Millions of UK households are at risk from toxic materials in upholstered furniture due to outdated fire safety regulations dating back to 1988, according to MP Bob Blackman, chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fire safety. He warned that current rules fail to address the release of dangerous fumes when furniture burns, leaving consumers exposed to harmful flame retardant chemicals.
Blackman said the government has not updated the standards despite years of lobbying, and that secondhand furniture sold without chemical information poses a particular danger. 'You can walk into a secondhand shop today and buy furniture without knowing the dangers associated with it,' he said. The MP noted that many flame retardants used to meet ignition tests have been linked to toxicity and environmental persistence, with some restricted over time.
Europe has significantly reduced the use of such chemicals in sofas and mattresses over the past two decades, driven by health and environmental concerns. However, UK rules still rely on materials that can produce toxic fumes when burned. The APPG argues that modern foams and retardants behave differently in real fires, and that testing is 'not fit for purpose' following the Grenfell Tower fire, which exposed flaws in safety checks.
Blackman highlighted that most domestic fires start in living rooms, often from heaters, candles or smoking. While the number of fires has fallen, he warned against complacency. 'The dangers are well known, the evidence is clear and the government must act,' he said. The Building Safety Act allows ministers to introduce new rules without primary legislation, but industry pressure over costs has stalled progress.
Environmental concerns also remain, with questions over the disposal of toxic materials in incineration or landfill. Joanna Cloy from the charity Fidra noted that people are exposed to legacy chemicals that migrate out of furniture over time, as well as their replacements. The APPG has held repeated meetings with ministers but reports 'no meaningful progress' on updating the regulations.
