First reported 5 Nov 2014•Latest report 21 Jul 2017
Definition
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.
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.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
2
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2017
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
3
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports 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
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Ask manufacturers and notified bodies to review products and undertake relevant fire-risk assessments.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The mattress system’s therapeutic benefits generally outweigh fire risks, which are mitigated by labelling and instructions against smoking or naked flames.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory AgencyExisting 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.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Prepare and advance an international standards proposal addressing refrigeration-appliance construction and fire safety concerns.
Stated by The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic AppliancesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Progress a proposal requiring flame-retardant coverings over foam insulation.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Continued use of highly flammable insulation in refrigeration appliances, with slight containment material changes, is considered satisfactory because it meets Ecodesign performance requirements.
Stated by The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic AppliancesExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The high fuel load from polyurethane insulation is necessary to achieve the performance required by the Eco-design Directive.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Changing the relevant British Standards requires international or European committee proposals and formal voting, so BSI cannot determine the outcome unilaterally.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Changing standards and manufacturers’ designs will take time, limiting the speed of any resulting safety improvements.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Changing the standards will not eradicate risks from products already in use.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
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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.
