The short answer: upholstered seating in UK hospitality and many other public settings is usually specified to BS 7176 at medium hazard, which calls for the BS 5852 Crib 5 ignition test on the complete composite of cover, interliner and filling. Curtains and drapes in public premises are covered by BS 5867. The 1988 Regulations apply to furniture supplied for private homes. Which category your project needs is a decision for your fire risk assessment, not your supplier.
If you are furnishing a hotel, a restaurant, a care home or a block of student accommodation, you will meet a string of standards in the first week: Crib 5, BS 7176, BS 5867, the 1988 Regulations. They are often used interchangeably and they are not the same thing. This guide explains in plain English what each one covers, how they fit together, and what to ask a supplier before you commit.
This is general information to help you ask the right questions. It is not legal or fire safety advice, and your fire risk assessor, insurer and local authority have the final say on what your premises need.
Domestic and Contract Are Different Worlds
The first thing to establish is whether a space is domestic or non domestic, because different rules apply.
| Where | What generally applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private homes | The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 | Covers items such as sofas, armchairs and headboards. Most new furniture must carry a permanent fire safety label. Curtains are not covered by these regulations |
| Hotels, restaurants, bars, offices, healthcare and other non domestic premises | Industry standards such as BS 7176 for upholstered seating and BS 5867 for curtains and drapes, applied through the fire risk assessment | Guidance is set out in the British Furniture Confederation guide, compiled by FIRA, titled Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the non-domestic sector |
A sofa sold for a living room is not automatically suitable for a hotel lounge, because it will have been made and tested to a different standard. It is a common and costly mistake for operators new to contract furnishing.
What Crib 5 Means
Crib 5 is the name commonly given to the ignition test used in BS 5852. A small wooden crib, made of sticks stacked in a frame, is placed on the upholstery and set alight. The upholstery passes if the flames die out and the burning does not spread.
Two points matter more than the name.
- The whole composite is tested. The test covers the fabric, the interliner and the filling together, not the fabric alone. A fabric that is inherently flame resistant does not guarantee that the finished seat passes.
- Changing a component changes the result. If the fabric, interliner or foam is changed after the test, the original test evidence may no longer apply. This is why traceability matters.
BS 7176 and Hazard Categories
BS 7176 is the standard that sorts non domestic premises into hazard categories, and it links each category to the level of ignition test the seating must pass.
- Low hazard: lower risk settings.
- Medium hazard: this is where most hospitality sits, including hotels, restaurants, bars, theatres and many public buildings, and it generally corresponds to Crib 5.
- High and very high hazard: settings such as prisons and secure units, where more demanding tests apply.
The right category for your premises is decided through your fire risk assessment. Care homes, hospitals and student accommodation are assessed on their own circumstances, and it is common to specify at medium hazard or above. If you are unsure, specify to the higher standard, because it is much cheaper to do it at the start than to replace furniture later.
Curtains and Drapes: BS 5867
Curtains are treated separately from upholstery. BS 5867 sets out flammability requirements for fabrics used as curtains and drapes in public premises. It matters because curtains can carry a fire quickly up a wall. Always check which part and type your fire risk assessment requires, and ask for the supporting test evidence for the fabric you are buying.
Who Is Responsible
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places the duty for fire safety on the responsible person for the premises, usually the owner, operator or employer. In Scotland, equivalent duties sit under the Fire (Scotland) Act and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations. Standards such as BS 7176 and BS 5867 are not themselves Acts of Parliament, but they are how the duty is usually met in practice, and they are what fire safety officers, insurers and licensing authorities generally expect to see.
Student Accommodation and Mixed Use Buildings
Purpose built student accommodation can contain domestic style bedrooms, shared kitchens, communal lounges and public facing spaces, and the right rules can differ from one space to the next. Confirm with your fire risk assessor and, where relevant, trading standards, which requirements apply to each area. Where there is doubt, specify to the higher standard.
Martindale: A Different Question Altogether
Fire safety is about how upholstery burns. Durability is a separate question, and the usual measure is the Martindale test. Fabric is rubbed against an abrasive surface until it wears, and the number of rubs it survives is its Martindale count. A higher count means a more hard wearing fabric. Heavily used hospitality seating is typically specified at a much higher count than a domestic sofa, and the right figure depends on the use, so ask the supplier to recommend a count for your setting rather than treating any single figure as a rule.
What to Ask Your Supplier
Before you order contract furniture or soft furnishings, ask for these in writing.
- Which standard and hazard category is the furniture tested to, and does that match your fire risk assessment?
- A test report for the exact composite, meaning the cover, interliner and filling that will be used, not a similar one.
- How the fabric achieves its fire performance: inherently flame resistant, treated, or back coated. This affects cleaning and ageing.
- The foam specification, including whether it is a combustion modified type for contract use.
- Labelling and traceability, so that every item can be linked to its test evidence.
- The Martindale count and the end use the fabric is recommended for.
- Cleaning instructions, and whether cleaning affects the fire performance.
- For curtains, the BS 5867 evidence for the specific fabric and lining.
- Lead times and what happens if a component has to be substituted.
How We Can Help
The right starting point for any commercial project is the requirement. Bring us your fire risk assessment or the operator's brief, and we will specify the furniture, upholstery and curtains to it. We make contract grade pieces for hotels, restaurants and bars, healthcare settings and student accommodation, and you can see our hospitality work in the portfolio. For the wider context on why the room matters to your brand, read why your commercial space is your most powerful brand statement.
To discuss a commercial project, book a consultation or contact us at info@zebainteriors.co.uk or on 07982 778565.
