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What is the fault?

As part of our continued quality assurance program it has come to our attention that there is a compliance issue with a limited number of our Belsa Beds purchased from sohohome.com and Soho Home Studio locations between August 2020 and November 2023.

The velvet fabric on the upholstered panels was treated to meet US flammability standards, rather than UK. This means your bed does not currently meet UK legal regulations for flammability, or compliance code BS5852.

What is BS5852?

Implemented in the UK since 1988, the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations contain requirements for the ignition resistance of upholstery components. BS 5852 is the British Standard test method used to confirm compliance to the UK Flammability Regulations.

The UK and US have different test standards, and our Belsa Beds are compliant with US code, rather than the UK.

What is the difference between UK and US regulations?

In the UK upholstered furniture composites must pass the cigarette test as outlined in Schedule 4, plus the additional match test as outlined in Schedule 5 of the Regulations.

In the US upholstered furniture must comply with the California Technical Bulletin 117-2013 Requirements, Test Procedure and Apparatus for Testing the Smolder Resistance of Materials Used in Upholstered Furniture


UK Regulation: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) Safety Regulations 1988 and Amendments

British Standard BS 5852: Test method 1:

  • Requirements: Schedule 4, Part 1, Smouldering Cigarette Test for Cover Fabrics (Ignition Source 0)
  • Result: Compliant

British Standard BS 5852: Test method 2:

  • Requirements: Schedule 5, Part 1, Match Test for Cover Fabrics (Ignition Source 1)
  • Result: Non-compliant

US Regulation: Flammability of Upholstered Furniture (Cover Fabric Material)

Test method: 16 CFR 1640 & California Technical Bulletin TB 117-2013 Section 1

  • Requirements: Smouldering Cigarette Test for Cover Fabrics
  • Result: Compliant

What is the solution to this issue?

A professional technician can visit your home to apply the same flame retardant treatment that should have been applied to the cover fabric during the manufacturing process. This will apply a clear, non-toxic, odourless treatment spray to the upholstered sections of your bed frame.

The application process will take approximately one hour from our technician arriving, and takes up to three hours to dry depending on temperature and ventilation of the room. Leaving no lasting odour, you'll be able to sleep in your bedroom the same day. We simply request that the mattress, bedding and any surrounding furniture is distanced from the bed to allow our team to access the upholstery panels.

This allows us to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, without your bed needing to be removed from your home.

What is the flame retardant spray?

During the manufacturing process of the upholstery fabric, a flame retardant treatment is often applied in order to comply with UK Flammability Regulations.

Soho Home uses a clear, non-toxic odourless spray, and ensures the appearance and texture of your upholstered furniture is maintained. The treatment is proven to be safe for both adults and children, and is compliant with UK BS5852.

What do I need to do next?

Once you have confirmed the address where the bed is located, our team will be in touch to arrange a suitable date and time to visit your property to apply the treatment.

We have technicians available to start straight away, and we are aiming to visit most mainland UK addresses within the next 12 weeks. As a first step we are confirming the current address where the bed is located, so we can plan how to visit all customers as quickly as possible.

What happens on the day the technicians arrive at my home?

We will provide you with a time slot for when the technician will plan to arrive at your property. The service will then take approximately one hour, plus a three hours drying time. You will then be able to use your bed and bedroom as normal.

Ahead of our technician's arrival we ask that you prepare your bedroom to ensure the upholstered areas of the bed are easily accessible. This includes clearing any bedding, removing the mattress and distancing bedside tables. If you are unable to move the bed yourself, our technician will aim to help with this.

What if I’m not at home, or I’ve recently moved?

We have technicians available across the UK who can visit most mainland addresses.

If you are based in or have moved to a European country please speak to our team about arrangements.

Has there been a problem so far with this?

Customers have not alerted us of any known problems from this issue so far.

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