CRIB 5 Explained for Interior Designers: What You Need to Know When Specifying Commercial Furniture
Interior designers specifying furniture for commercial projects carry a professional responsibility that goes beyond aesthetics. When a designer specifies upholstered furniture for a hotel, restaurant, care home, or serviced apartment, they are making a decision that has fire safety and legal compliance implications for their client.
CRIB 5 is not a detail to leave to the client or the contractor. It is a specification requirement that should be built into every commercial project brief from day one.
What CRIB 5 Actually Means
CRIB 5 refers to Ignition Source 5 in the BS 5852:2006 testing standard for upholstered furniture. The test exposes a furniture assembly — foam, barrier material, and outer fabric — to a burning wooden crib for a sustained period. If the assembly resists sustained combustion, it passes.
The critical point for designers is that CRIB 5 certification applies to a specific combination of components. It is not a property of the fabric alone, or the foam alone. When a supplier describes a fabric as “CRIB 5 tested,” ask whether the full assembly — foam, barrier, and fabric together — carries the certificate.
Which Projects Require CRIB 5?
| Project Type | CRIB 5 Required |
|---|---|
| Hotels (all star ratings) | Yes |
| Serviced apartments | Yes |
| Aparthotels | Yes |
| Restaurants and cafés | Yes |
| Bars and licensed premises | Yes |
| Care homes | Yes |
| Student accommodation | Yes |
| Build-to-rent common areas | Yes |
| Offices (public areas) | Yes |
| Private residential | No (Crib 1 or 3 sufficient) |
How to Verify CRIB 5 Certification
- Request the CRIB 5 certificate from the supplier before the order is placed. Do not accept verbal confirmation.
- Check that the certificate covers the specific combination of fabric, foam, and barrier material you are ordering.
- Check the testing laboratory named on the certificate — it should be an accredited UK laboratory.
- Retain copies of all certificates and include them in your project handover documentation to the client.
Specifying CRIB 5 Without Compromising Design Intent
A common misconception is that CRIB 5 limits fabric choice or design options. In practice, the range of fabrics available in CRIB 5 tested assemblies is extensive — bouclé, velvet, linen, leather, performance weaves, and bespoke textiles can all be sourced in CRIB 5 compliant versions.
At Industrious Decor, our upholstered pieces are available in a range of fabrics carrying CRIB 5 certification — including bouclé and velvet options that work across residential-feel commercial projects. Trade accounts and project pricing are available.
Presenting CRIB 5 to Commercial Clients
A simple way to introduce it to clients:
“All upholstered furniture for this project will need to meet CRIB 5 fire safety standards under UK commercial regulations. I’ll specify certified pieces throughout and ensure you receive the certificates for your fire risk assessment documentation. This is standard practice for hotel/restaurant/serviced apartment projects and I’ll manage it as part of the specification process.”
CRIB 5 Specification Checklist for Designers
- CRIB 5 requirement confirmed for project type at brief stage
- All upholstered pieces specified from suppliers who can provide CRIB 5 certificates
- Certificate covers full assembly (foam + barrier + fabric) not just fabric alone
- Custom fabric selections tested or test evidence requested in advance
- Certificates requested and received before project handover
- Certificates included in client handover documentation
- Client briefed on ongoing compliance requirements for furniture replacement
Frequently Asked Questions: CRIB 5 for Designers
If a fabric is described as “fire retardant,” does that mean it is CRIB 5?
Not necessarily. Fire retardant treatments can improve a fabric’s performance but do not automatically result in CRIB 5 certification. The assembly must be tested to BS 5852:2006 Ignition Source 5.
Can I use residential fabrics from my usual suppliers on commercial projects?
Only if those fabrics have been tested as part of a CRIB 5 assembly. Contact the fabric supplier and the furniture manufacturer to confirm before specifying.
Where can I source CRIB 5 certified furniture for commercial projects?
Industrious Decor supplies CRIB 5 certified upholstered furniture for commercial and hospitality projects, with certificates provided for every piece. Trade accounts and project pricing available. Contact trade@industriousdecor.com.