.svg)
A senior MP has warned that the UK is still relying on decades-old furniture fire safety regulations that may be putting the public at risk from toxic substances.
Bob Blackman, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fire safety, said current standards have not been updated since 1988. As a result, millions of homes contain upholstered furniture made with materials that can release highly dangerous fumes when burned.
Blackman said campaigners have spent years pressing ministers to modernise the rules, but no concrete plan has emerged. He explained that many sofas, mattresses and armchairs are treated with chemical flame retardants applied to foams, fabrics and backing materials to pass strict ignition tests. However, many of these chemicals are now known to be harmful to human health, persistent in the environment and difficult to dispose of safely, leading to restrictions over time.
Across Europe, furniture fire safety regulations have been significantly reformed over the past two decades. These changes reduced reliance on toxic flame-retardant chemicals after research revealed health risks, environmental damage and new insights into how furniture behaves in real fire scenarios.
In the UK, while landlords must ensure rented properties meet basic fire safety requirements, consumers can still buy secondhand furniture with no information about the chemicals used in its manufacture. Blackman warned that such items often remain in homes for decades, posing ongoing fire and toxicity hazards long after they are produced.
He said people can easily purchase used furniture without understanding the risks involved, noting that foam cushioning is often the main driver of fire danger. When ignited, it can emit fumes that are highly toxic and potentially fatal.
Living rooms remain the most common origin of domestic fires, frequently sparked by heaters, candles or smoking materials. According to the APPG, current regulations fail to account for the behaviour of modern foams and flame-retardant substances, despite longstanding warnings from experts about their potential harm.
Blackman stressed that while fire-resistant furniture is essential, it is equally important to understand what chemicals are released when these materials burn and how those emissions affect human health—particularly for children, whose developing lungs are more vulnerable.
Concerns over fire safety intensified following the Grenfell Tower disaster, which exposed serious weaknesses in testing and certification systems. Blackman said some manufacturers sought higher safety ratings than their products warranted, highlighting that existing testing methods are inadequate.
Although ministers have acknowledged the urgency of the issue during meetings with the APPG, no updated regulations have been introduced. While the Building Safety Act allows the government to change standards without new primary legislation, industry resistance remains a major obstacle. Furniture manufacturers argue that stricter rules would raise costs, but Blackman said any trade-off between chemical reduction and fire risk must be guided by scientific evidence.
Environmental disposal is another unresolved problem. Sofas and mattresses are often incinerated or recycled, yet it remains unclear what happens to the toxic gases released during burning or the long-term risks of landfill disposal. Consumers purchasing secondhand furniture are largely unaware of these hidden dangers.
Although domestic fire rates have declined overall, Blackman warned against complacency, saying the risks are well understood and government inaction can no longer be justified.
Joanna Cloy of environmental charity Fidra added that flame-retardant chemicals not only increase smoke toxicity during fires but also gradually escape into homes over time. She warned that people are still being exposed to banned chemicals and newer substitutes that face restrictions or review in the EU.
Cloy said the UK has fallen behind European chemical safety standards and must urgently strengthen regulations to better protect consumers from ongoing exposure to harmful flame-retardant substances used in furniture.
