IS THERE A SOLUTION?
YES! Fire safety is important. Let us achieve fire safety by thoughtful design.
In Europe and the US, safety standards use a smouldering “cigarette” test, rather than the UK's 'open flame test' . A smouldering cigarette test addresses the single largest cause of fires - cigarettes - and the test can be passed without the use of CFR's.
We understand from both the American and EU market that the vast majority of fabrics pass the cigarette test without the addition of CFR's.
In Europe, the European General Product Safety Regulations ensure that many safety factors are assessed and balanced against each other, for example:
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Safety in the home from toxic exposure
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Safety in a fire from toxic smoke
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Damage to the environment
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Harm to families in homes near incinerators
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Harm from climate change due to furniture incineration
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Fire safety
Data comparing statistics from fire related deaths across Europe show a general downward trajectory across all countries, including the UK. This suggests that the downward trend in fire deaths is not related to CFRs but instead is due to other factors - smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, fire doors, fire escapes, outdoor smoking, public awareness campaigns, reduced smoker numbers, impressive fire service response times and other factors common across Irish, UK and European fire fighting.
IN 2013, STUDIES LINKING FLAME RETARDANTS T0 IMPAIRED NEUROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT LED TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA FIRE SAFETY LAWS TO ALLOW DOMESTIC FURNITURE TO BE SOLD WITHOUT CFR'S.
THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWED SUIT.
THE EU HAS NEVER INSISTED ON THE MATCH TEST, AND HAS THEREFORE AVOIDED CFR'S IN DOMESTIC HOME FURNITURE.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTS, DESCRIBED IN THEIR SIMPLEST TERMS.
Smouldering Cigarette test
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Imagine someone drops a lit cigarette on the sofa and doesn’t notice.
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The cigarette just sits there and slowly burns out.
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The test checks that:
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The sofa does not catch fire
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It doesn’t keep smouldering (quietly burning inside)
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A little scorch mark is allowed, but no flames and no ongoing burn.
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In the EU, the USA and the UK there is a cigarette test.
Open flame test
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Now imagine someone holds a lighter or match against the sofa for a short time.
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In the test, a small flame is held against a weak spot (where the seat meets the back) for about 20 seconds.
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The flame is then removed.
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The sofa must:
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Not catch fire
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Stop burning on its own once the flame is gone
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The UK is the only country in the world to apply this stringent test, and it is this test that can almost never be passed without the addition of chemical flame retardants.
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There is no evidence that the open flame test results in more lives saved.
Fire safety by design
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In place of the open flame test, we would like to see a "safe in normal use" obligation, as set out in the EU General Product Safety Regulations.
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This could be achieved through design measures that address fire safety, chemical exposure safety, and smoke effluent safety.
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In practice, this design approach could include the use of non-CFR fire-barrier fabrics (such as wool–viscose blends). Furniture could be further protected against ignition by positioning ignitable materials (such as foam) low within the furniture’s filling build-up.
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This allows for real life reduction in chance of ignition while also eliminating unnecessary toxins from the home and reducing smoke toxicity in the event of a fire.
WE CALL UPON THE UK GOVERNMENT TO:
STOP
The requirement for the 'open flame' test which is almost impossible to pass without Chemical Flame Retardants
SWITCH
To harmonise our furniture fire safety regulations with the European General Product Safety Regulations
where a 'smouldering cigarette' test is used
We'll keep you informed on developments of fire safety