The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1989

7.  The following shall be substituted for regulation 8 of the 1988 Regulations:—

“(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, if furniture specified in paragraph (5)(b) below which contains filling material is supplied with a cover on it (whether or not the cover is over the filling material), any visible part of the cover shall pass the match test in Part I of Schedule 5 to these Regulations and any invisible part of the cover shall pass the match test in Part III of that Schedule.

(2) Where furniture is supplied with a cover on it and there is between it and any part of the cover an interliner which passes the test in Schedule 3 to these Regulations then provided that such part of the cover is made of a relevant material it need not pass the match test which would otherwise have been applicable to it under paragraph (1) above.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4) below, no person shall supply any cover or fabric knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to provide or replace—

(a) a visible part of the permanent cover of any furniture specified in paragraph (5)(b) below which contains filling material or

(b) an invisible part of such a permanent cover,

unless the cover or fabric passes, in the case of (a), the match test in Part I of Schedule 5 to these Regulations or, in the case of (b), the match test in Part III of that Schedule.

(4) Paragraph (3) above does not apply if the fabric or cover supplied is made of a relevant material and the person who supplies it knows or has reasonable cause to believe that it will be used to replace or provide any part (whether visible or invisible) of the permanent cover on furniture and that there is or will be between the furniture and such part an interliner which passes the test in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

(5) In this regulation—

(a) a “relevant material” means a material containing at least 75 per cent by weight of cotton, flax, viscose, modal, silk or wool, used separately or together and not coated with polyurethane or a polyurethane preparation; and

(b) “furniture” means any furniture other than the following: mattresses, bed-bases, pillows, cushions and insulated bags designed for carrying infants under the age of six months”.