Buyer's Guide
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and university halls are contract environments, so the beds must meet a fire-safety standard that domestic furniture does not. Here is what applies — and what to check when you fit out at scale.
Student halls and PBSA are classed as medium-hazard sleeping accommodation. Beds, mattresses, divans and headboards should meet BS 7177 at medium-hazard level, achieved by passing Crib 5 (Ignition Source 5). It is the same level required for hotels and care homes.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for the building must manage fire risk — including the beds students sleep on. This feeds into the fire risk assessment for each scheme, and non-compliant furniture can breach regulations and affect your insurance.
Fire compliance is the baseline; student rooms put beds through heavy, high-turnover use. Alongside the standard, operators usually specify:
Student schemes are usually furnished in volume against a fixed handover date. Plan around bulk lead times and phased delivery to bedrooms, and confirm your supplier can install across multiple floors or buildings and remove old stock during a refurbishment.
Every bed and mattress we supply to student accommodation and university halls meets BS 7177 / Crib 5 as standard, with durable, space-saving and water-resistant options, delivered and installed UK-wide. Read our compliance overview or request a quote.