Furniture and Furnishings Regulations
Introduction
If you rent or let private accommodation (furnished or part furnished), then this article will be useful reading. It explains the 1998 regulations which govern the safety requirements of such furniture and furnishings.
The Furniture and Furnishings Regulations (fire) (safety) Regulations 1988 and its amendments apply to all furniture and furnishings in all lettings.
Furniture dealers must be able to provide evidence that the 1988 regulations are satisfied at the time of sale.
Why were the Regulations introduced?
The first priority is safety. However, hygiene and cleanliness are also important factors in the decision to introduce the regulations. Before the 
1988 regulations, there was little control over materials used for covering, filling or forming furniture. The materials used could present a fire risk, be highly flammable, and in the case of products containing polyurethane foam could produce quantities of toxic gases in a fire.
The regulations ensure that materials, coverings and fillings limit combustion and fire spread by meeting certain British Standard Institution tests.
How does this affect me?
Whether you produce, supply or buy the furnishings, you will be affected by thefect me? lations, the decision to intrduce Regulations. They therefore affect manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, people hiring out furniture, people supplying second-hand furniture and re-upholsterers.
What are the Responsibilities of Managing agents and Landlords?
It is the actual supplier of furniture, if that supplier is acting in the course of a business who is responsible for compliance. So in the case of a residential furnished letting the supplier may be either the landlord or the agent.
An agent who is employed by a landlord is not classed as supplying furniture as long as the contract for letting the property, including the furniture, is between the owner and the tenant. In such cases, the responsibility lies with the mpliance.ings, you will be affected by thelandlord rather than the agent.
However, if the letting agent acts as agent for the landlord and becomes a party to the contract he assumes responsibility for the actual letting of the property and therefore also for its compliance with the Regulations.
Products covered
The Regulations impose strict fire resistance standards for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other products containing upholstery.
Other products affected are as follows:
- furniture intended for private use in a dwelling, including children's furniture;
- beds, headboards of beds, mattresses (of any size);
- sofa beds, futons and other convertibles;
- nursery furniture;
- garden furniture which is suitable for use in a dwelling;
- furniture in new caravans;
- scatter cushions and seat pads;
- pillows;
- re-upholstered furniture which was made after 1st January 1950;
- second-hand furniture made after 1st January 1950 and sold by a person in the course of his business (including auction);
- loose and stretch covers for furniture.
The Regulations do not apply to:
- sleeping bags;
- bedclothes (including duvets);
- loose covers for mattresses;
- pillow cases;
- curtains;
- carpets;
- furniture made before 1st January 1950 and the re-upholstery of such furniture;
- private sales of second-hand;
- exports of furniture.
What makes the furniture compliant?
Display Labels: All new furniture except: -
- mattresses and bed bases;
- pillows, scatter cushions and seat pads;
- loose covers and stretch covers for furniture
must display a label at the point of sale. It is the retailer's responsibility to ensure that furniture on display carries the correct label.
Permanent Labels: All new furniture (except mattresses and bed-bases), and all loose and stretch covers for furniture must carry a permanent label. It is primarily the responsibility of the first supplier (i.e. the manufacturer or the importer) to ensure that the label gives the necessary information.
Suppliers can choose between two versions of the permanent label:
- a label giving full information about the furniture; or
- a shorter label giving only the minimum information about the furniture.
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