UK Statutory Instrument
1988
United Kingdom
Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
8 compliance obligations, 4 practical guides across 2 topics
Penalty landscape
6 of 8 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 4
- Any Person 3
- Manufacturer 1
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
3 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 27 duties
- Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 25 duties
- Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 23 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 22 duties
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 2016 21 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 1 other Schedule — structural / supplementary
THE CIGARETTE TEST
Upholstery
Unlimited fine- Ensure furniture upholstery passes the required cigarette safety tests Trader
Filling material
Unlimited fine- Ensure all furniture filling materials meet fire safety standards Trader
Loose fillings
Unlimited fine- Ensure loose furniture fillings meet fire safety standards Any Person
Permanent Covers
- Ensure furniture covers pass mandatory fire safety match tests Any Person
Covers other than permanent covers
Unlimited fine- Ensure non-permanent furniture covers pass required fire safety tests Trader
Display labels
- Attach clear display labels to furniture for retail sale Trader
Permanent labels
Unlimited fine- Attach permanent fire safety labels to furniture and covers Manufacturer
Prohibition on supply
Unlimited fine- Do not supply furniture that fails fire safety standards Any Person
Browse 6 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and Commencement
Revocation
Interpretation
Requirement to give information
First suppliers: requirement to give information
Second-hand furniture
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- GOV.UK: furniture and furnishings fire safety regulations — guide (opens in a new tab) Publication
- HSE: woodworking (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Welsh Government - Renting Homes guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - Rented accommodation (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service - Fire safety (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Office for Product Safety and Standards (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Product safety advice for businesses (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Using the UKCA marking (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service - Fire safety (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
OPSS
PrimaryOffice for Product Safety and Standards
Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance …
Local Fire and Rescue Authority
Local fire and rescue services enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales. Conduct fire safety inspections of …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.