Fire Safety by Design: Why Crib 5 Compliance Matters in Commercial Furniture

Safety should no longer be a secondary consideration, especially in times of rapidly evolving landscapes of workplaces designs. While often acknowledging the importance of ergonomic comfort, acoustic performances and biophilic features, fire-safety measures should be everyone’s top priority.

At Radius Office, we work closely with architects, designers, and increasingly, one question keeps cropping up: “Is this fabric Crib 5 certified?”. Now, here's why that question matters, and how Crib 5 fire testing shapes both design responsibility and legal compliance in the workplace.

What Is Crib 5 — and Why Should You Care?

Crib 5, also known as Ignition Source 5, is a crucial term within the furniture industry, referring to fire safety standards that all furniture and furnishings in non-domestic buildings must comply to, established by the UK Fire Regulations Act of 1988. These fire regulations make sure that furniture, particularly made of upholstered fabrics, such as our acoustic meeting pods used in commercial structures are treated with the purpose of significantly reducing the risk of ignition, which could save lives. Because of its very high, strict standards, the potential for fire to start is greatly minimised.

“Crib 5 compliance can reduce the spread of fire by up to 75%, significantly lowering the risk of injury or property damage.”  — Winchester Furniture Co.

Even though CRIB5 is a UK-specific standard, it often aligns with broader quality assurance frameworks like ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems). Manufacturers and suppliers with these ISO certifications typically have rigorous quality control processes in place — ensuring consistent compliance with tests. That means fewer grey areas for specifiers and a higher level of trust in documented performance. 

Crib 5 testing includes three-levels:

1. Cigarette test (BS EN 597-1) - Done by placing a lit cigarette in a gap in the test frame. Afterwards, if no flames or smouldering occurs, the tested material is considered safe to use.
2. Match test (BS EN 597-2) - A lit match is held alongside a crevice of a test rig for 20 seconds, which is made of questionable materials. The aim of the test is to recreate a scenario where a small open flame comes directly in contact with the furniture. If no flames or smouldering shows, the material is given a “no ignition” label.
3. Crib 5 Test - Done by placing a crib-like structure made of wood and glue together, five tiers high, lint at the bottom with a non-flammable liquid. To pass the test, the crib must self-extinguish within 10 minutes without burning through the material or the padding below it.

Meeting these Crib 5 requirements for fire resistance should be the bare minimum of any furniture industry.

Materials compliant to Crib 5 Test

As far as materials go, not all can be compliant to the Crib 5 Test. Only upholstered furniture that contains foam can be CRIB5; a wooden chair or metal table base would not be able to obtain the certification.

Materials that are natural, such as cotton or silk have greater chances to ignition, while synthetic blend materials can be designed to resist fire. The fire resistance can also be increased by treating the materials with fire-retardant chemicals or back-coatings.

On the other hand, materials like untreated wood or pure linen even after being treated with those fire-retardant chemicals can still fail the Test. That is why choosing suitable materials during the design process is of great importance.

A Real-World Example: Keeping Safety Stylish

According to an analysis of the UK fire statistics (2009–2014) published in Chemosphere (2018) shows that 77% of fire fatalities occur in dwellings. Although only 12.6% of fires occur in bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms, these account for 71.2% of the fatalities, with a much higher fatality rate.

Additionally, the research conducted by The University of Central Lancashire (2024) concluded that widespread use of chemical flame retardants applied to materials to prevent the ignition can leak out into air we breathe in, which can start numerous health problems.

Conclusion

Fire safety doesn’t have to be a bump on the road— when considered early, it becomes an advantage. Also, Crib 5 Test compliance shouldn't be just a box to tick — it’s a fundamental aspect of responsible, future-forward furniture design.

At Radius Office, we help clients balance compliance with creativity, ensuring every piece of furniture is beautiful, functional, and fire-retardant. Offering guidance, certified solutions, and peace of mind at every stage of your project.  When safety is your top priority and designed from the start, you don't just meet standards — you raise them. As we've seen, choosing Crib 5-certified materials isn’t always a straight pathway. Since it requires a balance of technical knowledge, material selection, and design intent. But we do have professionals to help you with it, so drop us a message or visit our product collections — we’re here to support your spec.