What counts as Upholstery

Upholstery covers padded items such as mattresses and bed bases, sofas and armchairs, sofa beds, cots and nursery mattresses, and cushions or padded panels used for seating or sleeping. These products combine fillings, fabrics, frames, springs, and covers, and may attract different rules for domestic, contract, and children’s products, including specific requirements for nursery items, bunk beds, and adjustable beds.

Understanding the intended user (adults, children, infants), setting (home, hospitality, healthcare), and construction (foam types, interliners, fire‑retardant finishes) is essential for selecting the right fire, mechanical, and chemical standards.

Core obligations include:

• Determining if products fall within the scope of domestic upholstered furniture rules, hotel/contract furniture, or only the GPSR framework, and identifying all applicable EU/UK legislation and standards.

• Designing upholstery systems to meet required ignition resistance and broader safety expectations, using relevant EN standards and, in the UK, the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended in 2025.

• Maintaining a technical file with risk assessments, bills of materials, Certificates of Analysis for foams, textiles and flame retardants, flammability and structural test reports, supplier declarations, and production controls to demonstrate ongoing conformity.

• Providing clear instructions and warnings covering assembly, use, care and cleaning, and any restrictions (for example, not for outdoor use unless suitable).

• Applying the correct labelling and traceability requirements, including permanent fire‑safety labels for UK domestic upholstered furniture and any additional product or batch identification needed for recalls and market surveillance.

Markings and information

Upholstered furniture must carry clear, durable labels that show the manufacturer or importer, a product or batch identifier, and the information needed to demonstrate that fillings, covers, and composites meet the applicable ignition resistance requirements.

For domestic products supplied in the UK, this includes permanent fire‑safety labels (such as the “CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE” label) and, where required, display labels at the point of sale, alongside any additional traceability and care information needed under general product safety rules and updated 2025 guidance.

How we can help

We help businesses map EU and UK safety, fire, and chemical requirements for upholstery ranges, including domestic and contract furniture, mattresses, sofa beds, and nursery products.

Support typically includes reviewing fire‑test strategies against UK and EU expectations, interpreting mechanical and chemical test data, refining labelling and fire‑safety statements, and strengthening supplier documentation.

With tailored, end‑to‑end solutions, CERT helps you launch upholstery products that are safe, compliant, and ready for market – backed by clear documentation and expert support.