Fire Retardency of furniture and furnishings.

[Tom Sutton]

When you are conducting a FRA say in an office do you consider the fire retardency of furniture and furnishings and if not, is there any premises you do consider like rescare and sleeping risks. Also what standards would you require?

[kurnal]

Hi TW
Only an issue in offices if furniture is sited in escape routes or staircases and if so the best risk control measure is to move it or substitute a less hazardous furniture eg plain wood rather than upholstered. I would recommend a hierarchy of measures depending on the level of risk- and the decision on whether to apply the domestic ("match test") or res care/ hospital standard ("crib test 5") would be dependent on the liklihood/consequences evaluation.

In sleeping risks I always look at furnishings but may be little more relaxed about it if rooms containing furnishings are very remote (more than two fire doors) away from the escape routes from sleeping accommodation- but must always remember that furniture can be moved.  If totally non smoking and smoke detectors in rooms/ no electric blankets or portable heaters I dont get too worried about matresses, again would apply the liklihood/consequence judgement and record it.

If you think I am making up the rules as I go along then thats fine- I do, but always record the reason in the risk assessment.

[Tom Sutton]

Kurnal I accept all of that after all we are in a risk assessment culture it was the proposed Scottish guide for Res care Tech Annex 13.13 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/23133820/38208 set me thinking, it seems to be very prescriptive.

[kurnal]

Its quite a list isnt it- but at least the canny scots have stated at the top that it is a benchmark and therefore a baseline to work from.

Dont remember seeing roller blinds specified in any previous guidance. beats me why we couldnt have the same guidance documents, In my view across the board the Scots documents are better on content but penny pinching in presentation.

[Tom Sutton]

Absolutely, when it comes to legislation and especially fire legislation the Scots seem to be ahead of us south of the boarder.

[AFD]

Further guidance on this subject can be found inj the RRfsO guides eg Resicare guide page 55, Healthcare guide page 54, Sleeping accomadtion page 49 and also HTM 87 ( to be replaced with HTM-05-03C). Depending on the client/resident base, and all other items considered on a risk assessment, it can be critical, as in most types of sleeping/care use it is the main source of fire load or item to be ignited first, in the premises.

[assunta]

Which government body has the responsibility to inspect furniture in communal areas in a house of multiple occupation to discover whether it adheres to current fire safely standards?

assunta

[Chris Houston]

As a minimum you can check if it is ripped etc.

[val]

Assunta,

The responsibility for 'inspecting' such furniture lies squarely with the landlord/managing agent. If you are a resident in any rented premises such as an HMO (which includes bedsits and shared housing) then any furniture supplied by the landlord in the course of their business  MUST conform to the Furnishing regs.
If you think that there is furniture that hasn't got the usual labels sewn in then you should contact your local housing officers.
Actual enforcement of the legislation is, I believe the responsibility of your local trading standards section.

[slubberdegullion]

I've always thought it odd to require a fire retarded mattress when the bedding on it (i.e. the first thing to catch fire) isn't fire retarded.

Stu

[Davo]

Slubberdegullion

we in the police use fire retardent blankets in the cell areas, fire retardent blankets and curtains in hostel accomodation.
Its needed in the cell areas as on occasion prisoners try and set fire to them, dont ask where they hide the matches/lighter!

[kurnal]

The FIRA has produced useful new guidance on Furniture and furnishings Regulations.
Free download if you register- theres some other good links on their website including data on char rates of timber.
This link should work (I hope)
http://www.fira.co.uk/news/view/841ABE1B-6B8E-4209-B0BA-C10194DFAE75/BFC_launches_comprehensive_new_Guide_to_the_Furniture_and_Furnishings_Fire_Safety_Regulations