Outdated furniture fire safety rules putting people at risk, MP warns | Politics
The UK still has deeply outdated furniture fire safety rules, putting people at risk from toxic substances, an MP has warned.
Bob Blackman, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fire safety, said the government had failed to update rules that have been in place since 1988 and millions of households were exposed to materials that increase the release of dangerous fumes when burned.
“We have been lobbying ministers for years but there are no clear plans yet to modernize these standards,” Blackman said.
A number of chemical groups are used in upholstered furniture; mostly as flame retardants applied to foams, fabrics and backing materials to help furniture meet the UK’s stringent ignition tests. Many of these substances have been associated with toxicity, persistence in the environment, and health concerns, and the use of some has been restricted over time.
Major reforms have been made in Europe over the last 20 to 25 years to significantly reduce the use of toxic flame retardant chemicals in sofas, beds and upholstered furniture. These changes were driven by health concerns, environmental evidence, and new understanding of how furniture actually behaves in real fires.
Although landlords are currently required to ensure that their furnished rental properties comply with basic fire safety rules, consumers can still purchase second-hand sofas, armchairs and mattresses without any knowledge of what chemicals they contain. The MP warned that these everyday household items have been stored for decades and can pose fire and poisoning risks long after they are produced.
“You can walk into a second-hand store today and buy furniture without knowing the dangers associated with it,” Blackman said. “Cushioning materials used in home furniture are often the center of fire risk, and the fumes released when burned can be toxic and even lethal.”
Most home fires start in living rooms and are often triggered by heaters, candles or smoking. While the APPG argues that current rules do not reflect the behavior of modern foams and fire-retardant chemicals, experts have long warned that many of them could be harmful.
“Of course we want fire-resistant furniture,” the MP said. “But we also need to know what chemicals are released when these materials burn and what harm these fumes do to people with particularly sensitive lungs, especially children.”
The Grenfell Tower fire intensified concerns about the integrity of fire safety controls. Blackman said: “Grenfell has exposed deep flaws in the testing of fire-resistant materials. Some suppliers have sought to achieve higher ratings than their products deserve. Testing is absolutely critical and not currently fit for purpose.”
Despite repeated meetings with ministers, the APPG says there has been “no meaningful progress” from the government. The MP noted that the responsible minister “left with a clear understanding that this matter requires urgent attention” but that no updated regulation has been published.
The Building Safety Act gives ministers the power to introduce new rules without requiring primary legislation, but industry pressure remains a hurdle. “Furniture suppliers argue that tightening standards will increase costs,” the MP said. “There is always a balance: Does fire risk increase if we reduce certain chemicals? This balance must be determined by evidence.”
Another concern is environmental waste. Many sofas and mattresses are burned or recycled, but the fate of the toxic gases released during combustion remains unclear. “What happens to the toxins if we burn these materials? What are the risks if we throw them away?” asked the MP. “Consumers who buy secondhand have no idea what chemicals they are bringing home.”
While the overall number of domestic fires has fallen in recent years, MPs warned this should not lead to complacency. “We let this issue drift,” he said. “The dangers are well known, the evidence is clear and the government must act.”
Joanna Cloy, of environmental charity Fidra, said: “As well as the increased smoke toxicity when fire retardant materials burn, there is another pressing issue of exposure in our homes to toxic chemical flame retardants that are released from our furniture over time. “People are now being exposed to old chemicals that have been banned, as well as substitute chemicals that are restricted or are being considered for restriction in the EU.
“The UK’s chemical restrictions lag behind the EU’s chemical restrictions. They must keep up with the ongoing failure to protect UK consumers from exposure to toxic chemical flame retardants used in furniture products.”
