Are Flame Retardants in Your Sofa Killing You? - Blog

For over 38 years, the UK's Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 have functioned as a masterclass in bureaucratic paralysis and toxic compromise.

During this current period of (alleged) introspection at the OPSS I thought it would be useful to re-look at some of the core issues around these regulations they are proposing to update.

While the OPSS is assessing responses to its latest consultation on replacing the furniture regulations with a new "smoulder-only" test, it seems an appropriate moment to look back over the department's handling of these regulations over the past twelve y…

For years, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has maintained a polite, professional narrative, that it is working in close, constructive partnership with our Irish counterparts to ensure furniture fire safety is maintained across the island

A Critical Assessment of the 2026 OPSS Proposals & The Case for a General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) Alternative Submitted by: Terry Edge Date: June 2026 1.

(Caveat: I am not a fire scientist nor a fire toxicologist.

For decades, the Department, the British Furniture Confederation (BFC), and various trade bodies have treated the 1988 Furniture Regulations as an untouchable lifesaver.

Below is the response I intend to make to the OPSS's current consultation on their proposal for a new fire test regime for the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.