• Upholstered furniture

• Electrical Appliances

• Gas Appliances

• Checklist

Upholstered Furniture

Upholstered furniture should be flame retardant. Furniture such as sofas, chairs, sofa-beds, and cushions need to be labelled with the following information if they were made after 1950.

Beds are different in that labelling was never compulsory, but some manufacturers do add a label stating that the bed or upholstered base comply with British Standard BS7177.

Electrical Appliances

All electrical equipment must be supplied to you in a safe condition. For example, all portable electrical equipment must be fitted with three-pin plugs which have sheaths on the live and neutral pins. 

The mains cable must have two layers of insulation, be free of any kinks, any joints must be properly made, and the wires should follow the colour code:

You should not be able to touch any live parts without the use of a tool. Instructions for safe use should be made available.

Gas Appliances

If there is a hob cover it must cut off the gas supply when it is closed, or have a warning label stating that it does not turn the gas off.

Check it out

Things to think about when considering student accommodation:

1 Upholstered furniture:

Does it have appropriate labels indicating that it meets fire safety requirements? 

2 Electrical Equipment:

Is it fitted with the correct plugs, do they have the correct colour wires and appear to be in generally good condition?

3 Gas Appliances:

Are they clearly marked with easy to use controls?

4 Gas Safety Certificate: