A new investigation, Project Phoenix, has uncovered that several major online retailers are selling mattresses that do not comply with UK fire resistance regulations.
The joint study, conducted by the National Bed Federation (NBF) and the European Bedding Industries Association (EBIA), tested 101 mattresses available for sale in the UK, with products purchased from both online marketplaces and traditional retailers.
The tests were carried out by accredited test laboratories, and the products were examined against claims made both online and on the product labels.
In the UK and Europe, legislation exists to ensure consumer safety, and to prevent misleading advertisements or omissions that would affect a consumers decision to purchase. Examples of such legislation include: Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (1988); Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC); The Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations; and the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR).
BS 7177 is the British Standard used to demonstrate safety under GPSR, and requires the finished product to be tested for smouldering ignition to EN 597-1 and flaming ignition to EN 597-2. To comply with BS 7177, the mattress must pass both tests. Products that fail risk not only failing to meet regulatory requirements but also putting consumers’ lives at risk in the event of a household fire.
The study tested 101 mattresses from both online and traditional retailers, with prices ranging from £47.00 to £450 for a UK single-size mattress.
Of the 101 mattresses tested, 65% of the mattresses imported from outside the UK/EU failed to meet the required fire safety standards, state the NBF and EBIA, and were making claims about the specification of the product that were not accurate or were misleading.
Other potential issues were identified, including an indication that several products contained foam fillings that may not meet the requirements of the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations and a clear lack of labelling of the textile fibre composition, of which both are legal requirements.
NBF and EBIA state: "The findings reveal a deeply concerning lapse in safety compliance among some of the products sold by retailers, including several of the major online marketplaces and platforms, raising questions about supply chain oversight and product testing integrity.
"Product safety regulations are essential to protect consumers from dangerous products and to ensure the proper functioning of the market. Beyond the consumer safety implications, this issue is also creating an unlevel playing field for responsible manufacturers and retailers who invest time and resources to ensure their products meet all UK safety regulations. Brands that adhere to the law are being undercut by those who cut corners, a situation that undermines both consumer trust and fair competition.
“Consumers rightly expect that mattresses purchased from any retailer, whether online or in-store, adheres to the safety standards and are as advertised. These results demonstrate that this is not always the case, and urgent action is needed to ensure that only fully compliant, rigorously tested products are placed on the market.”
The results of this study have been shared with the relevant Government regulators in these areas, with a call for action for better regulation and monitoring of the compliance of products placed on the market.
