Fire Safety

Fire Retardant (FR) Treatment

A concise guide to UK compliance for upholstery and window fabrics—what FR means, where it’s needed, and how we can prepare your chosen fabric.

Always consult a qualified upholsterer or workroom for project-specific advice. The notes below are an overview, not legal guidance.

What FR Means

FR fabrics reduce flammability and slow flame spread. Some fibres are inherently more resistant; others require specialist treatment to meet standards.

Where It’s Needed

In the UK, domestic furniture must comply with fire safety rules, while fabrics in commercial settings such as hotels, offices, and rental properties are often required to be fire-retardant.

Lead Time

Allow 12–15 working days for FR treatment and certification. Timeframes vary with fabric type and order size.

UK Regulations (Overview)
  • BS 5852 (Upholstery): ignition resistance for domestic/contract seating.
  • Crib 5 (Contract): higher performance level typically required for public spaces.
  • BS 5867 (Curtains): performance for curtains and blinds in domestic/contract settings.

Exact requirements depend on use, venue type, and construction (e.g. interliner/barrier cloth).

Typical Applications
Home Upholstery
Check if exempt; often needs barrier cloth/interliner.
Contract Seating
Usually Crib 5 with certification.
Curtains/Blinds
BS 5867 testing; fabric + lining affect outcome.
Public Venues
Hotels, offices, schools—specify early with your contractor.

How Our FR Service Works

1) Choose Fabric
Select any Simon Philip Interiors fabric you would like treated.
2) Add FR Treatment
On the product page, ensure you order 5m or more and then opt in to select the required treatment.
3) Confirm
Confirm your acknowledgement that any test pieces and shrinkage will reduce your ordered amount.
4) Certification
Fabric is treated/tested as required and supplied with certification.

Note: some fabrics only pass Crib 5 in combination with a compliant fire barrier interliner. This may only be confirmed post-treatment.

Ready to specify FR?

Share your use-case and we’ll confirm the correct route—treatment, interliner, or both—along with certification and lead time.

Talk to our team

Important: We do not sell fabrics as pre-treated or automatically compliant. Please obtain professional advice for your specific furniture and venue.