UK and EU contract furniture compliance: what to check before a quote
Our main markets are North America and Australia. For projects in the United Kingdom and the European Union, these are the standards and rules we check first for contract seating, storage and wood-based furniture.
Fire: BS 7176, BS 5852 and EN 1021
If your specification calls for a fire standard for upholstered seating in a non-domestic space in the United Kingdom, the test report has to match the cover and filling on your order, because each test covers a combination of materials.
BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 — non-domestic seating
BSI lists BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 as current. It specifies requirements for the resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture used for seating when tested in accordance with BS 5852, BS EN 1021-1 or BS EN 1021-2, as appropriate. The levels of ignition resistance were set with the fire risk of the end-use environment in mind, and guidance on which hazard category applies to which premises is given in the notes to Table 1 of the standard. Upholstered seating for domestic use and for transport is not covered.
BS 5852:2006 — the test methods
BSI lists BS 5852:2006 as current; it came into effect on 31 March 2006. It describes methods for assessing the ignitability of material combinations, such as covers and fillings, or complete items of seating, with a smouldering cigarette or flaming ignition sources ranging from a burning match to roughly four double sheets of full-size newspaper. BSI notes that the results relate only to the combination of materials under the particular test conditions.
EN 1021-1:2014 and EN 1021-2:2014
These European Standards specify test methods for the ignitability of material combinations used in upholstered seating: Part 1 with a smouldering cigarette, Part 2 with a small flame. Both measure only the combination of materials, not a finished item of furniture.
Domestic furniture is a different route
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 cover furniture ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling. Which route applies to your project is for your specifier to decide; tell us, and we ask for the matching report before we quote.
Seating and storage: the EN standards
The European Standards separate office work chairs from other non-domestic seating. The editions below are the newest ones listed by the Estonian Centre for Standardisation and Accreditation (EVS).
EN 16139:2025 — non-domestic seating
Safety, strength and durability requirements for all types of non-domestic seating intended for adults weighing not more than 110 kg, including office visitor chairs. It does not apply to ranked seating, office work chairs, chairs for educational institutions, outdoor seating or links for linked seating, and it does not include requirements for flammability. It follows the 2013 edition.
EN 1335 — office work chairs
EN 1335-1:2020+A1:2022 specifies the dimensions of three types of office work chair and the test methods for measuring them. EN 1335-2:2018 specifies safety, strength and durability requirements for office work chairs, based on use for 8 hours a day by people weighing up to 110 kg; it does not apply to other seating in the office.
EN 16121:2023 — non-domestic storage
Safety, strength and durability requirements for all types of non-domestic storage furniture. It does not apply to domestic, industrial, kitchen, catering or retail storage, or to industrial storage lockers, and it does not include flammability requirements. A corrigendum, EN 16121:2023/AC:2025, followed in 2025.
Timber and formaldehyde
These rules apply to the materials inside the furniture rather than to one product type. Your importer and specifier decide what applies to your project.
| Product and market | Standard or rule | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| European Union — formaldehyde | REACH Annex XVII, entry 77 (Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 of 14 July 2023) | After 6 August 2026, furniture and wood-based articles must not be placed on the market if the formaldehyde released under the test conditions in Appendix 14 exceeds 0.062 mg/m³. For other articles the limit is 0.080 mg/m³. |
| European Union — wooden furniture | EU Deforestation Regulation, (EU) 2023/1115, as amended by (EU) 2024/3234 and (EU) 2025/2650 | Wooden furniture and parts (9403 30, 9403 40, 9403 50, 9403 60 and 9403 91) and wooden seats (ex 9401) are in scope. The main obligations apply from 30 December 2026; the later date of 30 June 2027 for certain micro and small operators does not cover products already under the EU Timber Regulation, (EU) No 995/2010, which is repealed with effect from 30 December 2026. |
| United Kingdom — timber | Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/233) and Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 as it applies in the United Kingdom | Placing illegally harvested timber, or timber products derived from it, on the UK market is prohibited, and operators must exercise due diligence. The annex lists wooden furniture under 9403 30, 9403 40, 9403 50 00, 9403 60 and 9403 90 30. The 2013 Regulations came into force on 3 March 2013. |
| United Kingdom — domestic upholstered furniture | The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/1324) | Cover furniture ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling, including beds and divans with their bases and headboards, sofa-beds, cushions, mattresses and pillows. The definition in regulation 3 was last amended with effect from 30 October 2025. |
As of September 2026. These are examples, not a complete list. REACH entry 77 and the EU Deforestation Regulation are EU rules; for a project in the United Kingdom, tell us what your specification calls for. More on our compliance page →
What we match to the order
A report for a similar product, or for the factory in general, does not cover your item. These are the documents we ask the source for before we quote.
For upholstered seating
- The test report to the standard your specification names, with the laboratory and the date.
- The cover, filling and interliner the test was run on, matched to the fabric and foam on your order.
- If you supply the fabric (COM), its own test evidence.
For chairs and storage
- The standard and edition, for example EN 16139:2025 or EN 1335-2:2018.
- The exact model and configuration in the report.
For wood-based furniture
- The formaldehyde test result for the finished article or its panels, where the EU limit applies.
- The information about the timber that your importer’s due diligence asks for.
UK and EU compliance: questions project teams ask
What is BS 7176?
A British Standard, currently BS 7176:2007+A1:2011, that specifies requirements for the resistance to ignition of upholstered seating in non-domestic use when tested to BS 5852, BS EN 1021-1 or BS EN 1021-2. Upholstered seating for domestic use and for transport is not covered.
What is the difference between BS 5852 and EN 1021?
Both are test methods for the ignitability of upholstered seating. EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2 use a smouldering cigarette and a small flame; BS 5852:2006 extends the range of ignition sources up to roughly four double sheets of full-size newspaper and can also test complete items.
Which EN standard applies to office chairs and visitor chairs?
Office work chairs have their own standard, EN 1335: Part 1 for dimensions and Part 2 for safety, strength and durability. Other non-domestic seating, including office visitor chairs, is covered by EN 16139:2025.
What is the EU formaldehyde limit for furniture?
Entry 77 of REACH Annex XVII, added by Regulation (EU) 2023/1464: after 6 August 2026, furniture and wood-based articles must not be placed on the market if the formaldehyde released under the test conditions in Appendix 14 exceeds 0.062 mg/m³.
Does FBM Furniture decide which rules apply?
No. Your specifier, importer and approving authority decide. Tell us where your project is and what your specification calls for, and we check the product evidence before we quote.
Send the specification with the schedule
We check the test report for the exact model and materials before we quote.