Mattress fire safety labels and the UK furniture fire rules

The law in brief

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 cover the flammability of upholstered furniture in the UK. Business Companion, the Trading Standards guidance site, says this "includes beds, sofa beds, cushions and mattresses" and that "both new and used furniture has to comply". Its list of what's covered includes divans, bed bases, mattresses, pillows and mattress toppers (their filling material), and upholstered headboards, footboards and bed side rails.

Mattresses and bed bases: look for BS 7177

Sofas and armchairs must carry a permanent label headed "CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE". Business Companion says that label "is not required on mattresses, divans and bed bases, which are covered separately in British Standard BS 7177" — the standard for resistance to ignition of mattresses, mattress pads, divans and bed bases.

So for a mattress, look for a label or product listing stating that it meets BS 7177. Business Companion's advice for second-hand sellers is to "look for a label stating compliance with British Standard BS 7177:2008+A1:2011". IKEA's mattress pages, for example, state that its mattresses meet the flammability requirements of BS 7177:2008+A1:2011.

What changed on 30 October 2025

GOV.UK guidance from the Office for Product Safety and Standards explains that the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 came into force on 30 October 2025. They:

removed the display label — the swing tag that used to hang on new furniture in shops is no longer required (shops may still sell existing stock that carries an accurate one);
took some baby and children's products out of scope, including mattresses for babies and children shorter than 170cm and narrower than 75cm (so cot and cot bed mattresses), cots, cribs, Moses baskets, travel cots and bedside sleepers. These must now meet general product safety law instead;
extended the time limit for prosecutions from 6 to 12 months.

Cot mattresses

For cot, travel cot and crib mattresses, The Lullaby Trust lists the standard to look for as BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021. If you use a second-hand baby mattress, it says the mattress should have a fire-resistant label (see our children's bed safety guide).

Second-hand mattresses and furniture

The rules also apply to used furniture sold by businesses. Business Companion advises sellers not to sell items without the right labelling until they've taken expert advice, and says furniture made before 1 January 1950 is exempt. The NBF warns that rogue traders have used "fake flammability labels" and passed off used mattresses in new covers — its advice is never to buy a mattress door-to-door or from the back of a van.

Quick checklist

Mattress, divan or bed base: look for BS 7177 on the label or listing.
Upholstered headboard, sofa bed or chair: look for the permanent "CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE" label.
Cot mattress: look for BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021.
Second-hand: be cautious, and avoid doorstep sellers.