The rules regarding fire safety levels for domestic upholstered furniture will be amended on 30 October 2025, when the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 come into force.
These Regulations have an extended introduction period in order to comply with the UK’s obligations as a member of the World Trade Organisation.
This is explained in a guidance document accompanying the new Regulations.
The new Regulations change the definition of “furniture” in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to omit certain types of products intended for babies and young children, including play pens, children’s car seats, play mats, baby changing mats and modular mattresses intended for use by babies and children, if the largest component has a length of less than 170 cm and a width of less than 75 cm.
The Regulations also remove provisions which put in place a requirement for a display label, both at the initial point of sale and in the second-hand market.
Finally, they insert a provision into the 1988 Regulations which extends the time limit for instituting legal proceedings arising from an offence against those Regulations from six months to 12.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards said: “Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers must understand and adapt to these amended provisions to ensure continued compliance with the updated regulatory landscape.”
