Hi, I'm wondering how this applies to offices, as the FRA simply states we must comply. I'm not sure if computer chairs are included as even new ones bought recently don't have any labels. Any information welcome, thank you

Despite the suggested withdrawal of the statutory instrument it remains in force in the 45th anniversary year of the Manchester Woolworth's fire which prompted its creation.

If your recent purchases arrived without label might I suggest the retailer or importer has been negligent.

Having just flipped a recent flat pack store puchase the permanent Carelessness Causes fire label is present.

This applies to almost all furniture and furnishings supplied in the UK. 

S.I. 1989 No 2358 The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1989

“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”.

Interestingly the "domestic" description appears in the review

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/fire-safety-regulations-reform-for-furniture-and-buildings-in-england/#heading-3

The supply chain has signficantly altered since these regulations were written, gone are many of the domestic furniture manufacturers with those selling furniture trading goods made overseas.

Those overseas manufacturers are making bulk orders with no idea of the end user.

As to the question "why would it apply to office furniture" - quite a lot of recent debate on here about DSE and home working including employers who "provide" chairs for use in what is a domestic environment.

Search "computer chair" on a major catalogue retailer web site and you get presented with 56 products where the decription "office chair" makes no comment they should not be used in a domestic environment.

Similarly in the actual office we see what are blatantly domestic chairs one or two people using the like of an "eSports ergonomic gaming chair".

Going belt and braces if the labels are present then we are complying with national legislation.

Where labels are not present chairs should not be "donated" to anyone who may use them in a domestic situation - even giving them away for free still has the provider considered a supplier under the regulations.

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

S.I. 1989 No 2358 The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1989

“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”.

That text is in reg 7 (5) (b), and reg 7 of the amendment regs amends reg 8 of the 1988 regs, and says "In this regulation ... "furniture" means any furniture other than...".  But I think it's not 'any furniture' unless it's "furniture of any description which is ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling" as per the 1988 regs definition. The 1989 regs do not contain any wider definition of furniture than that in the 1988 regs, as far as I can see (though I may have missed it).

That is, my reading is that in that specific regulation, 'furniture' means any furniture of any description which is ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling other than mattresses, bed-bases, etc.

1988 regs: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324

1989 regs: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/2358/contents/made