UK / Ireland flammability regulations clarification

REACH update: Brexit changes, additional chemical restrictions

Key things to note are an additional restriction on residual nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPE)

Post 1 January : customs, VAT, eCommerce, UKCA/UKNI

Various resources to support members in navigating the new rules

Transition period: accounting, data and IP requirements

Ensure sure you're up-to-date (post 1 January 2021) with accounting, data and IP requirements

Haulage and freight resources post 1 January 2021

Following the Transition on January 1, resources which members may find useful in relation to haulage

EUTR Update

Businesses will need to show imports from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) have been legally harvested

REACH Regulations 2020 Statutory Instrument (SI) laid before Parliament

Likely to come into force at the end of the Transition Period

Environment (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Amendments to environmental laws

Brexit information from ECHA

Guidance in the event of a 'no deal'

Movement of Goods - new customs rules

Important information if you trade with the EU

Internal Market Bill update

Insights for members on the bill

Brexit support

Guidance on goods regulations and chemicals; imports and customs

HMRC accelerates registration of firms onto simplified import procedures

The scheme will make importing after Brexit on 31 October much simpler

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting, 8 Aug

Key updates from the Government

Furniture Industry Research Association publish Brexit guidance

‘Brexit – the importance of planning ahead’

Summary of EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 16th May

Information businesses need to prepare for EU Exit

EU Exit – Update for exporters

Guidance explaining changes for exporters in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 11th April

The forum aims to share the information businesses need to prepare for EU Exit

Importing and exporting preparations in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Webinar summary - importing and exporting preparations to take in the event of no-deal Brexit.

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum Q & A update

Q&A's from meetings on 21 March and 28 March

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 28th March

An update on all the latest Brexit discussions

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 21st March

Focus on digital and data

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 14th March

Covering regulations and standards – REACH, goods, product safety

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 7th March

Updates and slides from the sixth forum

BREXIT - placing goods on the UK and the EU market in no-deal scenario

Government guidance documents on placing goods in a no-deal scenario

EU Exit - Guidance for no deal scenario - update 13 March 2019

Research Association guidance document - scenario of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 28th February - Public Procurement and Changes to EU fun...

Summary notes from meeting and Government information

HMRC urges business owners to make sure they are ready for no deal

Steps to ensure businesses can continue to trade with the EU if the UK leaves without a deal

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 21st February covering Workforce & People and Intellectu...

Summary notes from meeting and Government information leaflets on EU exit business readiness

Government update - Letters on no deal Brexit advice for businesses only trading with the EU

Implications for business and trade of a no deal exit on 29 March 2019

Government update

HMRC impact assessment for the VAT treatment of low value parcels

Impact of changes

DEFRA Guidance on F gas: guidance for users, producers and traders

guidance to industry in the event of a “no deal BREXIT scenario

Help and support for traders if the UK leaves the EU with no deal

Videos about trading after 29 March

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum meeting on 14th February covering data and organisational complianc...

Summary notes from meeting and Government information leaflets on EU exit business readiness

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum 7th February 2019

Meeting notes available from the second forum

EU Exit - Guidance for no deal scenario

Research Association guidance document - scenario of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

EU Exit Business Readiness Forum 31st January 2019

The forum is likely to be hosted on a weekly basis until March 2019

DEFRA guidance on trading in CITES listed species in the event of a no-deal BREXIT

ENDS Report - The environment after BREXIT

​FIRA joined over 60 other delegates in attending a workshop event organised by the ENDS Report.

​UK REACH alignment after BREXIT

REACH is a European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals...

Update on the new proposed 'Fire Safety of Domestic Upholstered Furniture Regulations'

Impact following the dissolution of Parliament

Research Association members respond to Government Flammability Regulations Consultation

Collective member feedback on the 19 questions raised in the Government consultation

Flammability Regulations Consultation Update – OPSS responds to questions

Answers from Government regarding questions raised by members at our Flammability Consultation Forums

Flammability Checklist for Products Guidance

Checklist to help companies identify that products have the correct test certification to comply with the UK Flammabilit...

Flammability Checklist for Products Guidance now available for members

Resource to help with checking that a product has been tested to the correct flammability standard(s)

Flammability technical forum documents now available

Output from the forum is now available to all members

New Flammability Tracker Template available to members

Supporting members in demonstrating compliance to the relevant fire performance or flammability requirements

Flammability Tracker Template

Furniture Flammability testing tracker to help you manage your flammability testing responsibilities

'Characteristics of modern domestic fire scenarios'

This forms part of the current review into the UK domestic flammability regulations

New Approach ...to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations

Fourth in a series of newsletters from OPSS is now available

The Irish Fire Safety Regulations for Upholstered Furniture Update

Further guidance and clarity from the Irish authorities is needed

FIRA and Trading Standards confirm flammability requirements for office work chairs used in a domest...

The guidance covers four ‘scenarios’ and clarifies whether the FFFSR would fully apply, alongside the role of the GPSR

New Approach … to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations

As part of the review of the UK domestic flammability regulations, OPSS share updates on the project

Flammability Guidance for Contract Seating: Fire Safety of Office Work Chairs in Domestic Environmen...

In conjunction with Trading Standards, clarifies whether the FFFSR would fully apply in four scenarios

Meeting the requirements of the Irish Fire Safety Regulations

The BFC, BRC and UKTLF are working together on guidance for the industry on the differences between the two sets of Regu...

Upholstered furniture supplied to ROI must now meet Irish regulations, not UK regulations

This is a change in advice previously received and must be implemented with immediate effect

The 'why' and 'how' of flammability testing for domestic and contract Furniture’ playback

Replay available to all members via our service provider, FIRA International

Webinar: Demystifying the flammability regulations

Playback available, which centers on regulations for furniture and beds, across domestic and contract markets

Fire safety of contract seating in domestic settings - News - The Furniture Industry Research Associ...

Draft guidance document on the fire safety of contract seating in domestic environments to be produced

Clarifications from Trading Standards regarding contract chairs in a domestic environment

Clarification relates to 'legacy’ chairs (marketed pre-pandemic), contract chairs (marketed post-pandemic) and mesh back...

New approach …to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 2021

January newsletter from OPSS

Fire safety of contract seating in domestic settings - News - The Furniture Industry Research Associ...

We've set up a cross sector steering group to establish clear guidelines that can be applied to office chairs used in th...

Contract flammability regulations are the fifth and final training session for members

Gives high level overview of the regs and address some of the main queries

Introduction to Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Contract Sector Training

Recorded training providing a high level overview of the contract flammability regulations

Consumer attitudes to fire safety information on furniture

Results from The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) research

Domestic flammability regulations are the focus of a new training session

Includes requirements, responsibilities, testing and labelling

Introduction to the Domestic Flammability Regulations Training

Recorded training to help you understand the fire safety regulations for household furniture

Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended

Due to Covid-19 OPSS have been revising their timetable and does not expect to have new regulations ready until 2022

Implications of providing office/contract chairs for employees who are working at home

Clarification from OPSS: do office chairs in the home need to comply with the FFFSR if they've been tested to BS 7176: 2...

Implications of providing office/contract chairs for employees who are working at home

Clarification from the OPSS (Office for Product Safety Standards) via the Hertfordshire Trading Standards Office (TS), t...

Interim enforcement policy for mattresses and mattress pads

CPSC’s Office of Compliance is revising the Interim Enforcement Policy

California AB2998 and ASTM E05 Fire Committee

California regulation prohibiting flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture

BS 7176 compliance: Guide for manufacturers seeking to claim compliance

The route for claiming compliance with BS 7176 - Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for n...

Furniture Fire Safety​

Key point: upholstered furniture has a significant impact on domestic house fires

Westbridge recognised as ‘certified company’ under fire compliance scheme

Three of Westbridge’s UK production sites were assessed during audit process

Whitemeadow achieve ‘Certified Company’ status under compliance scheme

Compliance Scheme includes upholstery manufacturers, retailers and suppliers.

ACL 2002 LTD gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire compliance scheme

Part of the process to become a ‘Certified Company’ was an in-depth audit

Mobus first fabric supplier to gain ‘Certified Company’ status under compliance scheme

They underwent thorough audit of processes and procedures

Interim policy for mattresses and mattress pads

Policy for mattresses subject to 16 CFR part 1632

Buoyant Upholstery gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire compliance scheme

“Compliance and Safety is always at the forefront at everything we do"

Lebus Upholstery become first independent manufacturer to gain ‘Certified Company’ status under fire...

The audit demonstrated that Lebus Upholstery have robust processes and procedures in place.

DFS gain further ‘Certified Company’ status under upholstery compliance scheme

Furniture manufacturers, DFS Furniture Company Ltd, has achieved ‘Certified Company’ status under the Furniture Industry...

New 'Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture'

The new Compliance Scheme has been in operation for a month, and the first two companies to gain Certified Company statu...

DFS gain ‘Certified Company’ status under new fire compliance scheme

​Furniture retailer DFS​ has gained ‘Certified Company’ status under the Furniture Industry Research Association’s (FIRA...

Advances in the substitution of Hazardous Flame Retardants In Home Textiles

FIRA recently attended a meeting in Brussels that outlined the scope of an EU funded project promoting research into red...

ScS first UK retailer to achieve Certified Company status under new FIRA Compliance Scheme

ScS​, one of the UK’s leading furniture and flooring specialists, has become the first national furniture retailer to ac...

Compliance Scheme benefits for manufacturers

FIRA Compliance Scheme benefits for manufacturers, Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, ...

How to join the FIRA Flammability Compliance Scheme

Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, furniture flammability compliance scheme

European Chemical Agency calls for evidence on flame retardants used in polyurethane foams

The European Chemical Agency (ECHA), with support from the Danish EPA, has recently published a draft screening report w...

FIRA Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture

Scheme for companies to show their commitment and compliance with the UK furniture fire safety Regulations

Compliance Scheme benefits for retailers

Benefits for retailers, Compliance scheme for the Fire performance of upholstered furniture, furniture flammability comp...

BFC Proposal for updating UK Flammability Regulations - June 2017

Summary of the British Furniture Confederation’s Proposed Revision of Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regula...

The use of fire retardants

On 11 April The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) released a statement about the use of fire retardant chemicals in ...

​​Consultation on updating Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations

FIRA was informed yesterday that the Government has re-started the consultation into a potential revision of the fire sa...

​Report into current and alternative flame retardant technologies for furniture and furnishings

Cause for concern over the potential toxicity of some flame retardant chemicals has prompted the UK's largest furniture ...

The potential impact of flame retardants on the 'end of life' of upholstered furniture and furnishin...

This report investigates the impact of the presence of flame retardants on the furniture industry in relation to the dis...

Current and Alternative Flame Retardants for Upholstered Furniture

The use of flame retardants in furniture and furnishings is of great significance, especially in the UK, where fire safe...

Flammability Testing: Best Practice Guide (FRQG)

Guide to help manufacturers and suppliers of upholstery and components to identify the flammability testing requirements...

Contract Flammability Guide: Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Non-domestic Sectors

This guide intends to clarify the regulations and explain the requirements for non-domestic furniture and furnishings, o...

Flammability Guide: Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Home

This guide outlines the UK Furniture and Furnishings Flammability Regulations and the responsibilities of different orga...