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Why it is important to buy a sofa made of quality fabric.

In the United Kingdom there are over 50,000 house fires each year, accounting for almost 400 deaths and 11,000 injuries per annum. There are many reasons for this, for example, chip pan fires and people being careless with lit cigarette stubs on a sofa, Even the smallest fire in the home is devastating, with loss of furniture, treasured possessions and personal items which can’t be renewed. It’s very important to safeguard the home, especially against the risk of fire.

Current UK regulation states that upholstered furniture must be made of materials which resist fire and should have a removable tag attached showing a lighted match and cigarette, plus a label giving production details. All furniture must comply with BS 5852. Yet many items of upholstered furniture fail to meet the test, resulting in hefty fines for the manufacturers.

Everything possible should be done to prevent sofas and other upholstered items setting on fire. This is particularly important as something as simple as a lit cigarette end or match carelessly dropped on a sofa can cause a room to become engulfed in smoke within minutes, releasing fatal gases. This is largely due to the polyurethane foam which used to be used as a filling in many sofas.

Although strict legislation is in place in the UK, upholstery is still being sold which is hazardous. When Trading Standards officers tested sofas manufactured by Europa Sofa Beds Limited (a UK manufacturer), two settees immediately went up in smoke when subjected to the match test. The sofas had been distributed to retail outlets and were on sale, which shows that there is still some furniture available to buy, which is in effect illegal.
However, there is not only the threat of fire from furniture such as sofas; substandard materials can cause other harmful effects to people. Earlier this year The Times reported that thousands of people had suffered severe allergic reactions due to sitting on furniture which emitted a toxic gas arising from an anti-mould agent used in manufacture. The sofas were manufactured in China and distributed by several High Street chain stores, including Argos.

Also, there can be a danger to babies if left sleeping on a sofa. A study of SIDS (sleeping infant death syndrome) published in The Lancet, showed that more than 1 in 10 babies’ deaths were accountable to infants being left to sleep on a sofa.

When people are choosing a new piece of furniture for the home, they consider style, colour, design, price, and whether the suite will fit into the room, along with other details. While these features are important there are far more important points to consider. Before any new upholstered item of furniture is purchased, particularly a sofa, which is used every day, they should check that the item conforms to British Standard BS5852. Look for two labels pertaining to each item of furniture – one removable swing tag, along with a permanent label. Ask the retailer to confirm that the upholstery follows safety standards and research using the internet.
When bringing new upholstery in the home it is essential that the items are completely safe. You can’t be too careful!
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