The European directive for product safety does not contain spesific requirements to the fire saftety of upholstered furniture and mattresses. That is why some countries have no rules covering this area, while some countries have recommended criteria for special areas of application and some countries have regulations. England and Ireland have the strictest regulations in Europe.
The present Norwegian regulations state that all upholstered furniture and mattresses on the market must resist ignition by a glowing cigarette.

NORWEGIAN FIRE STATISTICS

The Norwegian fire statistics show that

• 58 % of the fires in buildings in 2005 were in homes
• 83 % of fatal fires in buildings were in homes (1999 - 2003)

The point of origin

• 30 % of fires in homes started in the bedroom or in the living room (2000 - 2004)

The initial ignited material

• 19 % of the fatal fires started in upholstered furniture or mattresses (1981 - 1992). In 43 % of the analysed fires the initial ignited material was unknown

Fire hazard

One may define different risk levels:

• Low risk: schools, offices
• Medium risk: health institutions, restaurants, hotels, theatres, cinemas, private homes
• High risk: prisons, mental hospitals
  In prisons the average is 9 fires per year. Of these fires 27 % are of unknown causes, 59 % are intentional and 14 % have other known causes.  In mental institutions the number of fires is 30 per year. 54 % of these are intentional, 36 % unknown causes, while 10 % have other known causes.

The requirements to fire safety for upholstered furniture and mattresses may be differentiated depending on the risk level and area of application.
Introduction to stricter requirements will reduce the fire risks in buildings where upholstered furniture and mattresses are a substantial part of the energy.  The requirements should include both private homes and public buildings.  This will reduce the number of fires in homes and the number of fatalities. A number of test methods and ignition sources are available to different risk levels. Therefore we don't need to develop new methods, just choose from existing ones. 

ANTICIPATED EFFECTS FROM STRICTER REQUIREMENTS

Stricter fire safety requirements to upholstered furniture and mattresses in the Norwegian market will reduce the number of fires and fatalities.  If the new requirements have the expected effect in 50 % of all fires, this will lead to:

• 10 % reduction in the number of fatal fires
• 10 % reduction in the number of fires in homes
• A lower number of fires in prisons and mental hospitals (app. 30 %)
• Less damage to properties
• Less probability for a high risk fire scenario (unacceptable disasters)

Read the report  no. NBL A06103 (in Norwegian only).