CRIB5 Contract Beds: UK Fire-Safety Buying Guide (2026)
Direct answer: CRIB5 (Ignition Source 5) is the UK “medium hazard” fire-resistance classification for mattresses, divans and bed bases, defined under BS 6807 and tested to BS 7177. It's the standard specified for hotels, hospitals, hostels, care/old people's homes, boarding schools and halls of residence — settings BS 6807 itself lists as medium-hazard occupancies. Buying CRIB5-rated beds is how contract buyers in these sectors meet the furniture standard their fire risk assessment (and typically their insurer) expects.
What Is CRIB5 / Source 5?
CRIB5 refers to Ignition Source 5 under BS 5852, the test method used to assess how furniture resists smouldering and flaming ignition. When a mattress, divan base or bed frame passes this test to the level required by BS 7177, it earns a CRIB5 (medium hazard) rating — the tier above the domestic-only minimum and below the CRIB7 high-hazard tier used in the highest-risk institutional settings.
Where CRIB5 Is Required
BS 6807 defines three hazard categories — Low, Medium and High — each tied to named occupancy types. Medium Hazard (CRIB5) explicitly covers:
- Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs
- Hospitals and healthcare settings
- Care homes and homes for older people
- Hostels and HMOs (houses in multiple occupation)
- Boarding schools and halls of residence
Commercial premises carry a fire risk assessment duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. CRIB5-rated furniture is the recognised sector standard for meeting that duty in practice, and is commonly required by insurers and sector regulators. It is not itself a stand-alone criminal offence to buy a non-rated bed — but falling short of the recognised standard is a real compliance and insurance exposure.
BS 7177 Hazard Levels Compared
| Hazard Level | Typical Settings | Bed Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Private domestic use | Domestic-grade (no CRIB rating required) |
| Medium (Ignition Source 5) | Hotels, care homes, HMOs, student halls, hospitals | CRIB5 |
| High (Ignition Source 7) | Prisons, secure psychiatric units, high-security institutions | CRIB7 |
CRIB5 vs Domestic Beds
A domestic bed is built for occasional single-household use with no fire-hazard testing beyond consumer regulations. A CRIB5 contract bed uses fire-retardant fillings and covers tested to resist smouldering ignition, plus reinforced frames rated for heavier and more frequent use — built for the wear of a hotel or care setting, not a single bedroom.
Crib 5 vs Crib 7: When Each Applies
CRIB5 covers the medium-hazard settings listed above. CRIB7 is reserved for high-security institutional settings such as prisons and secure psychiatric units, where an even higher resistance to deliberate ignition is required. Most commercial buyers — hotels, care homes, HMOs, student accommodation — need CRIB5, not CRIB7.
Choosing Contract Beds
Beyond the fire rating, contract buyers should check: frame durability and weight rating (contract beds see far more turnover than domestic ones), warranty length, ease of cleaning/reupholstery, and whether the base and mattress are sold as a certified matched pair — mixing an uncertified mattress with a CRIB5 base can undermine the rating.
Bulk & Trade Ordering
Contract buyers ordering multiple units should ask suppliers about volume pricing, palletised delivery for multi-unit orders, and realistic lead times — made-to-order contract divans typically ship in 1–3 weeks. Trade and invoice terms are usually available for verified business accounts.
Certification & Documentation
Ask any contract-bed supplier for the test certificate referencing BS 7177 and the specific ignition source rating, plus a compliance/care label attached to the product itself — both are typically requested by insurers and fire risk assessors during an audit.
Our CRIB5 Range
Onlineand.direct supplies CRIB5 fire-rated contract divan bases and CRIB5 metal contract frames, manufactured in the UK, with free UK delivery and certification supplied on request. Browse our contract bed range, or see our divan bed buying guide and mattress buying guide for the domestic-grade equivalents.
If you are specifying mattresses only, our specialist mattress site lists the CRIB5 and contract mattress range as its own separate shop, kept apart from the consumer catalogue so you are not filtering domestic stock out by hand.
FAQ
What is CRIB5?
CRIB5 (Ignition Source 5) is the UK medium-hazard fire-resistance classification for mattresses, divans and bed bases, tested to BS 7177 under the BS 6807 framework.
Is CRIB5 a legal requirement?
There is no single law that names CRIB5 directly for every commercial setting, but commercial premises have a fire risk assessment duty, and CRIB5-rated furniture is the recognised sector standard for meeting it in medium-hazard settings — commonly required by insurers.
Do care homes and HMOs need CRIB5 beds?
Yes — care homes, HMOs, hotels, hostels, student halls and hospitals are all named medium-hazard occupancies under BS 6807, the category CRIB5 is built for.
CRIB5 vs Crib 7 — what's the difference?
CRIB5 covers medium-hazard settings (hotels, care homes, HMOs). CRIB7 is a higher tier reserved for high-security institutional settings like prisons.
How do I prove a bed is CRIB5 certified?
Ask your supplier for the BS 7177 test certificate and check for a permanent compliance label on the product — both are what insurers and fire risk assessors will ask to see.
Can I order CRIB5 beds in bulk or on trade terms?
Yes — contact us for volume pricing, palletised delivery and trade/invoice terms on multi-unit contract orders.