Mattress Standards and Regulations for Businesses
As a business looking to buy a mattress for commercial purposes, you need to understand what makes the product(s) you’re investing in legally compliant, safe and high quality. Whether you’re the owner of a hotel, B&B, care home, student accommodation or any other type of commercial residence, this guide will take you through the rules and regulatory bodies which ensure legal requirements and health and safety standards are met.
UK mattress safety standards
UK mattress safety standards vary between commercial and domestic settings and are defined under the British Standard 7177. Commercially, mattresses are required to adhere to much stricter regulations, achieving a ‘medium hazard’ rating under BS 7177. This relies largely on passing ‘crib 5’ or ‘source 5’ testing. For domestic mattresses, a ‘low hazard’ rating must be achieved under BS 7177. This includes testing against smouldering cigarettes and match flames on full size mattresses.What certifications should mattresses for commercial use have?
On top of mandatory Crib 5 regulations (mentioned above), there are a couple of other certifications which commercial-use mattresses should include:- Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations 1988 – Statutory regulations which maintain that all upholstered products are made with fire resistant fillings and carry compliance labels.
- National Bed Federation (NBF) Approved – Purchasing from an NBF-approved provider, such as Castle Beds, means they have been audited and approved to be compliant with UK fire, safety and trade regulations.
The National Bed Federation (NBF)
The National Bed Federation is the UK and Ireland’s trade association for the bed industry. They audit bed and mattress sellers for their adherence to fire and safety standards against the following code of practice:
- Flammability
- Cleanliness and reuse
- Chemical and timber laws
- Trade descriptions
Mattress standards for UK businesses
The best way to educate your purchasing decision as a business looking for high quality and reliable mattresses is understanding the relevant criteria which the NBF and legislations actually define as important for safety and comfort.
Flammability
A business which produces mattresses must comply with fire safety regulations as per BS 7177. For commercial mattresses, this usually means that mattresses have been tested by placing a small wooden frame (crib) on the surface of the mattress, and igniting it. The resulting flames should extinguish themselves within 10 minutes, without burning through the underlying padding.Cleanliness
BS 1425 regulations stipulate certain hygiene standards and requirements for the fibrous/filling materials, ensuring they are free from biological contaminants.Trade description and labelling
Product descriptions and labels effectively just need to be accurate and truthful. This is important for compliance with consumer protection from unfair trading regulations (2008). Labels must state the percentage fibre content of covers and be clear to read.Chemical legislation
Mattresses sold by NBF members must be compliant with the following pieces of legislation:- Registration, evaluation, authorisation of chemicals (REACH) – All manufacturers importing chemicals into the UK need to register them with the European Chemicals Agency, outlining the chemicals, the risks and how the business will manage them.
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Stockholm Convention – A global environment treaty signed to protect human health and the environment. Parties must ban, phase out, or restrict certain chemicals during production and manufacturing.
- EU Biocidal Product Regulations 2012 – Biocides and chemicals used to treat mattresses are strictly regulated for health and safety purposes.
Compliant mattresses and beds with Castle Beds
If you are looking for high quality mattresses for commercial use, whether that be in a hotel, care home, student accommodation or another setting, we can help. Get in touch with the Castle Beds team for more information – we can find the right mattresses for your needs.