Uncontrolled fire escalation risks from polyurethane materials in consumer products
First to latest report 5 Nov 2014 — 21 Jul 2017
Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
2
Stated actions linked to this concern
3
What this concern includes
Includes consumer products containing polyurethane coatings, insulation or comparable polyurethane components where the material is identified as contributing to rapid or severe fire development, or where dedicated design, material-selection or ignition-protection controls are inadequate.
What is not included
Excludes generic product fire hazards where polyurethane is not a material part of the asserted unsafe condition.
Excludes ordinary fire-safety, detection, evacuation and emergency-response failures that do not concern polyurethane material behaviour or ignition protection.
Excludes workplace, building and industrial polyurethane hazards unless the assertion concerns a comparable consumer-product fire-hazard control.
Excludes the broader product-warning or recall processes unless the specific deficiency is the control of polyurethane-related fire escalation risk.
Excludes product-specific defects with no identified contribution by polyurethane to fire development or intensity.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Arjo UK Limited1
Association of British Insurers1
Beko PLC1
British Retail Consortium1
British Standards Institution1
Care Quality Commission1
Chartered Trading Standards Institute1
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Homecare Association Limited1
Institution of Fire Engineers1
Locala Community Partnerships C.I.C.1
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency1
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
Ministerial department2
Private limited company2
Trade association2
Community interest company1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Fire professional body1
Health and social care service regulator1
Medicines and medical devices regulator1
National fire and rescue body1
Professional body1
Professional membership body1
Public limited company1
Standards body1
Reports and published responses 2 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
West Yorkshire (West)
Concerns raised1
Fire escalation hazard from polyurethane coating on Nimbus 6 airflow mattress coverings
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Ask manufacturers and notified bodies to review products and undertake relevant fire-risk assessments.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
The mattress system’s therapeutic benefits generally outweigh fire risks, which are mitigated by labelling and instructions against smoking or naked flames.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
North London
Concerns raised1
Lack of requirements to isolate or protect refrigeration-appliance insulation from ignition
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Prepare and advance an international standards proposal addressing refrigeration-appliance construction and fire safety concerns.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Progress a proposal requiring flame-retardant coverings over foam insulation.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Continued use of highly flammable insulation in refrigeration appliances, with slight containment material changes, is considered satisfactory because it meets Ecodesign performance requirements.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
The high fuel load from polyurethane insulation is necessary to achieve the performance required by the Eco-design Directive.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing the relevant British Standards requires international or European committee proposals and formal voting, so BSI cannot determine the outcome unilaterally.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing standards and manufacturers’ designs will take time, limiting the speed of any resulting safety improvements.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing the standards will not eradicate risks from products already in use.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.