Burning behaviour of childrens nightwear

The fire safety of children’s nightwear is an understandably emotive issue and the appearance of a European standard EN14878:2007 has raised hopes that only “safe” nightwear will allowed to be offered for sale. Unfortunately it is not that straightforward. In the UK for instance legislation has set much more rigorous nightwear standards than these since 1985, however they exclude close fitting children’s pyjamas. Similar situations may exist in other member states.

The adoption of this new European standard will no doubt result in a wider range of nightwear being covered, but to a much lower fire safety standard than is presently required in some member states. So countries will have to decide whether they retain existing legislation or take up the new standard. Why have they been put in such a predicament? I have no doubt that the mandate to the standard makers from the European Commission was to define a “safe product” but I fear the technical committee may have been swayed by what the suppliers wanted rather than what the consumer needed.

For more information on Consumer Fire Safety: www.acfse.org