The Formulated Polymers Blog

Courtesy of the British Furniture Confederation.

Background

The UK’s Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (FFFSR) were originally introduced in 1988. They require upholstered furniture - such sofas, chairs, floor cushions and beds - sold in the UK to be made with covers that resist ignition when in contact with smouldering ignition sources (such as cigarettes) and small flames (such as matches or candles). In addition the filling materials used in all upholstered furniture - including sofas, chairs, floor cushions, scatter cushions and mattresses - need to meet higher ignition requirements. These requirements are designed to slow down the spread of fire and give you more time to escape in case of fire.

Fretwork comprises organisations that apply flame retardant treatments to textiles and those who provide the chemical formulations for those treatments. These businesses play a vital role in ensuring furniture manufactured in the UK meets the stringent flammability requirements.

The following article was published by CTIF The International Association of Fire and Rescue Services on the 26th of February 2019.

This article reinforces the need for flame retardant chemicals. In the UK sofas have been treated with flame retardant chemicals for many years and as a consequence the number and severity of fires is significantly lower than in most other countries.

Sometimes, even being the best is just not good enough. Although the EU has for years had in place regulations stipulating all furniture upholstery, foams and plastics must meet certain fire-retardant principles, it is only the UK and Ireland that included an open flame test within their furniture manufacturing laws. Theoretically this makes the UK and Ireland’s manufactured furniture the safest in the European Union.

Flame-retardant additives are used in a wide variety of plastic products these days. You will find them in anything from consumer products to oil pipelines. Flame-retardant additives are important in the use and manufacturing of plastics because they help prevent the material from becoming a fuel which could worsen any possible outbreak of fire.

In the closing weeks of 2018, few people can comfortably predict how – in exact terms – Brexit will impact on the normal working regulations of any industry in years to come. The first thing to say is that should the UK secure the implementation period that has been much-vaunted by the government from March 2019, nothing will immediately change. So, this means that anyone who purchases textiles that meet the current EU regulations will be able to do so with full confidence until 2021 at minimum.

On Wednesday 14th June 2017, London's worst fire for at least a generation began. The Grenfell Tower fire disaster went on to be not just a tragedy for those residents of the block who lost loved ones but for the wider community. Indeed, the public inquiry that followed the events looked into many controversial matters that surrounded the blaze. Not least amongst its considerations was the external cladding that had been fitted to the tower, as well as the much-documented complaints that residents had made to their landlord about safety issues.

We are happy to introduce customers to our latest investment in our manufacturing process. A new high-quality mixer with impressive performance options has helped us increase our manufacturing capacity by over 30%. The high-speed variable mixer – which was commissioned to our specifications – offers increased flexibility, a smoother formulating process, and faster results for our customers.

Among all the (current!) European Union member states, the UK has the highest and strictest fire safety standards for furniture and furnishings. This saves thousands of people every year from being injured or even dying by fire in their homes.

Our FP 2109 Flame retardant is a water-based impregnant compound designed for use with military grade fabrics – such as tent and marquee canvases. FP 2109 differs from other fabric flame retardants in the range of secondary benefits it applies to treated substrates.