The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) has spoken out about the importance of complying with fire standards for upholstered outdoor furniture and issued guidance on the regulations to its members, after feedback showed many were confused about the standards and others assumed outdoor furniture simply carried no risk. The warning comes ahead of the Summer, when outdoor furniture is used more frequently in the commercial hospitality industry.
“We are urging all companies to become acquainted with the regulations for outdoor furniture and to carry out a fire safety risk assessment,” Colin Watson, managing director of the BCFA. “The UK fire regulations for furnishing products are among the most stringent in the world, but have helped save countless lives.”
Chris McCormack, BCFA member and managing director of Leisure Plan, is keen to emphasise the importance of the correct specifications saying: “The advice from the BCFA about this is excellent and as a company is something we always emphasise to our own clients”.
Foam, fabric and all other cover material should all meet the BS 7176: 2007 medium risk; also referred to as passing the test at ‘crib 5’. Further details on the fire standards can be obtained from the Fire Regulations section of the BCFA website. BCFA members can also contact the BCFA for further clarification.
