FIRA International gain UKAS-Accreditation to Irish Flammability Regulations

In April 2021, the Irish Government Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced that they would no longer recognise the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended) (FFFSR) as complying with their equivalent regulation - the Irish Regulations S.I. No. 316/1995 - Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order, 1995. This move, which many across the industry regarded as a U-turn following previous announcements, was in response to the UK no longer being a member state of the European Union post-Brexit.

FIRA International has responded to the announcement by the Irish Government by gaining UKAS-Accreditation to S.I. No. 316/1995. This will enable the testing house to further support the UK furniture sector in their exports to Ireland through the issuance of Test Reports which are recognised as following testing to the required standard. In order to export to the Irish market and ensure compliance it’s imperative to have a test certificate to the S.I. No. 316/1995 - Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order, 1995 for domestic products.

Although there are some similarities between the UK FFFSR and S.I. No. 316/1995, the match testing process is different, mainly in the number of applications and duration of the applications when compared to the UK domestic flammability regulations.

The move by the Irish Government was made back in April 2021. Prior to this unexpected U-turn by the Irish Authorities, the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended) (FFFSR) were recognised as complying with the Irish Regulations S.I. No. 316/1995 - Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order, 1995. This enabled Test Reports to the UK version of the domestic flammability regulations to be accepted in Ireland. Labelling requirements were also previously harmonised, but this change in regulation does bring some required amendments to display swing tickets and permanent labelling. The British Furniture Confederation are seeking clarification on some further aspects of the Irish Regulations.

UK retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and exporters seeking the assurance of UKAS-accreditation to S.I. No. 316/1995 should contact our experts.