§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the standard required for Home Office contract upholstery from BS5852 part 2 crib 5 to crib 7; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Home Department's draft guide to fire precautions in existing residential care premises advises that upholstered seating should satisfy as a minimum standard the cigarette and match ignitability tests to BS5852 part 1 and crib ignition source 5 of BS5852 part 2. There is no present intention to amend this to crib 7. The draft guide to fire precautions in places of entertainment (which is currently the subject of consultation) proposes that in temporary structures, tents, marquees etc. upholstery should satisfy ignition source 5 but that where there is a higher than normal risk to life in these premises, it may be necessary to require upholstery to satisfy ignition source 7.