Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing composites.

Fire Hazard Categories: This specification describes a set of fire hazard categories (low, medium, high and very high) and allocates different types of buildings (hotels, schools, hospitals etc.) into one of the hazard categories. The specification requires that testing is conducted in accord with BS 5852, BSEN 1021-1 or BSEN 1021-2 as appropriate for the "fire hazard category" designated by virtue of the materials end use. As an example, the details relating to a 'Public Building' are given below.

With the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order in 2006, the 'responsible' person ensuring that a fire risk assessment has been carried out for a particular building would do well to use the guidance provided within BS7176 as a basis for assigning the levels of testing furniture items are likely to need. This would only be a guide and expert advise may be required in order to fully assess the hazard represented in a particular installation and the levels of testing that may therefore be required. The guidance documents issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister may should be referred to when making the risk assessment. More information about the Regulatory Order 2006 can be found here.

Predictive Testing: BS7176 includes guidance on the use of a "predictive test" for contract upholstery. It is intended for situations involving orders of less than 200 identical units. BS7176 says that compliance with the specification may be claimed using the predictive test in which the cover fabric is tested in combination with a relevant standardised filling. Assuming no ignition occurs, the cover fabric may be used in combination with a real filling represented by the test filling without the need for further testing. If any non-represented filling is introduced in the final furniture, predictive testing is not appropriate and direct testing should be used.

For small orders of furniture containing melamine based CMHR polyurethane foam, the standardised filling to be used is one of type HB of BS3379:1991, density 33 kg/cubic metre, and when tested with a polyester cover fabric defined in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 Schedule 1 Part 1, should not ignite with source 3 but ignite using source 4.

The idea behind the predictive test is that if a cover fabric, when tested in combination with the standardised filling, complies with BS5852:1990:Source 5, then it should comply when in combination with any commercially available melamine based CMHR foam. The onus falls on the furniture manufacturer of supplier commissioning a predictive test to ensure that only filling components represented by the standardised filling materials are used in the finished item of furniture.