§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many written representations he has so far received on the subject of furniture fire safety regulations.
§ Mr. ButcherSome 275 representations have been received.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what video or film evidence he has so far received concerning the furniture fire safety regulations; and if he will list the film or video producers in each case;
(2) if he has made any representation to the British Rubber Manufacturers Association in relation to procedure used during the fire safety test contained in the video sent to him by the association; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Butcher[holding answer 21 June 1988]: The British Rubber Manufacturers Association video contains comparisons of the fires in a number of suites which were identical apart from the fillings. Rapid ignition was ensured, for experimental and video recording purposes, by the use of the small crib, ignition source 4 of the British standard, although the acrylic velvet generally ignites readily from a match. The test burn showing the cover burning off a substitute non-combustible mineral wool filling demonstrates very forcibly the contribution that a burning cover as part of the overall construction can make to the hazard of fire in furniture.
I have made no representations to BRMA in response to this video.
We have also received some short sales videos relating to fire blocking or barrier systems produced in-house by the manufacturers concerned.