Buyer guides
Fire rules for upholstered contract seating: the UK and France in plain words
BS 7176 hazard levels, the EN 1021 cigarette and match tests, and the French AM 18 rule with NF D 60-013, explained simply, with a checklist of what to ask your chair supplier.
Short answer:
- Fire tests are about the upholstery: the cover fabric and the filling together. A wooden frame on its own is not what is tested.
- UK: contract seating is specified to BS 7176. It has four hazard levels. Restaurants and hotel bedrooms are medium.
- France: for buildings open to the public, upholstered seats fall under article AM 18. The related test is NF D 60-013.
- Everywhere: ask for the test report for the exact fabric and filling you are buying. A report for a different fabric does not count.
This guide is not legal advice. The person responsible for your building (fire officer, insurer, bureau de contrôle) decides which level you need.
Why the fabric and the filling are tested together
A fire usually starts small: a cigarette, a match, a candle. Whether a chair catches depends on the cover and the foam under it. That is why the tests below are done on the combination of cover and filling (source 1). Change the fabric, and the old test may no longer apply.
The two basic tests: EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2
Most rules in Europe build on two simple tests:
- EN 1021-1: the cigarette test. A lit cigarette is left on the seat.
- EN 1021-2: the match test. A small flame, like a match, is held against the seat.
These two tests are part of every level of the UK standard (source 1).
United Kingdom: BS 7176
BS 7176 sets four hazard levels for upholstered seating in non-domestic use. The higher the level, the bigger the test flame (source 1).
| Level | Typical places (examples from source 1) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Offices, schools, colleges, museums, exhibitions, day centres | Cigarette and match (EN 1021-1 and -2) |
| Medium | Hotel bedrooms, restaurants, pubs and bars, public halls, places of entertainment, casinos, hospitals, hostels | Low tests, plus a small wooden crib (source 5 in BS 5852) |
| High | Sleeping areas in certain hospital wards and hostels | Low tests, plus a larger wooden crib (source 7 in BS 5852) |
| Very high | Offshore installations, prison cells | Chosen by the specifier |
What this means for buyers: most restaurant and hotel projects in the UK ask for BS 7176 medium hazard. Ask your client before you order fabric.
France: AM 18 and NF D 60-013
In France, buildings open to the public (établissements recevant du public, ERP) follow a fire safety regulation. Its article AM 18 covers upholstered seats. The test standard that goes with it is NF D 60-013, which tests how the cover and filling together react to a small flame source (sources 2 and 3).
Two things to know:
- Not every seat in every ERP is covered the same way. It depends on the type of building and on the seating. Ask the bureau de contrôle for your project.
- A test report is not a certificate of conformity. A fabric maker's own document says so clearly (source 3). The report shows the fabric passed the test. The building's controller decides if the seat complies.
Other countries
Each country has its own rules, and many also have rules from insurers or tenders. When a specification only says "fire retardant", ask which standard and which level. The two EN 1021 tests are a good starting point to ask about.
What to ask your chair supplier
- Which standard and which level does this fabric and filling pass? (For example: BS 7176 medium, or NF D 60-013.)
- Can I see the test report? Check the lab name, the date and the fabric name.
- Does the report cover this exact fabric and this exact filling?
- If I supply my own fabric, who tests the combination?
- Can I keep a copy for the building file?
What RikoStyle says
On rikostyle.com, RikoStyle states that its fabrics and foams comply with European and UK fire-retardant regulations, and that certificates are given on request (source 4). Ask us for the test reports for the fabric and model you choose.
Sources
- SATRA, Upholstered contract furniture flammability (BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 hazard levels and tests): https://www.satra.com/spotlight/article.php?id=289
- AFNOR, NF D60-013 (description of the standard): https://www.boutique.afnor.org/en-gb/standard/nf-d60013/protocol-for-assessment-of-the-ignitability-of-upholstered-furniture-igniti/fa113581/27391
- Camira Fabrics, NF D 60-013 test document (links NF D 60-013 to article AM 18 as amended on 6 March 2006, and states it is not a certificate of conformity): https://www.camirafabrics.com/media/mtza4kjt/sumi-kyoto-nf-d-60-013-approval-mar-25.pdf
- RikoStyle, About: https://rikostyle.com/en/about
