How do I know if my mattress is flame retardant?
UK law requires manufacturers to ensure that foam used in their products undergoes a fire-retardant treatment in order to comply with life-saving safety regulations.
We asked our suppliers Harrison Spinks & Silentnight what they do to ensure the mattresses on the market today are complying with UK Law, and ensuring our customers safety.
Silentnight said...
In summary, all of our products have to be tested by law according to the appropriate standards.
Our test lab is SATRA accredited and as a result it is independently audited on a regular basis. We have developed an automated system at Silentnight Beds that flags up every test criteria required for our products. Every different fabric and filling combination has to be tested before it is released for sale. None of our products are signed off without the appropriate test certification.
The test conditions are strictly controlled, down to the size and calibration of the flame and samples have to be conditioned prior to the test in a controlled environment to ensure there are no external variables that can affect the result.
The system we have developed means that all routine tests according to the standards are also picked up. For example, the various constructions and composites have to be retested every 6 months, or every 2000 units sold, whichever is soonest. This gives us 100% confidence that all of our models have live test certificates that can be accessed in minutes.
There are a series of specific stringent tests that each product has to go through and once they have passed the appropriate tests they are released for sale with the corresponding fire label attached.
At Silentnight we like to go above and beyond the British standard. We have recently employed a specialist in Materials and Fire Chemistry, allowing us to conduct research to better understand how fire behaves and how it can be controlled in the safest and most effective manner.
Harrison Spinks quoted:
Our mission is to change the way the world sleeps. In order to help us achieve this mission we are continuously investing in innovation in every area of our manufacturing. One of the most recent innovations at Harrison Spinks is the introduction of inherently fire retardant mattress ticking, this has no chemical fire retardant (FR) surface treatment.
We have recently invested in state of the art weaving looms meaning that the majority of our mattress tick is woven at our factory here in Leeds, where we hand make all of our mattresses.
It is woven from an incorporated modal viscose fibre (made of cellulose from trees such as the beech tree) and finished using only steam (water). It has inherent and permanent fire retardant properties, meaning there is no need to use any chemicals to treat our mattresses to make them fire retardant.
How do you know if your current mattress is safe?
Please check for the label's which states fire resistant (like in image above) or if you are purchasing a new mattress, divan set then the retailer should be able to answer your questions, and prove that their mattress and bases comply. Please look out for counterfeit label's, we always recommend buying from an NBF retailer like Bradfords, if you are not sure The Bed Advice UK website has lots of useful advice on buying a new bed, plus a list of registered retailers can be found at The Bed Federations website here.
Note the BS7177:2008 is the full product test for mattresses and bed bases and comes in 3 main classes; low hazard, medium hazard and high hazard.
If you would like to know if your mattress, base etc complies please do give us a call or email info@bradfordsevesham.co.uk.
Here at Bradfords, we are more than happy to help, our customer service team have the knowledge to help and advise, even if you do not want to buy a new bed right now and just want advice about your existing bed. However, if you do think it is time to replace your bed, mattress, then we are the largest bed and mattress retailer in your area of Worcestershire, and pride ourselves on our white glove customer service and large showroom with beds for you to try before you buy.
Call our bed experts team for advice on 01386 293989 or visit the showroom, free customer parking at rear, 9 High Street, Evesham, WR11 4DA.
Bradfords Carpet & Beds Ltd, 9 High Street Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4DA
Telephone 01386 293989 Email info@bradfordsevesham.co.uk
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Company House Number 11041201