Fire and rub test!

This guide will look at two important things to consider when buying fabric for upholstery or upholstered furniture in the UK

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When looking for fabrics for your sofa. Buying a new chair or deciding on a new three piece suite you will have many choices to make.

Colour, design, texture, fabric, price, material and size will be foremost on your mind.

But also consider:

• Flammability

• Fabric durability

Flammability

All furniture manufactured in the UK after 1988 is required to comply with the Furniture & Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations act of 1988. This demands that both cover fabric and fillings must comply and be fire retardant

Upholstery fabric must

• Comply with the cigarette test(BS5852 part 1 1979 source 0)

and

• Comply with the match test OR be classified as an exempt fabric which means the fabric be made of more than 75% of natural fibers. The fabric would then be able to be used with a schedule 3 fireproof interliner.

Why?

• In 1988 there were 247 deaths from fires started in upholstered furniture. By 1998 this figure had fallen to 95

• At least 800 lives have been saved by the regulations so far.

Durability

Durability of fabrics used for upholstery were put into categories in a British standard 2543 in 2004. These categories are as follows:

• LD - Light domestic suitable for upholstery intended for very light use

• GD - General domestic use suitable for general use

• HD - Heavy domestic use suitable for upholstery where increased durability is required to counter heavy use

• GC - General contract suitable for upholstery that will be used throughout the day

• SC - Severe contract use suitable for upholstery that takes the heaviest amount of use

I hope the above helps a little!

Stay safe!