How do I know if my sofa has been treated with fire retardant chemicals ?

[Ellarose23]

Silly question but got a new sofa and it stinks of chemicals but I’m not sure if it’s just new sofa smell or not . It has this label on it and I’m wondering if that means it’s fire retardant treated or the fabric is not treated with chemicals but meets fire standards ? Anyone know ?? Have a 7 month old dd and worried it will affect mine and her health as I hear it’s toxic . Sorry I didn’t know what thread this would fall under

I don’t know what the symbols mean but I’m sure they would not be able to supply a sofa that was toxic

They have to meet certain regulations for fire safety else they couldn't legally be sold.
The chemical smell is probably just bc it's new. Or it could be the fire retardant stuff.
But the manufacturer will have to have British standard certification for safety.

I think legally all soft furnishing manufactured after a certain date (late 1980s?) had to meet fire-resistant standards? I know when I was trying to get rid of some old soft furnishings that had been left in a house I bought charity shops/furniture suppliers wouldn't accept them unless the label specifying it was fire-retardant was still intact,

A quick google search has informed me that the fire retardant stuff they put on stuff is toxic and can harm health so I’m not too sure ?

I also read somewhere that it should state that if it’s treated with chemicals but all I got was the tag on the sofa that said fire resistant, didn’t say was treated but again the smell is so strong I’m not sure

Where did you buy it from and was it brand new?

Yes brand new, got it off very.

You worry that it may have been "treated with chemicals", but the fabric, cushions etc are all made from chemicals.

Much of the harm, though, is if that sofa was actually on fire -- ie. it will be slower to ignite, but if it does, the smoke emanating from it is more potentially toxic than smoke from non-flame-retardant fabric. (There was quite a bit of study of this after the Grenfell fire, when survivors developed the 'Grenfell cough' from smoke inhalation...)

and that’s why I’m querying the chemical smell … why would they sell something unsafe ? Apparently the stuff they use is toxic but not all sofas are treated which is why I’m wondering

You really think that a company like Very would be able to sell dangerous sofas and no one would have mentioned it? I think you are over thinking this.

When I see stuff like this ofcourse I’m gonna over think with a young baby in the house .?

I also have health anxiety

Flame retardants don't slow fire "by a few seconds".

Step away from Google, it's just adding to your anxiety.

I do agree I need to step away from google , which is why I came on here to see if anyone had more knowledge on the subject . But I couldn’t help but google cause of the strong smell

Was your sofa delivered in a plastic wrap - that can leave a bit of smell for a while?

It was , yes I was thinking this , but it seemed the smell was from the sofa and not the plastic but you’re probably right !

Ring up the supplier OP.

Was it one of the big name stores?

@ellarose23 You weren’t overthinking it. Recent (2025/2026) articles on the Times, Guardian and House & Garden Mag about how the majority of sofas and mattresses in the UK are treated with toxic FR chemicals. (and how they haven’t led to better safety outcomes in the event of a fire).

Unless you specifically sought out and bought a sofa that stated it’s not treated with fire retardant chemicals it definitely will be unfortunately

Dye can have a strong smell, could be that.