Fabrics certified to Crib 5 (BS 5852 Ignition Source 5), the contract upholstery fire standard, alongside their BS 5867 curtain certification. One fabric and one certificate trail across curtains, cushions, headboards and seating in the same scheme. Made to measure, certificates supplied. Request a quote.

1016 products

What is Crib 5?

Crib 5 is shorthand for Ignition Source 5 in BS 5852, the British Standard for the ignitability of upholstered seating. The test places a small wooden crib, the fifth in a graded series, on the fabric and filling combination and measures whether it ignites and how it burns. Passing it is the requirement for upholstery in contract environments classed as medium hazard under BS 7176: hotels, restaurants, care homes, offices and public buildings. Domestic upholstery is tested to the smaller cigarette and match sources; Crib 5 is the contract step up.

Crib 5 is not a curtain standard. Curtains are tested to BS 5867 Part 2. When a specification asks for "Crib 5 curtains" it almost always means one of two things: a curtain fabric that also carries Crib 5 so it can be used for upholstery in the same room, or a Type C curtain alongside Crib 5-rated seating. This collection answers the first: every fabric here is certified to Crib 5 for upholstery and to BS 5867 for curtains.

Why dual-certified fabrics are useful

  • One fabric, whole room. Curtains, cushions, headboards, bed runners and occasional seating in the same cloth, with a single certificate for the fire risk assessment file.
  • Simpler O&M. One test report covers several items; fewer documents to chase at handover.
  • Durability. Fabrics tested for upholstery are generally heavier and higher in abrasion resistance than curtain-only cloths, which suits high-traffic hospitality and care settings even when used as curtains.
  • Inherently FR. Every fabric we list has the fire performance in the fibre, so both certificates survive cleaning. Note that Crib 5 is tested as a fabric-and-filling combination; the upholsterer must use a compliant CMHR foam or interliner for the finished seat to comply.

Where Crib 5 is specified

Hotels, restaurants and bars, care homes, healthcare and offices all fall in the medium-hazard band where Crib 5 upholstery is expected. Higher-hazard premises such as prisons and some hospital areas move up to Ignition Source 7 under BS 7176; ask us if you are working to that level.

Specifying and ordering

Every curtain is made to measure in the UK. Choose the fabric, enter your drop and width, select a heading (pencil pleat, eyelet, wave or pinch pleat), and the configurator prices it immediately. For a scheme that uses the same fabric on curtains and furniture, request a quote and we will price the curtains and supply the fabric for upholstery together. Both certificates are supplied for your fire risk assessment and O&M files, and samples are available on every fabric.

Crib 5 FAQs

Is Crib 5 the same as BS 5867 Type C?

No. Crib 5 is an upholstery test under BS 5852; Type C is a curtain test under BS 5867 Part 2. Many contract fabrics carry both, and those are the ones on this page.

What about Crib 7?

Ignition Source 7 is the high-hazard upholstery test, specified for premises such as prisons and secure units. Fabrics tested to Crib 7 are marked on their product pages; contact us if you need to filter to them.

Can I buy the fabric by the metre for upholstery?

Yes. Include the metreage in your quote request alongside the curtain schedule and we will price both.