Fire regulations to know before buying contract beds
Heavy-duty beds used in hospitality sector premises must be compliant with more exacting fire regulations than conventional beds found at retail.
Source 5, sometimes called CRIB 5 standards, apply to businesses in the hospitality sector. Along with guest houses and hotels, this also includes holiday lettings and holiday parks as well as youth hostels, boarding schools, universities, care homes and health care facilities.
What is contract furniture?
Contract furniture is the name given to certain types of furniture and furniture components like headboards, beds and mattresses that effectively conform to the 1988 fire safety regulations established for "furniture and furnishings."
What exactly is CRIB 5 testing?
Beds designed to be used in commercial settings must comply with three specific British Standards to be legal. These standards have a selection of rigorous tests that furnishings must successfully pass in order to reduce any risk of ignition and help save human lives.
BS EN597-1 and BS EN597-2 are concerned with cigarettes and matches, respectively. A testing rig made from a piece of furniture's materials are exposed to a lit match or cigarette, and if no flames or smouldering occurs, the product will pass the tests. BS7177, also known as CRIB 5, is a test to check whether materials are flame retardant.
It's better to be safe than sorry, which is why contract furniture is carefully manufactured and expertly treated to increase its resistance to fire. It is the obligation of the supplier of such built-for-purpose furniture to make certain it passes all tests. To check if a product complies with CRIB 5, look for a green-coloured information tag. It is considered a legal offence for furniture to be sold without appropriate fire safety labels.
Keep your company compliant with regulations
Those who are operating care homes for the elderly and people experiencing mental health issues, as well as those running hotels and hostels, must be mindful of the sleeping solutions they are providing for guests onsite. It is illegal for any enterprise to employ contract beds and mattresses that do not meet the BS7177 Source 5 standard on any commercial premises they are responsible for.
Additionally, buying and using furniture which does not meet these crucial safety standards can not only be dangerous but render insurance policies invalid.
At Reinforced Beds, you'll find all our contract beds and mattresses supplied meet Source 5, with Source 7 options also readily available on request. Browse our extensive range of options here on our website.