Buyer's Guide
BS 7177 is the British Standard that tells you how fire-resistant a mattress, divan or bed base is. If you are specifying beds for a hotel, care home or student scheme, it is the number that decides whether a product is safe — and legal — for the job.
BS 7177 sets the resistance to ignition of mattresses, divan bases, bed bases and upholstered headboards. Rather than a single pass or fail, it defines four hazard categories, each matched to how much fire risk a building carries.
For the vast majority of contract projects the answer is medium hazard, met by Crib 5. Hotels, care and nursing homes, student halls and hospitals all fall into this band. Only secure and specialist settings need the high or very high levels.
People often ask whether they need BS 7177 or Crib 5. The two work together: BS 7177 is the standard, and Crib 5 (Ignition Source 5) is the specific test used to meet its medium-hazard level. A product described as BS 7177 medium hazard and one described as Crib 5 are, for contract purposes, the same thing.
Ask for the BS 7177 test report or certificate for the specific product and hazard level, and keep it on file for your fire risk assessment. DCF supplies every mattress, divan and base to the correct BS 7177 level for your sector, documented on request — see our compliance overview or explore care home guidance.