What is Crib 5?
Crib 5 is a fire safety level used for contract and hospitality furniture in the UK. It comes from the BS 5852 test, which checks how an upholstery composite reacts when exposed to a small flame. The composite includes the fabric, the foam and any interliner.
During the test, a small wooden “crib” is placed on the sample and ignited. The materials must burn in a controlled way and the flames must die out on their own. Because of this, Crib 5 helps venues create safer, more compliant spaces.
Most commercial settings need Crib 5 furniture. This includes restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels, offices, reception areas, student accommodation and care environments. For more detail on fire safety in the contract sector, you can read the British Furniture Confederation’s official guide:
Fire Safety of Furniture & Furnishings in the Contract Sector.
Where is Crib 5 needed?
Crib 5 is required in most public and commercial venues where furniture is used by a wide range of people every day. This includes hospitality venues, workplaces, education buildings, health and care environments, reception areas and communal spaces. Because visitors, staff and guests all share these areas, Crib 5 helps reduce fire risk and meet insurance requirements.
How does the Crib 5 test work?
The Crib 5 test follows a simple and clear process:
– A wooden crib is built to a set size.
– It is placed on the upholstery composite.
– The crib is ignited under controlled conditions.
– The reaction of the materials is observed.
A pass is straightforward: the flames must go out on their own, the fire must not spread and there should be no long-lasting smouldering. Because the full composite is tested rather than the fabric alone, the result reflects real-life use.
The test links directly to BS 7176, which sets the fire safety levels for commercial seating. Hospitality and office seating usually sits within the Medium Hazard category, which requires Crib 5. You can also find more guidance in the British Furniture Confederation’s document:
Contract Flammability Guide.
How does BS 7176 link to Crib 5?
BS 7176 is the UK standard that groups different commercial environments into hazard categories. Most hospitality and office seating falls under the Medium Hazard level. This category requires Crib 5 performance, which is why both standards are often mentioned together. Crib 5 helps ensure seating reacts safely in a real-world fire situation.
How does DeFrae ensure Crib 5 compliance?
At DeFrae, we make the process simple from start to finish. We use foams, interliners and fabrics that meet Crib 5 and BS 7176 Medium Hazard levels. We also provide full documentation and certificates for your project when required.
If you want to use your own fabric, we offer full COM support. Our team can advise on suitability, interliners and testing. Learn more about our
upholstery service.
We also design and build commercial-grade banquette and booth seating for busy hospitality venues. You can explore our bespoke banquette seating or browse our wider range of contract dining chairs.
Crib 5 is essential for most contract spaces, and our team ensures your furniture is safe, compliant and ready for everyday use.
