Commercial Upholstery Services in London

Fire Safety, BS 7176 and Crib 5 Specifications

Commercial upholstery fire requirements depend on where and how the seating will be used. The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations chiefly cover domestic upholstered furniture; non-domestic premises are also subject to workplace fire-safety duties and the responsible person's fire risk assessment.

BS 7176 is commonly used to specify the ignition resistance of non-domestic seating, and a Crib 5 specification is often requested for contract projects. It is not a universal rule for every office, restaurant, hotel, or public building. The venue, designer, responsible person, insurer, or fire consultant should confirm the required hazard category before fabric is ordered.

A fabric certificate alone does not prove that a finished seat meets a project specification. Cover fabric, foam, fillings, interliners, and the tested upholstery build-up all matter. Where a project calls for Crib 5 or another performance level, we work from the written specification and request the relevant supplier documentation for the proposed materials.

For authoritative background, see the UK Government furniture fire-safety guidance and its guidance for non-domestic premises.

Who We Work With

Restaurants, Pubs, and Hospitality

A hospitality brief may cover fixed banquettes, booths, bar stools or dining chairs. Include the expected cleaning routine, spill exposure and written fire-performance requirement so wipeable vinyls, faux leathers and woven contract fabrics can be compared against the real use rather than selected by appearance alone.

Hotels and Serviced Apartments

Hotel and serviced-apartment enquiries can include headboards, bedroom chairs, lobby seating and restaurant furniture. The material decision should account for housekeeping products, cleaning frequency, guest use and the documented project specification.

Offices and Co-working Spaces

We assess task chairs, breakout furniture, reception seating, and meeting room chairs from photographs and quantities. Depending on the construction, recovering existing seat and back panels can be considered alongside replacement. We can work to brand colours and help compare fabrics against the expected wear and cleaning routine.

Care Homes, Churches, and Public Buildings

Care settings may require waterproof or water-resistant surfaces, compatibility with specified cleaning products and additional infection-control or fire-performance evidence. Church and public- building briefs may include pew cushions, kneelers or stacking chairs. Include the full quantity and written requirements so the team can assess and price the actual batch.

The Contract Upholstery Process

Site Survey

Every enquiry starts with photographs, quantities, approximate measurements, access details, and the required timescale. For fixed, large, or access-sensitive seating, the team may then recommend a site survey before the scope and final quotation are confirmed.

Sampling and Approval

Material samples and any proposed sample piece should be agreed as part of the scope. Where a project would benefit from one, the quote can include a sample section completed to the agreed specification before the rest of the batch proceeds.

Scheduling Around Your Business

Tell us whether the venue will remain open and which seating must stay in use. Loose chairs may be suitable for phased collection, while fixed banquettes need a different plan. The proposed sequence and timing are agreed before work starts so you can judge whether it fits the operating schedule.

Fabric Selection for High-Traffic Environments

The durability of upholstery fabric is measured by the Martindale rub test, which simulates wear by rubbing the fabric in a figure- of-eight motion under controlled pressure. The result is expressed as a number of rubs (sometimes called cycles). It is a useful abrasion indicator, but it does not prove that a fabric is suitable for every commercial setting.

There is no single rub-count threshold that covers every venue. We check the supplier's declared end use and technical sheet against the traffic level, upholstery shape, seam plan, and cleaning routine. A higher number does not compensate for the wrong cleaning method or an unsuitable material construction.

Beyond abrasion, we compare the stated cleaning method, stain resistance, lightfastness, composition, and any required fire- performance evidence. The proposed material is then recorded in the quote so the decision can be checked before it is ordered.

Commercial Quoting and Project Coordination

Commercial work is quoted against the furniture type, condition, quantity, material, access, and schedule. Batch efficiencies may affect the unit price, but they are assessed after we have seen the full set. You receive an itemised scope before work starts.

For larger projects, agree who will approve samples, answer site questions, and sign off delivery. We can coordinate the upholstery scope with interior designers, fit-out contractors, and facilities managers, with access and delivery requirements recorded in the quote.

If your building or procurement process requires specific insurance, risk-assessment, method-statement, induction, or delivery documents, include that list with the enquiry. The team will confirm what can be supplied before you rely on it for the project.