The continuous evolution of the hospitality world increasingly pushes accommodation facilities to want to give their customers a unique and personalized experience.
Hotel rooms and common areas must be furnished with style and functionality. The choice of sofas and armchairs, for example, must respect the overall style of furniture of the hotel and the regulations in force in this regard.
Safety regulations
The fundamental legislation, to which reference is made in the field of furniture safety, is the Ministerial Decree of 26 June 1984: “Classification of reaction to fire and approval of materials for the purposes of fire prevention”.
This rule was enacted after the terrible accident of 13 February 1983 when 64 people died following a fire at the Statuto cinema in Turin.
The 1984 law laid the foundations for the subsequent Ministerial Decree of 9 April 1994, the legislation on fire prevention in public places and hotels with over 25 beds.
To these Ministerial Decrees are then added a series of specific circulars for many types of furniture intended for structures where fire prevention requirements are required.
To comply with these regulations, manufacturers of upholstered furniture for hotels, restaurants and public spaces must create objects that are approved to the regulations and adequately certified.
Each product, in fact, must be provided with its own information sheet that indicates all the technical-constructive characteristics and information relating to the composition of the fabrics and their washing.
One of the most important certifications, for public environments and hotels, is that concerning fire resistance. This concerns:
- Polyurethane foam;
- Complete upholstered furniture (UNI 9175 – class 1IM; IMO A 652 (16); TB 133);
- Imbottiture (UNI 9175 – classe 1IM; TB 117; BS 5852; M4);
- Upholstery fabrics (UNI 9174 – class 1; TB 117; BS 5852).
Eco-sustainability of materials
The production of furniture also has an impact on the environment. Most sofas and armchairs are made of polyurethane foam which, alone, creates 50% of the environmental impact of upholstery production.
Therefore, we point out at least 3 principles of environmental sustainability to be considered for the purchase of upholstered furniture.
We advise you to choose:
- products with fewer materials used;
- resistant and long-lasting upholstery (in order not to create a new waste and increase the consequent production for its replacement);
- products made with non-toxic raw materials (examples are polyurethanes free of freon, CFC, or other swelling agents)
We also offer suggestions, or solutions, to preserve and extend the life of the upholstery. It is always good, for example:
- replace or repair worn or broken parts of the furniture, rather than replacing it;
- modify the arrangement of the individual elements, to adapt the product to a new environment;
- opt for removable upholstery, easily washable and re-adaptable.
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