Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for the fire safety of mattresses, mattress pads, divans and bed bases for domestic environments when tested in accordance with BS EN 597-1, BS EN 597-2. It does not apply to mattress protectors or to mattresses intended for use by babies and children and whose width and length are less than 75cm x 170cm respectively, headboards, or to bedsteads The levels of ignition resistance have been set after careful consideration of the fire risk of the particular end-use environment involved. These levels do not necessarily reflect the behaviour of the mattress, mattress pad, divan or bed base in a fully developed fire.

NOTE: Attention is drawn to those items explicitly excluded from the scope of this specification as given in the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 20xx

Purpose

The existing standard covers domestic and contract environments, defining the requirements by hazard. Splitting the content into two parts to cover Domestic & Non-Domestic environments separately will facilitate enabling a single part to be designated under the new Domestic Furniture Fire Regulatory regime & the Non-Domestic Part focusing on meeting the requirements of the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005. It will act as a specification for manufacturers of mattresses to be able to demonstrate compliance.

The existing standard needs additional clarification on test specimen preparation to ensure test results are representative of the fire safety performance of the final item.

There is also no allowance within the current standard for where the test specimen doesn’t self-extinguish within the time of the test, but the flame also doesn’t spread at pace. The revision will allow for this to be addressed.