When you’re required to show proof of fire safety, you’ll need to show a fire label. Sometimes these can be hard to find, and you’ll look all over your furniture to see where a fire label is. But do sofa cushions need fire labels?
Sofa cushions don’t necessarily need fire labels although sometimes they have them. As long as the furniture they’re a set of has a fire label, that will cover both the main sofa and the cushions.
I’ll run through what fire labels are and where to find them, as well as the rules surrounding fire labels. We’ll also consider some reasons why you can’t find the fire label on the furniture.
Does Furniture Have To Have Fire Safety Labels?
Fire safety labels are a requirement on furniture for commercial sales of new and used furniture. This means they have to be present on all upholstered or leather furniture.
However as these fire regulations are new inventions, very old or antique furniture is unlikely to have a fire label.
But following these rules and regulations regarding safety won’t apply to private sales. So if a fire safety tag has been ripped off, it won’t stop you giving it away or selling it.
However, if you’re using furniture in a commercial way such as a landlord renting out a furnished place, you are supposed to have fire labels.
Upholstery and other furnishings can catch fire easily, particularly from heaters or the embers from a cigarette. There is a high risk for fire especially from foam furniture.
Do Sofa Cushions Need Fire Labels?
Sofa cushions are considered part of the sofa, so don’t necessarily need a fire label on them. It is common to find fire labels attached to the cushions as well as the sofa. Open up the zip and look inside to find the tag, or around the seams.
Sofa cushions can contain feathers, foam, polyester, hollow-fill fiber, and batting. These fillings can make them quite flammable, particularly if not treated with flame retardants.
Do Cushions Need To Be Fire Retardant?
Cushions need to meet the same fire standards as the furniture they’re attached to. While this used to be via adding fire retardant chemicals, the efficacy of such dangerous chemicals has been called into question.
Now, the focus is on making sure the fabric does not contain any obviously flammable materials and low flammability filling.
What Furniture Needs Fire Labels?
The fire label standards are broad to cover any risk of increased flammability for furniture. This means any type of fabric-based upholstery is going to require fire testing.
The line between furniture and furnishings can be a bit blurry sometimes, but things like curtains, blinds, and bed clothes don’t need to be fire safe certified.
Mattresses will often require additional fire safety testing and will have a different set of labels.
Trying to find the label can be pretty tricky. For couches and sofas, look for it to be stitched in somewhere. This may be on the underside of the furniture, or under the cushions. Sometimes labels are behind loose covers on the back of the sofa.
You may have to investigate the underside of the cushions or within the cushions to find the fire safety label. You may also find the tags sewn into the sides.
For other types of furniture, flip it over or look behind it. The tags are normally hidden out of sight so look in areas that would not be visible from the usual perspective.
How Do You Get Rid Of Couches and Cushions Without Fire Labels?
Disposing of furniture so that it gets destroyed or recycled poses no issue if it is missing a fire label.
Research what options you have for unwanted furniture disposal. It will likely involve taking it to a local rubbish dump and paying the applicable fee.
Another option is bulk rubbish collections where they will come around your neighborhood and gather unwanted large objects. This is typically on set days of the year so find out when your next collection is.
Many charities will accept furniture even if it doesn’t have a fire label. There may be local rules that mean that only donations, rather than a price, can be accepted.
Charities will be much more familiar with the rules and regulations, so get in touch with them before organizing pickup so they can let you know what the rules are.
Charities may also have a pickup service including various moving equipment so that they can shift heavy and bulky furniture easily.
You could also consider talking to nearby sporting clubs or community halls to see if they need any used furniture. They may also be exempt from the fire label requirement and will gladly take any unwanted furniture.
Private sales are not affected by Your other option is selling any furniture via some online marketplaces.
Craigslist is generally the first and best place for getting rid of unwanted furniture. You can offer items up for free which will make them get snapped up quicker.
Do a quick search through other similar listings and keywords to get an idea of what you should be listing the price as. Consider other ads and how long they have been listed for and adjust accordingly.
Brand recognition may help sell a piece of furniture rather than just having a basic listing of the bare minimum. Most savvy buyers are going to avoid your listing if it seems like you’re trying to hide something about the goods.
Use a few good photos that cover all the different angles which also show the features and condition clearly. A concise history of how you got the furniture and briefly why you’re selling it may convince some buyers.
As with all used items, it will be easier to sell if in good condition. Do a thorough clean and take the photos in a well-lit area, and don’t be afraid to do a bit of a touchup in some editing software to make it look as good as possible by balancing the light or similar.
If Craigslist is not working for you, consider looking at Facebook Marketplace, Recycler or Offerup. Spend some time researching local trading groups or swap meets that may occur on weekends as another outlet to offload your furniture to.
Finally, one of the best ways to get rid of furniture is to advertise to your own circle of family and friends. Think about people you know who may be in the market for some cheap furniture, for example any college-aged people who have just moved.
