28 March 2024, 22:40
By Furniture News Mar 06, 2018

Research association plans compliance and flammability event

The Furniture Industry Research Association, along with Primary Authority partner Hertfordshire Trading Standards, has announced plans to host a Compliance and Flammability session in Long Eaton, Nottingham on Wednesday 18th April.

The event, aimed at those within the heartland of the UK upholstery industry including manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and importers, will include details of the Furniture Industry Research Association’s new Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture, which aims to offer reassurance that a manufacturer, retailer, upholsterer or supplier of domestic upholstered furniture has suitable processes and procedures in place to demonstrate due diligence compliance with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended).

It will then turn its focus to the efforts of the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) to kick-start a review of the regulations, including which parties would like to see change, as well as the pros and cons of possible updates. Following this will be a workshop on the regulations themselves, including what is in and out of scope, the schedules and requirements, the relevant British Standards and an understanding of obligations to due diligence. The session will then close with an open Q&A session where delegates will be able to ask compliance and flammability questions based on the individual circumstances of their organisations.

Phil Reynolds, director of the Furniture Industry Research Association, says: “We’re very much looking forward to taking the research association ‘on tour’ to Long Eaton, making us more accessible to those at the heart of the UK’s upholstery industry.

“We’re very keen to get our message across about compliance and to dispel any confusion regarding the flammability regulations. We’re grateful for the support once again of Hertfordshire Trading Standards as we do this through our Primary Authority Co-ordinated Partnership.

“This partnership also goes further in supporting Certified Companies of our new Compliance Scheme with Assured Advice regarding the flammability Regulations, as we know it’s vital for them to be able to show due diligence and have a trusted resource available.”

Richard Lewis from Hertfordshire Trading Standards adds: “It’s great to have the opportunity to once again directly support the furniture upholstery sector alongside the Furniture Industry Research Association. At the first event held in Hertfordshire we sensed a real interest from the delegates on how they can achieve compliance with the flammability regulations, and it was great to be able to offer the view of Trading Standards directly on this topic. We look forward to taking our message out to a wider audience.”

The free event taking place in Long Eaton, which is open to all from across the upholstery supply chain, is now open for registration.

Further details on the Furniture Industry Research Association’s new ‘Compliance Scheme for the Fire Performance of Upholstered Furniture’ is available here.

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