Ireland Revokes Domestic Furniture Fire-Safety Order

Vol. 1551 | 27 Aug 2026

Ireland has revoked its long-standing domestic furniture fire-safety order and aligned with the EU General Product Safety Regulation. Mandatory Irish fire labels and I.S. 419 references are no longer required, though producers must still assess fire risks and maintain appropriate safety evidence and traceability.

What manufacturers, importers and retailers need to know about the move to the EU General Product Safety Regulation.

Overview

Ireland's furniture and furnishing regulatory framework has historically focused on fire safety for domestic upholstered furniture, rather than broader furniture performance or construction requirements. For almost three decades, Ireland maintained a distinct national regime known as the Irish Furniture Fire Regulations, which imposed flammability requirements on domestic upholstered furniture, mattresses, cushions, and related furnishing materials placed on the Irish market.

The regulations were introduced to address concerns that modern polyurethane foams and synthetic upholstery materials used in furniture from the 1970s onwards posed a significantly greater fire risk than traditional materials such as wool, cotton, and horsehair.

In July 2026, Ireland formally revoked these national furniture fire regulations and aligned its approach with the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), marking a major change in the Irish furniture compliance landscape

What exactly has been revoked?

S.I. No. 357 of 2026 revoked the Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order 1995 (S.I. No. 316/1995). The change took effect in July 2026.

What legal framework applies now?

Consumer furniture placed on the Irish market is subject to Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR), together with any other applicable EU or Irish product-specific legislation.

Is I.S. 419:2011 still mandatory?

The revocation removes the statutory requirement to comply with I.S. 419:2011 through the 1995 Order. The standard may still be used voluntarily or required contractually, but it should no longer be presented as a mandatory national market-access requirement.

Does this mean flammability testing is no longer needed?

Not necessarily. The GPSR does not prescribe one universal furniture fire test, but the producer must assess foreseeable fire risks and retain supporting technical evidence. Depending on the product, standards such as EN 1021-1/-2 for upholstered seating or EN 597-1/-2 for mattresses may support the safety assessment.

With the revocation of the Irish Furniture Fire Regulations, do furniture products still require the Irish fire safety label?

 No. Following the revocation of the Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order 1995 in July 2026, the Irish-specific fire safety labelling requirements are no longer mandatory. This means that the permanent and display labels previously used to demonstrate compliance with the Irish Furniture Fire Regulations (I.S. 419 and S.I. 316/1995) are no longer required for furniture placed on the Irish market.

However, this does not mean that furniture can be supplied without any product labelling. Furniture sold in Ireland must still comply with the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), which requires manufacturers, importers and distributors to provide appropriate product identification, traceability information and safety-related information where necessary.

Does the change also apply to Northern Ireland?

No. It applies only to the Republic of Ireland. Furniture supplied in Northern Ireland remains subject to the UK's Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, alongside the product-safety framework applicable there.

 What happens to furniture already on the Irish market?

The Irish Government has confirmed that lawfully supplied existing products do not need to be withdrawn. They may continue to be sold provided they comply with the GPSR and all other applicable legal requirements.

What should businesses do now?

Update Irish market-access specifications and legal references; complete or refresh the product risk assessment; select proportionate flammability evidence; retain technical and traceability records; and review labels, online listings and supplier declarations so they do not imply that the revoked Order remains mandatory.

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