The Dangers of Imported Memory Foam Mattresses - mattress on fire

The Dangers of Imported Memory Foam Mattresses

Discover the importance of UK mattress safety standards...

When you’re buying a new memory foam mattress, it’s no crime to want a bargain. However, it is important to ensure that your new mattress is safe and fit for purpose.

In a bid to undercut their competitors and offer prices at a new low, some mattress retailers import their mattresses and beds from overseas. Mattresses manufactured overseas are not always regulated in the same way that UK products are, and could pose a health risk.

Here’s why should buy a British made mattress...

 

1. Mattress Safety Standards UK

In the UK, every component of the mattress must be tested to UK fire safety standards to ensure that it is safe and suitable for use in your home. At Memory Foam Warehouse, our procedure is threefold:

  • The fabric mattress cover is tested to BS7175:1989
  • The foam interior is tested to BS5852: Part 2: 1982
  • Composite of the mattress is tested to BS7177

Are mattresses flammable?

Imported memory foam mattresses are not subjected to the same fire safety tests. It’s not unknown to find imported mattresses in UK homes without any fire-retardant components at all! In fact, these mattresses would be highly flammable if they came into contact with a naked flame.

So it’s absolutely crucial that you see proof of UK fire safety testing before you buy a mattress – or else you risk putting your and your family’s lives at risk.

Is Memory Foam Fire Retardant?

Yes, as long as it has been through fire-resistant testing and safety processes. All of our memory foam mattresses, toppers and pillows are fire safe.

Remember to always keep your mattress away from open flames and buy from a trusted retailer to avoid mattress fires.

 

2. Harmful Chemicals Used During Production

Quality memory foam is made up of polyurethane foam combined with harmless chemicals to give it that soft, gently sinking feeling.

However, mattresses that have been imported from certain countries may use harmful chemicals in their production process. UK rules and regulations regarding memory foam and mattresses do not apply here, which could result in:

  • Harmful dyes being used to alter the colour of memory foam
  • Harmful chemicals in cheap fire retardants

Overseas production allows companies to forgo public safety in favour of lower production prices. As with everything, keep your wits about you and realise that if it seems too cheap to be true, it probably is.

 

3. False and Misleading Mattress Claims

We try to make our mattress product pages as clear as possible. We list the composition details of all our memory foam products:

  • How deep the foam layers are
  • What density the foam is
  • How many pocket springs there are

If there’s some information you can’t seem to locate, get in touch! We’ll happily answer all of your questions.

Unfortunately, this transparent attitude is not shared by all mattress retailers, so if you’re struggling to find out the composition details of a mattress, you have good reason to be suspicious. In some cases, it may be that the mattress has been imported, and is made from very low quality and low-density foam which will deteriorate a lot more quickly than a quality memory foam mattress.

 

4. False Memory Foam Claims

Another extremely concerning practice is when a mattress sold as memory foam turns out to be nothing of the sort! Beware of product titles that include the word ‘Memory’ but then turn out to have no memory foam whatsoever. It’s always worth asking for more information if it’s not clear.

We’re part of Made in Britain - an organisation that brings together British brands and manufacturers that produce high quality products. So you can rest assured that all of our products are up to scratch.

5. Make the Right Choice: Buy British

Unfortunately, importing poor quality memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers from overseas and selling them to unsuspecting UK consumers is a widespread practice. If you’re considering buying a new memory foam mattress, make sure you buy from a trusted UK manufacturer.

Buying a safe mattress is particularly important for children’s beds. Our cot mattresses and memory foam kids mattresses feature child-safe memory foam with cooling technology.

We also offer safe fire retardant mattress toppers to suit all types of sleepers.

We’ve spent over 40 years manufacturing foam products in our Yorkshire factory, so for quality British products why not give us a go?

Buy a mattress online here.

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