Buyer's Guide
Buying beds for a care or nursing home is not like buying for a house. Fire safety is a legal duty, and mattresses in particular have to meet a defined standard. Here is what care operators need to specify — and what to ask suppliers for.
Care and nursing homes are classed as medium-hazard sleeping accommodation. That means beds, mattresses, divans and headboards should meet BS 7177 at medium-hazard level, achieved by passing Crib 5 (Ignition Source 5). This is the same level required for hotels and student accommodation.
A compliant care mattress usually needs to do more than resist fire. In practice, operators specify:
Fire safety in care settings sits under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places a duty on the responsible person to manage fire risk — including the furniture. The CQC and your local fire authority both expect to see that furnishings meet the appropriate standard, and non-compliant furniture can affect your insurance.
Every bed and mattress we supply to care and nursing homes meets BS 7177 / Crib 5 as standard, with water-resistant options and full documentation on request. We deliver and install across the UK mainland. Read our compliance overview or request a quote.