Understanding Furniture Regulations
When you’re building a new office or refreshing your current one, you’re thinking about colour palettes, layouts, and whether the chairs look good with the flooring. What you’re probably not thinking about is furniture regulations, whether the upholstery passes UK fire safety tests, or the desk electronics comply with BS 6396, or how your timer is sourced. And you shouldn’t have to.
That’s where working with a furniture consultant changes the game. Our role is to navigate every regulation, certification, and technical requirement, so the only decision you need to make is which option feels right for your space and your team.
Safety and Compliance Managed from Day One
Behind every piece of furniture we specify is a paper trail of compliance. In the UK, upholstered items must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, meaning they’ve been tested to resist ignition from cigarettes and matches. We don’t just take a supplier’s word for it, we check the test reports, confirm the labelling, and ensure the correct version of the product is delivered to site.
If a piece incorporates power or data, we ensure it meets BS 6396 for electrical safety. That means the wiring is grounded correctly, overload protection is in place, and the product is safe to use in a commercial environment. Every item is also reviewed against the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, covering structural stability and suitability for the task. These aren’t just tick boxes; they’re why your team can use the furniture confidently from day one.

Designed Around Your People
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations require workstations to be set up so that people can work comfortably and safely, especially if they use computers for long periods. We build those principles into every furniture plan, selecting chairs with proper lumbar support and easy adjustability, desks that work for different body types, and layouts that allow people to move freely.
It’s about anticipating how your team will use the space and choosing products that make it easier for them to work well. Our suppliers are vetted for product quality and the range of ergonomic solutions they can offer, from task chairs to sit–stand desks.
Understanding Sustainability in Furniture
Sustainability in furniture is more than picking something with a green tag. UK Government Buying Standards (GBS) require timber to be legally and sustainably sourced, which is why we prioritise products certified by either the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
FSC certification means the timber comes from responsibly managed forests that protect biodiversity, respect workers’ rights, and regenerate naturally. PEFC certification offers the same assurances but is tailored to local forest contexts, often supporting smaller, community-managed woodlands. Both give you confidence that your furniture isn’t contributing to illegal logging or deforestation, a critical factor for ESG commitments and achieving building certifications like BREEAM or LEED.
But our sustainability approach doesn’t stop with timber sourcing. We also:
- Look for products with recycled or recyclable materials, such as fabrics made from ocean plastics or desks with high recycled content.
- Check for low-VOC finishes, improving indoor air quality and supporting standards like WELL or Fitwel.
- Seek Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to quantify carbon impact and support net zero strategies.
- Recommend furniture that can be refurbished, reconfigured, or taken back by the manufacturer to keep it in use for longer.
- Vet supply chains for fair labour and ethical manufacturing practices.
Every sustainability claim is checked and documented before we recommend a product, so you can be confident that what’s delivered matches your environmental and social values and design vision.

The Value of Having an Expert on Your Side
Furniture compliance is complex, time-consuming, and easy to get wrong if you don’t know the standards inside out. We take on that responsibility, from sourcing compliant products to verifying sustainability claims, from planning layouts that meet legal guidelines to ensuring every cable and component is installed safely.
Our clients don’t have to consider whether the fire safety certificate is valid, whether the timber is traceable, or whether the chair mechanism passes the right test. They know what arrives is safe, legal, sustainable, and ready to use.
In short, we handle the regulations so you can focus on the results, a workspace that looks the part, works beautifully for your team, and stands up to every compliance and sustainability requirement without compromise.