Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture – Seating – Requirements for strength, stability and durability

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...

Latest Standards Update released

Confirms the publication of three new standards

ISO TC 136 furniture standards meeting reports

Covers storage, children’s furniture, seating, tables and mattresses

BS EN 1335-1: 2020 Office furniture

Implementation of new standard delayed

New Standard for educational furniture published

BS EN 13150: 2020 immediately replaces the 2001 version

Standards meeting report - hardware for furniture

Despite lockdowns the development of European Standards continues

New Standard for office furniture published

BS EN 1335-1: 2020 Office Furniture. Office work chair. Part 1 Dimensions – Determination of dimensions

Latest Standards Update

Includes two new standards

France issues update to childcare standards

References NF EN 1130: 2019 Childcare furniture: Cradles - Safety requirements and test methods

Standards meeting report - Safety of child use and child care products

Meeting covered changing units, safety barriers cots and bedding

Children's Highchair standard amended

BS EN 14988: 2017 +A1: 2020 - Children's Highchairs

Standards meeting report – Test methods for furniture

Development of technical report for testing seating used by people weighing over 110kg; review of EN 1022: 2018

Standards committee report – Bunk beds

Preparation of draft revision of EN 747-1: 2012 + A1: 2015 Furniture. Bunk beds and high beds

Standards meeting report: non-domestic furniture

Suggested priority standards for development within CEN TC207 during the current pandemic

UK furniture fire safety regulations – revision process commences

OPSS outlined its aims of maintaining (or increasing) the current level of fire safety

Standards meeting report – Motorised furniture

Key areas to address are stability, strength and durability and entrapment.

Furniture Industry Research Association share updates to standards and other key matters

One of the main headlines is the publication of a new standard

New European standard for childcare furniture published

BS EN 1130: 2019 Children’s furniture. Cribs

Positive vote for a new standard for electrical furniture

​IEC 60335 Part 2 -116 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-116

Standards meeting report – Domestic furniture

covered a range of topics including motorised furniture, swivel chairs, foldaway beds and more...

Baby Products Association technical meeting report - November 2019

Key topics covered at this latest meeting included the possible revision of BS 1877 Part 10

Standards meeting report – Non-domestic furniture

Meeting covered work on amendments to EN 15372 and EN 16121

Standards meeting report – Test methods for furniture

Meeting covered issues related to motorised furniture, foams and mattresses and seating

First office furniture Remanufacturing Standard

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

New standard for bariatric beds

Specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements

Standards Meeting Report - PAS 7050 Steering Group

Development of new specification for bringing safe products to market

European Standards meeting – outdoor furniture

The meeting focused on potential revisions of two standards - EN 581-1 and EN 581-2

New standard for furniture hardware published

BS EN 15939: 2019 Hardware for furniture

Furniture Industry Research Association share updates to standards and other key matters

Three new standards

Standards Meeting Report – CEN TC207 Plenary

Standards expected to be published in the coming years

Standards Report – Common test methods

Topics include motorised furniture, mattresses, seating and more

Standards meeting report – Suspended seating workshop

Possible test methods for suspended seating

Standards meeting report – seat loading template

Discussion on the seat loading point when testing stability

Standards meeting report – foldaway beds

Potential revision of EN 1129 Parts 1 & 2 Furniture - Foldaway beds - Safety requirements and testing

Standards meeting report – Non-domestic furniture

Committee merger and revision to EN 15372

Confirmation of standard for cot mattresses

European standard BS EN 16890: 2017 Children’s furniture – Mattresses for cots and cribs

New standard for office desks

BS EN 527-2: 2016 + A1: 2019 Office furniture. Work tables. Part 2

Standards Meeting Report - hardware for furniture

Draft standards for corrosion performance of hardware and also star bases for swivelling chairs

France issues update to list of reference standards under Childcare Decree 91-1292

For the prevention of risks arising from the use of childcare articles

European Standard for Cots amended

Corrigendum published modifying requirements for footholds

Standards meeting report – Storage furniture

Meeting covered issues identified during the drafting of the revised standard ISO 7170

​Standards meeting report – outdoor furniture

Includes three main standards for outdoor furniture (EN 581 Parts 1, 2 & 3)

Standards meeting report – kitchen furniture

International Standards committee responsible or looking at standardising the sizes of kitchen furniture

​Standards meeting report – Electrical furniture

Task Group meeting to liaise with IEC TC61 who have been developing an electrical standard for furniture

Standards meeting report – Beds

Developing the standard ISO WD 23769 Furniture-Mattresses-Test methods for the determination of functional characteristi...

Standards meeting report – Tables

Development of ISO 19682 Furniture — Tables — Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability

Standards meeting report – Seating

Key topic for discussion was ISO 7173 Furniture — Chairs and stools — Determination of strength and durability

Baby Products Association technical meeting report - February 2019

Key topics included possibility of new Standard for mattresses used in moses baskets and carrycot.

‘Statistics Digest for the UK Furniture Industry’

£17.5 billion consumer spend on furniture and furnishings

‘Electrical accessories incorporated into furniture - a guide to the UK regulations’

Third guide concerning electrical components in furniture

Standards Meeting Report – domestic furniture

Insights from CEN TC 207 WG1 (the committee responsible for developing European Standards for domestic furniture)

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum 31st January 2019

The forum is likely to be hosted on a weekly basis until March 2019

Interim policy for mattresses and mattress pads

Policy for mattresses subject to 16 CFR part 1632

Government White Paper on Immigration

Single immigration system, ending free movement

Final standards update for 2018

Details of new standards and updates to others

Furniture Industry Research Association summarise final quarter activity

Standards, new guidance, Brexit and more.

REACH EU exit guidance

Seven different scenarios are covered.

Office and contract furniture technical forum update

Resources are now available to members.

Standards meeting report – Hardware for furniture

The working group discussed two new draft standards.

New document for surface finish assessment published

PD CEN/TR 17292: 2018 Technical report regarding precision data for various standards

New European Standard for Office Seating published

BS EN 1335-2: 2018 Office furniture. Office Work Chair. Safety Requirements

New standard for seating published

A new European Standard for assessing the stability of seating has been published.

Standards meeting report – domestic furniture

A meeting of CEN TC207 WG1, the European standards committee tasked with producing standards for domestic furniture

Standards meeting report

CEN TC 207 WG9, the European Standards committee that develops common test methods for furniture standards

Furniture Industry Research Association release their latest Standards Update

The September update confirms the publication of a number of new standards across the furniture sector.

​New Standards for children’s furniture published

Four revised standards for children’s furniture have been published. The standards have been produced by the Furniture I...

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...

About membership

Benefits of membership and how we support the industry

Competitiveness of the UK furniture manufacturing industry

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...

Electrical accessories incorporated into furniture - a guide to the UK Regulations

For designers and manufacturers of furniture with electrical features, covering applicable EU Directives and CE marking ...

Electrically actuated furniture for the domestic market - a guide to the UK Regulations

Guide to the Application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Edition 2.1 in relation to domestic furniture

Electrically powered office furniture - a guide to the UK Regulations

The 62 page guide identifies the relationship with powered office furniture products such as sit / stand desking and oth...

FIRA Guide to European Biocidal Products Regulations

This guide will help companies and their suppliers to comply with the obligations they may have under the Biocidal Produ...

Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations

Any filling material, whether foam or non-foam, intended for use in furniture, must meet specified ignition tests. This ...

Improving UK Productivity and Industry 4.0

Details the potential for Industry 4.0 to improve productivity

Mind The Gap - Skills and Training in the Furniture Industry

This report aims to fuel the development of industry wide initiatives to ensure that the skills agenda is fully addresse...

National Furniture Specifications - A Guide for Specifiers

Guide to assist specifiers in the tender process when acquiring contract or domestic furniture and a guide for manufactu...

Product Selection for the furniture supply chain

How to manage the product selection process from initial brief to placing your product on the market, working with your ...

​Report on 'Real-life' UK kitchen study findings

Three year study into the way UK consumers use kitchens

Sustainability Hotspot Analysis for the Furniture Industry

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

The Furniture Retail Quality Group best practice guide - flammability testing

Advice for upholstery component manufacturers and suppliers to help identify the requirements for different upholstery c...

The General Product Safety Directive, furniture industry guide to legislation

43 page guide to support the furniture industry in understanding the GPSD

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...

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...

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

FIRA Standards

Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Children’s Domestic Furniture - General safety re...

FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...

Furniture Retail Quality Group Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture - Tables ...

FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...

Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture – St...

FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...

The Furniture Retail Quality Group Best Practice Guide 2017 - Glass in Furniture

The guide has been developed in conjunction with the Furniture Retail Quality Group, whose members include technologists...

FIRA Standard - Performance and Dimensional Requirements for Bariatric Seating

This FIRA Standard specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements for the structural safety and stab...

FIRA Standard - Performance and Dimensional Requirements for Bariatric Beds

This FIRA Standard specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements for the structural safety and stab...

FIRA Standard - Remanufacturing

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

Standards meeting reports

Quarterly Standards Update Reports

These quarterly reports reflect the changes to furniture related standards notified to the Research Association

Latest Standards Update Report

Summary of changes, new standards and standards in development

December 2019 Standards Update Report

Summary of changes, new standards and standards in development

September 2019 Standards Update Report

Details of new standards and standards in development

June 2019 Standards Update Report

Details of new standards and standards in development

March 2019 Standards Update Report

Details of four new standards and standards in development

December 2018 Standards Update Report

Details of new standards, changes and standards in development

September 2018 Standards Update Report

Details of new standards, changes and standards in development

June 2018 Standards Update Report

Details of new standards, changes and standards in development

June 2020 standards update report

Summary of changes, new standards and standards in development

Children’s furniture testing

We can test a wide range of childcare product including pushchairs, high chairs, changing units, cots and beds

Improved Performance for Businesses Implementing ISO 14001:2015

This article is a simple, beginners guide to performance measurement.

Leather types, characteristics and maintenance

Leather types and characteristics, the benefits of testing and care and maintenance of leather upholstery

​Specifying leather for furniture

Identifying which standards and properties are relevant to leather performance

Cable Management Systems– Understanding BS 6396

To ensure the safety of the user, all cable management systems should conform to BS 6396:2008+A1:2015 – Electrical syste...

UV Pine lacquer free colouration

Adding colour to pine the natural way

A guide for manufacturers seeking to claim compliance with BS 7176

FIRA guidance - compliance with BS 7176 - Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-dome...

Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

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

Study into the Feasability of Benchmarking Carbon Footprints of Furniture Products 2011

Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2018

This Digest reveals continued growth in demand for furniture and furnishings with consumer expenditure at £17.5 billion.

Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2017

Furniture industry statistics, including facts, figures and commentary covering furniture production and international t...

Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2016

Furniture industry statistics, including facts, figures and commentary covering furniture production and international t...

Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2019

In-depth analysis of the latest data sourced from Government bodies

BFC Manifesto for the Furniture Industry 2017

The BFC Manifesto has been developed in response to an industry-wide survey it conducted soon after the EU referendum wa...

Cabinets

Choose cabinet furniture that's right for you

Kitchen buying guide

What to consider for kitchen purchases

Mattress buying guide

What will be the best mattress for you?

Outdoor furniture

Options and advice on aftercare

Upholstery buying guide

Foams, fillings, fabrics and more