Two-thirds of imported mattresses failed fire safety testing. What it means for housing providers.
A joint study by the National Bed Federation (NBF) and the European Bedding Industries Association (EBIA), published in May 2026, tested 101 mattresses on sale in the UK and found that 65% of those imported from outside the UK and EU failed to meet the required fire safety standards. The same products were also making claims, on their labels and online listings, that did not match the testing.
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For housing providers furnishing tenanted properties, the headline figure is striking. The more useful question sits underneath it: do you know which standards the mattresses entering your homes have been tested against, and can your supplier put the paperwork in front of you on request?
Why this matters for social housing
For mattresses supplied into social housing settings, the applicable standard is BS 7177 Medium Hazard. This requires the finished product to be tested for smouldering ignition to EN 597-1 and flaming ignition to EN 597-2, and the mattress must pass both tests to comply. A mattress that fails either test does not only fall short of regulatory requirements. It puts tenants at greater risk in the event of a fire. Bedfed
What your paperwork should be showing you
If you are procuring mattresses, the documentation should answer the following without you having to chase:
· Confirmation the mattress is tested to BS 7177 Medium Hazard, with results on file for both EN 597-1 and EN 597-2
· Evidence of compliance with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, including the 2025 amendments
· A traceable supply chain for foam and fillings, so you can show where each component has come from
· Labelling that meets the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations
· Specification claims that match the testing on file, with no gap between what is advertised and what has been certified
If a supplier cannot produce that documentation on request, the regulatory risk does not disappear. It transfers to you.
How FRC Living approaches it
FRC Living supplies mattresses and bedroom furniture to housing associations, local authorities and other registered providers across the UK. Every mattress we supply is tested to BS 7177 Medium Hazard. Fire safety documentation, supply chain traceability and labelling are held in audit-ready order as standard, not produced on request after the fact.
If you are reviewing your current mattress supply, or want a second opinion on what your supplier’s paperwork should be showing you, get in touch.