When fire and smoke odours damage your furniture, it can leave you in a difficult place. You may not be able to afford the replacement costs, but the damage and odours are stifling to co-exist with. Some furniture is salvageable, but deciding whether it is worth it is hard.

You can trust ICE Cleaning’s cigarette smoke odour removal or fire restoration services to take control. Its cleaners utilise ozone technologies and air purification methods to restore your home’s air and remove fire-damaged items from the property.

Read on to learn more about fire safety regulations in furniture and what to do with your furniture after a fire.

The dangers of smoking indoors

According to the London Fire Brigade, smoking is the most common cause of fatalities in house fires. Indoor smoking can contribute to thirdhand smoke settling on multiple objects, but unfortunately, it also can become hazardous if the smoker is negligent.

Unattended cigarettes and hot ashtrays are just a few of the many ways a cigarette can lead to a house fire, which is why it is integral to smoke outside if you must. If you decide to smoke indoors, you should ensure an ashtray is within reach and extinguish the cigarette with a drop of water.

Furniture and furnishing regulations in fire safety

In 1988 the Trading Standards Department enforced fire safety regulations concerning furniture and furnishings. Its latest amendment came in 2010 and the regulations have only tightened over time. 

You may be familiar with these regulations if you have spotted a large, distinctive label on your sofa with a cigarette or lit match image above the word “resistant”. 

Furniture with this display tag indicates that the surface is resistant to ignition, and this label is required for most furniture sold. Products that must meet these regulations include:

• Upholstered furniture
• Garden furniture
• Bed frames, mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers
• Scatter cushions and seat pads
• Permanent furniture covers
• Filling materials for furniture

The regulations enforced do not apply to some products. For example, furniture made before the 1950s will not fall under these regulations and may be sold by private sellers. 

Sleeping bags, bedding materials, loose covers, pillowcases, carpets, and curtains are exempt from these regulations but covered under the General Product Safety Regulations (2005).

What to do with objects damaged by a cigarette fire

How a fire affects furniture depends on its materials and surfaces. Smoke damage is also a concern as it can contain harmful chemicals that pose a health risk. 

Cigarette smoke (or thirdhand smoke) contains pollutants and toxins that trigger long-lasting ailments, including cancer or organ disease. When these cling to furniture, they are potentially recoverable, but it requires professional cleaning.

Salvaging items from a house fire is time-sensitive and not always guaranteed. Quick action may increase the chances of saving furniture affected by dry or wet fire damage.

ICE Cleanings cigarette smoke odour removal and fire damage cleaning services can successfully salvage smoke-damaged furniture. Its experts are qualified in industrial-grade equipment to effectively draw out smoke particles from furniture and can restore them to their original state.

To learn more about their services, you can visit their website here.