Contract Materials & Finishes
Fabrics, foam, boards, table tops and finishes specified by reference, approved as samples and tied to the quoted model before production.
Contract Materials & Finishes sourced from the factories that make it
Materials and finishes decide how a contract piece looks, wears and meets the rules of the destination market, and they are where quotations drift apart. We keep each contract fabric, foam, board, table top and finish tied to a named reference and an approved sample, so every quotation prices the same thing.
What we source
- Contract fabrics, including COM upholstery supplied by the client
- Foam and padding specified for seating
- Boards, veneers and laminates for casegoods and tables
- Stone, sintered stone and laminate table tops
- Finishes and colour references for metal, timber and upholstery
Go deeper by product
Covering reference, abrasion test, flammability evidence, foam and COM to write down before requesting quotes for upholstered contract seating.
Material, thickness, edge, core, fixing and evidence to write down before requesting quotes for marble, sintered stone and laminate table tops.
What your market asks for
Our main markets are North America and Australia, where contract furniture is specified against local standards.
| Product and market | Standard or rule | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| United States — upholstered seating | 16 CFR Part 1640, effective 25 June 2021 (applies California TB 117-2013) | Indoor seating furniture with an upholstered seat, back or arm, manufactured, imported or reupholstered on or after 25 June 2021, must meet TB 117-2013; since 25 June 2022 each product carries a permanent label reading “Complies with U.S. CPSC requirements for upholstered furniture flammability”. Mattresses, foundations and bedding are outside this part. |
| California — upholstered furniture | Business and Professions Code §19101, §19101.5 and §19094 | Since 1 January 2020, new upholstered furniture sold in California must not contain covered flame retardant chemicals above 1,000 parts per million, and the label states whether the upholstery materials contain added flame-retardant chemicals. On and after 1 January 2027, section 19101.5 also prohibits manufacturing, selling, offering or distributing in commerce in California new upholstered furniture that contains, or a constituent component of which contains, textile fiberglass, as that section defines it (law book read on 20 October 2026). |
| United States — composite wood | TSCA Title VI (40 CFR Part 770) | Hardwood plywood, MDF and particleboard, and component parts and finished goods containing them, must meet the emission standards and be labelled. Since 22 March 2019, importers of articles containing regulated composite wood products must also comply with the import certification regulations (19 CFR 12.118–12.127). |
| Canada — composite wood | Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (SOR/2021-148, as amended by SOR/2024-256) | A composite wood product that contains formaldehyde — including a component part or finished good — must not be imported, sold or offered for sale unless every panel in it meets the emission limits: 0.05 ppm for hardwood plywood, 0.09 ppm for particleboard, 0.11 ppm for MDF and 0.13 ppm for thin MDF. |
| Australia — wooden furniture imports | Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 (as amended from 3 March 2025) and Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 | Importers of regulated timber products must meet due diligence requirements. The Rules list wooden-frame seats (tariff items 9401.61 and 9401.69) and wooden furniture and parts (9403.30 to 9403.60 and 9403.91). |
| Australia — buildings | NCC 2025 Volume One, clause C2D11 | Sets fire hazard properties for internal linings, floor coverings and other listed materials in Class 2 to 9 buildings, including specific seating in some Class 9b buildings; “a joinery unit, cupboard, shelving, or the like” is listed among the exceptions. State variations apply, and your certifier decides what applies to your building. |
As of September 2026. These are examples, not a complete list. Requirements differ by product, building type and jurisdiction, and your specifier or certifier decides what applies to your project; we confirm what the factory holds before we quote. More on our compliance page →
What matters for this package
Name the reference
State the fabric, board, top or finish reference, the colour code and the usable width or thickness in the RFQ, so every maker quotes the same material.
Approve before production
For custom products, approve drawings, materials, fabric and finish samples before bulk production.
One inspection before shipment
When bulk production is finished, our own QC team carries out one inspection before shipment; your project team is welcome to attend.
Contract materials and finishes: questions clients ask
What should a materials and finishes specification include?
State the fabric, board, top or finish reference with its colour code, the usable width or thickness, the intended use, and any named test method required by the project.
Can we supply our own fabric?
Yes. Tell us if the upholstery is customer’s own material (COM), and record its usable width, repeat, direction and delivery responsibility.
When are samples approved?
For custom products, drawings, materials, fabric and finish samples are approved before bulk production.
Who inspects before shipment?
Our own QC team performs one inspection after bulk production is complete and before shipment. Your project team is welcome to attend.
How does FBM Furniture charge?
For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price.
To get a quotation, send us
- An FF&E schedule or product list, room by room, with quantities — plus drawings for any custom pieces
- The specification or a reference photo or link for each item: dimensions, materials, fabric and finish
- Your fabric and finish selections, or ask us to propose them; tell us if fabric is supplied by you (COM)
- Where your project is, so we check the standards your market requires
What the quotation shows. Per line: item, specification, materials, fabric and finish, dimensions, unit price, quantity, packing and lead time — like-for-like against your spec, any substitution flagged.
