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 3
- Any Person 3
- Manufacturer 2
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 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 472 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 2016 91 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 70 duties
- The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
- Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 2016 67 duties
- Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 2015 64 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 14 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
THE CIGARETTE TEST
An interliner which is a fabric that has been treated...
The interliner, water-soaked or not as the case may be,...
The fabric shall be made from 100 per cent flame...
The filling material for the test shall be non fire-retardant...
The criteria of failure shall be those specified in clause...
The smouldering cigarette test specified in BS 5852: Part I shall be conducted subject to the following modifications.
All braids and other trimmings shall be removed from material...
Any covering fabric or fire-barrier material which has been treated...
Where a test is to be conducted in respect of...
Where the upholstery to be tested is such that the...
Where seams are exposed as part of the design of...
The test shall be carried out in accordance with those...
The criteria of failure shall be those specified in clause...
reg.i
- Supply fire safety information to enforcement authorities on request Manufacturer
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
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 19 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
reg.e
reg.h
reg.k
sch. 2
sch. 7 para. 1
sch. 7 para. 4
sch. 7 para. 5
sch. 7 para. 6
Citation and Commencement
Revocation
Interpretation
Exclusion of goods made before 1950 and of supply of materials for re-upholstery of furniture made before that date and of goods for export
The foam under test, cut to the specified dimensions is...
Display labels
Requirement to give information
First suppliers: requirement to give information
Second-hand furniture
Time limit for proceedings for offences
Labelling requirements
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
- 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
- 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
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Regulators
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