Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:
Committee reference FW/6
Draft for comment 07/30155284 DC; 11/30240948 DC

Publication history

First published July 1989
Second edition, September 1991
Third edition, October 1995
Fourth (present) edition, August 2007

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI and came into effect on 31 August 2007. It was prepared by Technical Committee FW/6, Flammability performance and fire tests for furniture. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 supersedes BS 7176:2007, which is withdrawn.

Relationship with other publications

The requirements, which relate to upholstered furniture for seating used in different areas of risk, are based on the methods of test given in BS 5852.

The Technical Committee responsible for the publication of BS 5852 has recommended that ignitability performance requirements for defined end-use environments be produced by the selection of specific ignition sources related to the level of the fire hazard envisaged for that environment.

It is important to note that the test report in BS 5852 contains the statement that the test results relate only to the ignitability of the combination of materials under the particular conditions of test and are not intended as a means of assessing the full potential fire hazard of the materials in use.

Information about this document

BS 7176:2007 was a full revision of the standard, and introduced changes arising from revisions to related standards. References to legislation were also updated.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by Amendment No. 1:2011 is indicated in the text by tags . Minor editorial changes are not tagged. The principal changes introduced by Amendment A1 are to the wording of the fabric specifications in Annexes A, B and C. These changes are to make the fabric specification identical to that stated in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 [3a]. The technical specification of the fabric, and the results of any ignitability tests in which the fabric is used, are not affected by the changes.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Although at present there is no legislation directly controlling the ignitability of contract and office furniture, there are statutory and other requirements in use as indicated in the important notes following Table 1.

Separate restrictions on the fire behaviour of materials used in domestic upholstered furniture for seating ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling are imposed by the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (SI No. 1324) [1], the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1989 (SI No. 2358) [2] and the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (SI No. 207) [3].

1 Scope

This British Standard 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 have been set after careful consideration of the fire risk of the particular end-use environment involved. These levels do not necessarily reflect the behaviour of the upholstered seating in a fully developed fire.

Upholstered seating for domestic use and transport is not covered by this standard.

NOTE Guidance on the applicability of hazard categories to particular premises is given in the Notes to Table 1.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Performance requirements for resistance to ignition

4.1 Ignitability

4.2 Durability of treatment

5 Sampling and frequency of testing

6 Labelling and identification

Bibliography

BS 7176:2007+A1:2011

Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing composites

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Aug 2007