Passive Fire Protection

Hi I hope you can help. Over 20 years ago I inherited a old bed. I have replaced the mattress many times of the years so not concerned about that. The part I am concerned about is the bed base. The bed consists of a headboard, footboard, two metal bits down the sides then the bed base site of this. The base has developed a big hole. I am hoping that someone can tell me if the bed base is fire resistant? It has BS 1877 on a label. Also if anyone can tell me anything about the fabric that covers the bed base. I have read that they mix asbestos with other materials to make fabric. I am a bit of a worrier. Thanks in advance for any information and help.

Good morning, I am very confused about the UK regulations regarding pillows and meditation cushions: Nearly 100% of the meditation cushions sold (online) do I guess not comply with the stringent regulations, they are filled with buckwheat. Or is that legal and buckwheat naturally fire retardant? I hope your can come back to me as soon as possible (today would be absolute the best!) Much appreciated, many thanks Alf

Hi I recently came back from holiday and my curtains had a hole from fire, it turns out a snow globe on the windowsill must have caused it, it had been there for many years, but only recently had new curtains fitted which are a fire hazard, is there anyway to report this so these curtains should not be manufactured?

I just need some clarification upon protecting stairwells in a hotel building using the example below. Building 4 Storeys. Age 1950's approx. Ground Floor - Bar and Restaurant First Floor - Guest Sleeping Accommodation Second Floor - Guest Sleeping Accommodation Third Floor - Guest Sleeping Accommodation The building has 2 stairwells one from the third floor to a final exit on the ground floor and one from the second floor landing to ground floor via an alternative final exit. (Travel distances are within GM guidelines) Question 1 - I am sure all stairwells in sleeping accommodation should always be a fire resistant for a minimum of …

I want to add some insulation to our loft hatch door - I think it is responsible for losing a lot of heat from our 1930s 3 bed house. It's a very basic hatch: the hinged door (swinging down) is a 12mm thick chipboard sheet with no additional insulation. I'm thinking about attaching some kind of insulating board (perhaps about 50mm thick) to the top side of the door, cutting as necessary to make sure it doesn't foul the ladder. Can anyone suggest a suitable and fire safe insulation material, though? Eg searching Amazon for "fire retardant polystyrene board" gives hardly any hits - I'm not sure what to look for. Any advice much appreciated.

I phoned The British Heart Foundation to offer them my old sofa to sell for their charity. I was told they could only accept it if it had a fire label - Yes, it does. How old is it? - Well, not quite sure, I got it second-hand twelve years ago so a bit older than that, say 20 years. What condition is it in - Still good, cushions plump, no tears, fabric a bit worn but still vibrant. In all, better than most I have seen in charity shops. Does it have a batch number on the label - Let me see...no doesn't appear to have one. Then no, we can't accept it or else we would get a fine. I checked on-line and found this site and then followed directions to FIRA's A Guide To T…

Anyone running the DCLG procedure for cladding sampling and has any advice? I'm not sure what to advise our management team and clients regarding how and what to cover the area with. We manage private residential blocks so are not directly under the same umbrella as social housing authorities. Our plan is to use abseiling teams to remove the required samples (above 18m and below 18m) from non-visible areas of the building so as to minimise the aesthetic damage. We currently do not have a solution for covering the area where the cladding would be removed from.

The Govt is having another look at the F & F regs and the old regs will be revoked being replaced with a new one. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/furniture-and-furnishing-fire-safety-regulations-proposed-changes-2016 I do not think it will affect purchasers and retailers too much but it will need careful study by manufacturers and importers. Just hope the FIRA gets its guidance up and running soon.

Hi I have just been approved for an electric adjustable bed through failing health, though I am happy that this is now being sorted it now leaves me with a problem. I had purchased a double divan bed last year, it came with a 5 year warranty. I was hoping to donate the bed to the local furniture scheme, however on checking I having unwittingly removed all the labels not expecting to need them. I have all the relevant purchase/warranty, is there any way I can get new ones?

I would like to donate my 3 piece suite to a charity but they have refused it on the grounds that not all items have the fire label. It seems that on the settee and chair the labels have become detached and for this reason it is not legal. I am able to sell it privately or could I replace the labels myself. It has the item number and date of purchase plus fire resistant details. The suite is only 9 years old and in perfect reasonable condition manufactured for Harvey's.

Hi I am looking for views, please. We were just asked the following questions: "To save energy in your home you can line your curtains with fleece to keep the heat it. However, is this a fire hazard - any more so than standard curtains?" Thanks for any comments Harry

Hi - a tenant of ours in a commercial office block has asked if their walls are painted in Fire Safe wall paint? I had not heard of such a requirement previously - is there any basis to this request? IE is there a requirement to paint office walls with Fire Safe paint? Mike

At our hospital we have backing boards that are classed as B1 to display posters. Is B1 of the grade and quality that would be deemed safe to use? Mark

Last night, coming home from our daughters memorial, we came into a house filled with smoke, there was a plastic bin smoldering on a mattress! It burnt the plastic into the mattress and left a burnt hole all the way down to box springs. We aired out house, but no one will help me remove the burnt mattress and unfortunately last night and tonight I will have to sleep on it! I already have many auto immune diseases, including Lupus. Can you tell me of Heath risks for sleeping on burnt mattress ? I have constant fever, chills, sweats, headache and joint & muscle pain are exasperated since sleeping on it last night! Please help me!!! I don't know what to do? (Other than o…

Access to this space is extremely limited. Can you suggest an expanding foam that would be suitable and meet fire regulations? I have been advised by building control that rockwool insulation wrapped in 'chicken wire' should have been placed between my loft conversion floor and the ceilings below. Steve

Rosalind I am producing a paper lampshade for sale. I would like check that it is wholly safe and be able to reassure my customers that it has been approved. Is there a way for me to assess all risks?

Please can you tell me where I can get a leather sofa and chair tested for fire safety and a certificate issued?

Hello, Can you please advise regarding furniture items purchased from IKEA since 2005 regarding landlord obligations / labelling. A potential letting agent has informed that all items must carry a fire safety label, or be removed. Unfortunately, items from IKEA do not carry these labels. Have contacted IKEA, however no response.

Should all motorhomes of any age have flame retardant foam for seats and bedding, I have hired one and am sure it has inflammable foam.

A very useful website is the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) which can be found at http://www.fira.co.uk/ they have many documents, guides relating to fire safety regarding furniture and furnishings that you will find very useful, you can register for free. Check out “Sign up to the newsletter” where non-members can register to access Standards, Technical Information and receive their Newsletter for Free Registration.

Dear All We would like to buy some faux leather fabric from China and our supplier is not a big organisation so they dont know much about fire retardant ie if there fabric is flame retardant treated or not. I wanted to know, is there anyway I can explain to them and tell hem which kind of fabric to use so that the fabric can be fire retardant and comply with UK BS5852? May be the faux leather farbic need to be thick or firm, I don't know. Any help on this will be much appreciated Thanking you in advance Ali

Hi, I want to start a new business, which will be a café/diner. I want to make some furniture myself to fit it out. It will be made from basic wood/covered in foam and vinyl. Can I buy the foam and vinyl from a supplier and ask for proof its ok for use(and keep the paperwork), and then buy and secure the labels. Would this be ok for the required regulations? Thanks for any help and advice. adam

Hi Im just in the outset of reupholstering things for resale and although I have done this over the past years for myself wonder how I can comply with the fire regulations properly and get labels? I purchase my fabrics from retailers and have presumed that thier products are fire safe but wanted to check. How can I now check my stock of fabrics? Any old foam within an item I replace with new but is all new foam fire resistant? Is it true that if you uphoster items using the traditional methods (horse hair, linen, calico etc) that no label is required? do scatter cushions need a fire label too? regards nicky

I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction. I currently live in shared accommodation (hospital flats) and have been told that all bed mattresses must meet a certain required minimum level of fire safety. I was wondering I you could point me in the right direction as to the guidance to this. Is this requirement only put in place to ensure institutions meet their duty of care? If I provide my own furniture do the same requirements exist? Many thanks Beth

Does anyone know of a product (or supplier) of a fire resisting coating which is applied to timber by spray preferably? The situation is a pub cellar ceiling which requires a 1 hour FR barrier between the cellar and the lounge upstairs but there are so many nooks and crannies that to apply plasterboard or a Supalux type substance would be prohibitive. Does anyone know of such an application?