UK Fire labels and regulations explained.

Alright, let’s be real — fire safety might not be the sexiest topic out there, but if you’re in the business of reupholstering armchairs, revamping vintage sofas, or styling interiors, it’s something you definitely need to know about. Whether you’re upcycling with love or designing dreamy spaces, UK fire regulations are your silent sidekick — keeping you (and your clients) safe and sound.

The Basics (A.K.A. The Rules We Can’t Ignore)

Here’s the legal stuff you need to know, minus the boring bits:

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – This one covers fire safety in business spaces. If you've got a workshop, studio, or sell furniture, it applies to you.

• The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (plus updates - eventually…) – These are your bread and butter. They lay out what’s fire-safe when it comes to cushions, sofas, and everything squishy.

• Building Regulations 2010 (Part B) – More relevant if you're doing big installs or renovation work.

Upholstery & Fire Safety: What You’ve Got To Do!

If you're upholstering, upcycling, or selling squishy furniture, here's what matters:

1. Use Fire-Resistant Stuff

Anything with padding or upholstery that’s heading to a home needs to play nicely with fire safety standards. We're talking:

• Sofas

• Cushions

• Armchairs

• Headboards

• Mattresses and bed bases

These items need to pass the "match" and "cigarette" tests, which basically simulate what happens if someone falls asleep with a fag in hand or drops a lit match (hey, it happens).

***Look we all know these are laden with chemicals that stick with us forever - eek! But with the current regulations we’ve got to use FR treatments to comply safely.

2. Label Like a Boss

Furniture needs to wear its fire safety credentials with pride. That means:

• Display labels – For new furniture being sold in shops (usually those big swing tags you see).

• Permanent labels – Stitched in somewhere sneaky but visible. These tell you and your buyer what’s fire-safe inside.

If you're refurbing or reupholstering? You must add a compliant label before it’s sold. If you don’t add labels it also means that your furniture can’t be donated to any charities in it’s next life. Lets keep that circular economy going!

3. What’s Exempt?

Not everything needs to jump through the fire hoops. These things get a pass:

• Antique furniture made before 1950

• Loose covers sold on their own (but they’ve got their own separate rules)

• Hard stuff like wooden tables or metal chairs

That said, if you’re reupholstering Granny’s 1940s armchair, you’ll still need to bring it up to standard if it’s going into someone’s home.

Commercial Projects? Time to Up the Ante

If you're supplying to businesses — think cafes, salons, offices, rental properties (yes, Airbnb properties that you!)— your furniture needs to go the extra mile. We're talking Crib 5 (aka Source 5) fabrics that are tougher when it comes to flames.

Checklist time:

• Only use Crib 5-rated materials for commercial spaces.

• Ask your fabric suppliers for certificates.

• Keep those docs safe in case anyone comes knocking.

How We Do It at Rain City Redesigns

At Rain City Redesigns, we don’t mess around with safety — but we also love beautiful, sustainable design. Our secret sauce:

• Where possibly using natural inherently fire safe materials, fillings and fabric where possible.

• Fire-retardant treatments on materials that need a boost - we don’t love it but it’s essential.

• Gorgeous, compliant fabrics that pass all the right tests

• Clear labeling so there’s never a question about safety

We like to think of ourselves as the cool kids who follow the rules and make your sofa dreams come true.

TL;DR

If you’re in the business of furniture, upholstery, or styling interiors, UK fire regulations are something you’ve got to know. From choosing the right materials to labelling your finished pieces, staying compliant keeps you legal, ethical, and super safe.

Want to work with a team that blends creativity, compliance, and conscious design? Give us a shout — where we make fire-safe furniture look hot (but in a good way).