The show focused on compliance with the UK’s fire safety regulations for furniture and followed Leicestershire Trading Standards, whilst they conducted a programme of formal testing. Samples were purchased from various high street retailers and independent
stores.
Eight out of the ten sofas tested failed either part or all the fire safety tests required under the regulations. Under the regulations a product must pass all the relevant tests in order for it to state it is compliant. It is a criminal offence for a furniture supplier not to meet the safety standards, but unfortunately some products get through testing and commercialisation.
Landlords may have unwittingly furnished their properties with sodas and beds that fail to meet the UK’s rigorous fire safety regulations.
Pat Barber, Chair of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) comments:
“It is unfortunate that many landlords are ignorant of this major issue with high street furniture. Much if it is imported from around the world may not stand up to stringent fire safe regulations designed to protect homes and occupiers.
Landlords have a responsibility to provide tenants and properties with the best protection possible. They need to be vigilant when buying sofas, beds, mattresses, and cushion fillings, to ensure that the items meet fire resistant standards. New furniture must be labelled with a permanently affixed fire safety label that can attest to it meets certain test criteria.
Every mattress should have a large blue ‘framed’ label sewn into the end wall. All upholstered furniture must also have fire safety labels which should read ‘complies with the furniture and furnishings (fire) (safety) regulations 1988’ and/or ‘this item does not require a schedule 3 interliner’. Antique furniture is exempt unless it has been recently reupholstered. Any furniture not showing the appropriate safety label should be removed from a rental property, there are stiff penalties for any landlord in breach of the regulations.”
The Fire Industry Research Association (FIRA) independently test furniture and upholstered products to ensure that standards are met recently. Recently they found that a number of products available from major chains (including Amazon, Argos, Homebase, Tesco Direct, SCS) failed to meet fire safety standards.
The AIIC is a not for profit membership organisation and is committed to excellence and professionalism in the property inventory process. The AIIC works hard to ensure that all landlords, tenants and letting agents understand the importance and benefits of professionally completed property inventories.
For further information on AIIC, please visit www.theaiic.co.uk.
