We pride ourselves on offering the right products for your project and will give you helpful, genuine and impartial advice. A common subject is CRIB 5. These regulations are stricter than required for upholstered sofas, chairs, mattresses, and bed bases for home (domestic) use. You may need to be made aware of the Fire Safety regulations regarding upholstered products for commercial premises, including sofas, chairs, mattresses, and bed bases, so we hope the following guide is helpful. Do you need Crib 5? If you're involved in purchasing for the following sectors, the simple answer is yes – your furniture should meet Crib 5 (BS7177) standards for commercial use. Please check the building's risk rating. Student Accommodation Residential Schools Hostels Hotels Bed & Breakfasts Guest Houses Holiday Parks Hospitals Nursing & Care Homes Places of Public Entertainment Public Buildings Pubs, Bars & Casinos Restaurants What makes a product legally compliant? Upholstered products, including sofas chairs and bed bases made with fabric for commercial use, must comply with the specific U.K. Fire regulations comprising of the following tests: · BS EN597-1 (Cigarette) · BS EN597-2 (Match) · BS7177 – CRIB 5 Please note that it is the customer's responsibility to specify whether they need or require Crib 5 or British Standard Cigarette & Match. We can only offer you advice & guidance. If you need clarification on whether CRIB 5 or Cigarette & Match (Domestic Quality) is needed for your project, contact your head office, the insurance company linked to your project, or the local Fire Officer, who can advise. Mattresses All our mattresses are CRIB 5 compliant. If required, we can also offer mattresses manufactured in the U.K. to BS EN597-1 (Cigarette) and BS EN597-2 (Match) domestic quality. Upholstered Products All our made-to-order upholstered products consisting of sofas, chairs, mattresses, and bed bases that are manufactured in the U.K. can be upholstered in either a contract crib 5 fabric or domestic quality BS EN597-1 (cigarette), BS EN597-2 (Match) if required. Curtains, Drapes and Other Textile Hangings Curtains or drapes should be of durably flame-retarded fabric or inherently flame-retarded fabric. They should conform to the latest edition of British Standard 5867: Part 2 - Fabric Type B when tested under the latest edition of British Standard 5438. They should be arranged to not trail on the floor and have a central opening in front of pairs of doors. Curtains or drapes should not conceal notices and, when hung in front of fire exit doors, should not obstruct fire exit signs. For further information, please click this link – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324/contents/made – for a Furniture & Furnishings Fire & Safety Regulations guide. The filling materials (foams, fibres, feathers, and base cloths) are all tested to British Standards, and the tests are carried out on a wooden crib and are the same for domestic or commercial use. The cover fabrics for Crib 5 need special treatment and need to be tested under a different standard to domestic, but this is standard practice throughout the trade. Cover fabrics will state Crib 5 on the certificates due to the difference in the test method to standard domestic. If we cover a product with Crib 5 material that has passed testing with our filling materials. In that case, the item is then classed as compliant for commercial grade Medium Hazard as determined by the building's risk rating. You, the customer, specify the grade of F.R. required (the only options are domestic, commercial low risk, or commercial medium risk) as you are the only ones who know what is required for the building you intend to put the items in. This is due to the law stating for commercial settings, you, the customer, are responsible for outlining the requirement to us, and for domestic, we are responsible for ensuring that it is correct.

The standard manufactured sizes for our hotel beds & student beds are: Small Single (75cm x 190cm) or (2'6" x 6'3") Single (90cm x 190cm) or (3'0" x 6'3") Small Double (120cm x 190cm) or (4'0 x 6'3") Double (135cm x 190cm) or (4'6" x 6'3") King Size (150cm x 200cm) or (5'0" x 6'6") Super King (180 x 200cm) or (6'0 x 6'6'') These are the standard manufactured sizes but we are able to supply any bespoke hotel bed or student bed to your specific requirements, please enquire.

First, remove the packaging and unroll - Always take care when using scissors or a knife not to cut your mattress. Position the mattress on your bed. Allow the mattress to expand - Your mattress will take a couple of hours to expand to its original size. Depending on the mattress, this could take between 4, 24 hours or 48 hours. Please be aware that after unwrapping your rolled mattress, it could take anywhere between 4-8 hours to expand its full size, sometimes even longer. We advise that you don’t sleep or sit on it during this time to ensure it has time to expand to its correct size. Once fully expanded, you can add a mattress protector for extra comfort and protection and your mattress is now ready to sleep on.

Buying a mattress can be a confusing and expensive experience if you don't know what you're looking for. But don't worry, if you read this guide you'll be ready to make the right choice. 1. Open Coil Mattresses Open coil mattresses with "Bonnell" springs are generally found in the budget to mid-range mattresses and are the most frequently used spring unit in the UK. People who prefer a firmer feeling mattress should buy a mattress with 12.5 gauge (2.5mm thick wire springs) Open Coil springs, while those who prefer a medium to soft bed should look for 13.5 gauge (2.2mm thick wire springs). 2. Pocket Spring Mattresses These springs are individually housed in fabric pockets and move independently from one another – this means the springs only compress where a person lies, allowing for motion separation between both sides of the bed. Pocket spring mattresses are ideally suited for couples when there's a considerable weight or size difference between them – i.e. when one partner turns over on such a mattress, the other will detect little or no movement. As a general rule, the higher the number of springs, the better the mattress. However, the type and quantity of the fillings will also contribute to the overall quality of the mattress. 3. Memory Foam Mattresses A memory foam mattress is made from a visco-elastic polyurethane foam that softens when it comes in contact with body heat and quickly moulds and re-moulds to your body's contours as you move about in bed. 4. Latex Mattresses Latex is a more natural product that is derived from the sap of the rubber tree. It works in a very similar way to memory foam – its natural elasticity enables it to mould to your body shape and immediately recover its shape when pressure is removed. Both memory foam and latex mattress types provide orthopaedic support, enable natural movement, help to evenly distribute body weight and reduce pressure points – thus allowing for a more comfortable sleep. Doctors often advise people with back and neck problems to get a memory foam or latex mattress as it will allow them to get more comfortable in bed. Some people find they overheat when sleeping on a memory foam mattress, especially in summer. Some bed companies offer alternative fabric options to help keep the mattress cooler to deal with this problem. Latex is breathable so that you won't overheat. It is all a matter of taste. Some people don't like sleeping on memory foam and latex mattresses, so make sure you try one out before buying. Memory foam and Latex is used either as the primary component in a foam-filled mattress or as a comfort layer/topper in an open coil/pocket sprung mattress. The thing to look out for is the depth of these layers – some mattresses have a memory foam layer that is only 1cm deep. This will offer minimal benefit. Fillings There is little variation in the fillings that go into most mattresses – they are made up of insulator and comfort layers. Traditionally, insulator layers were made from coir (coconut) fibre, while cotton or wool/flock-type felts were used as comfort layers. But things have changed - these days, most insulator layers are made up of thermally-bonded reclaimed felt, and polyester is predominantly used in comfort layers. Despite what the big brands tell you, there's little difference between their expensive mattresses and those made by the smaller, less well known manufacturers, apart from the higher prices. Price As a general rule, you get what you pay for when buying a bed. However, try to avoid big brand names, as they charge much more for their products. Why buy a brand name open coil mattress when you can buy a luxury pocket sprung mattress.

Things to Remember When Buying Your New Mattress/Bed Your body will take a while to adjust to sleeping on a new sleep surface, so don't worry if your new bed doesn't immediately meet your expectations - give it time (up to 30 nights). Lying on it for a night will not give you a true feel for the mattress. Think of a new mattress like a new pair of shoes. It would be best to let it bed in and allow a couple of nights for you to settle and 1-2 weeks to get used to it. If you’ve had your previous mattress for a number of years, you and your body will be used to its feel and profile, and your body will have become accustomed to it. A new mattress will feel different at first. Body-shaped impressions/settlement - it's important to understand that settlement is a normal characteristic of quality mattresses working as intended to conform to the shape of your body. Like a new car or carpet - a new bed may initially have a "new" smell. This will eventually disperse if well aired. Rotate your mattress from end-to-end regularly to help minimise impression marks. Unless it's single-sided, it's crucial that you also turn it from side-to-side and end-to-end every week for the first few months and about every three months afterwards. If you tend to get hot in bed - choose a more well-ventilated pocket sprung mattress, avoid memory foam products, and use a lightweight quilt. Check your sizes - if you're buying a new mattress for a bedstead/bed frame, ensure you check that the dimensions of both products are compatible. Replace your old base too - an old base is likely to reduce the useful life of a new mattress, and the support and comfort it can offer. If it's not too late, bigger is better! If you share with a partner, a bigger bed means you're less likely to disturb one another - one of the most common sleeping complaints! Spend as much as your budget and the space allow. To protect you - the UK has strict flammability and product safety laws: the mattress and individual fillings should meet minimum levels of fire resistance. For peace of mind, look for the UK safety label. Memory foam mattresses First, remove the packaging and unroll - Always take care when using scissors or a knife not to cut your mattress. Position the mattress on your bed. Allow the mattress to expand - Your mattress will take a while to expand to its original size. Depending on the mattress, this could take between 24-48 hours. We advise that you don’t sleep or sit on it during this time to ensure it has time to expand to its correct size. Once fully expanded, you can add a mattress protector for extra comfort and protection and your mattress is now ready to sleep on.

Hotel mattresses are not at their comfiest, purchased on their own. The best hotel mattresses have a 100% cotton cover and a pocket sprung system with a medium to firm feel. They should be regularly turned to keep the mattress lasting longer. The mattress just on its own, with only a sheet, or even a budget mattress protector, could feel quite firm to many customers. To provide the ultimate in comfort for your customers, this is what we at JAFS recommend. To soften the mattress feel and provide the ultimate comfort level for your customers, you should invest in a good quality mattress topper. Ideally, box or diamond quilted. This will then give a lovely soft layer, and your customers will feel like they are sleeping on a cloud. To then protect your mattress and topper, purchase a good quality mattress protector, ideally with a waterproof membrane that fits over these. The best ones we have found are the Tencel fitted sheet style. They’re super soft and feel like a very soft and comfortable fitted sheet. These also have the benefit of having a waterproof membrane under the top layer, providing crinkle-free comfort for the ultimate protection for your mattress and topper.

It is difficult to predict how long a mattress will last for an individual as we are all different shapes and sizes, and we sleep in different positions. For contract, a good quality mattress should last up to five years when it should be replaced anyway, as not only will multiple people have slept on it of all shapes and sizes, there is also the hygiene to consider in this environment. A good quality mattress protector, possibly waterproof, and turning the mattress will help with its longevity. Student mattresses come under a lot of stress, wear and tear as not only do they sleep on the mattress, they spend a lot of time sitting on it studying, so a good strong spring will prevent any early stages of sagging. For domestic retail mattresses - The Sleep Council recommends that a mattress/bed is changed every five years. However, a good quality bed could last for up to ten years. Your bed & mattress must be judged on how suitable, comfortable and supportive it is for both you and your partner. Hygiene is also essential, and replacing your mattress every five years will also reduce the build-up of asthma-triggering dust mites, which love mattresses, as we each lose around 285ml of fluid each night and shed 454 grams of dead skin cell each year.