Hansard

Polyurethane Furniture

Volume 975: debated on Wednesday 5 December 1979

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Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what plans he has for implementing regulations covering the manufacture of polyurethane furniture; and if he will make a statement;

  • (2) if he will introduce regulations covering the manufacture of polyurethane furniture to ensure match flame resistance in a three-year period; and if he will make a statement;
  • (3) if he will extend regulations covering the manufacture of polyurethane furniture to loose covers and other drapings in similar materials; and if he will make a statement.

    • Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

    :The draft Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1979 have today been laid before Parliament. If approved, they will with one exception come into force on 1 June 1980 and, subject to certain exclusions, will require upholstered seating furniture, whether or not containing polyurethane foam, to be labelled with a prescribed warning if it is not capable of satisfying the tests for resistance to ignition by smokers' materials set out in British Standard 5852: Part 1: 1979. From 1 December 1981 upholstered furniture will be required to satisfy the test for resistance to ignition by cigarettes. Whether it should also be required to pass the test for match flame resistance will be reviewed 12 months after the regulations come into force.The initial regulations will not apply to loose covers, among other things, sold separately from the furniture.