability Regulations and the responsibilities of different orga...