What is Crib5?

What is a Crib 5 bed?

A Crib 5 bed is a bed that has been manufactured to meet specific UK commercial fire safety standards. The term "Crib 5" refers to a fire resistance test known as Ignition Source 5, which is part of the BS7177 standard used for mattresses and upholstered bed bases in commercial environments.

In simple terms, a Crib 5 bed is designed to be more fire resistant than a standard domestic bed, making it suitable for hotels, guest houses, care homes, student accommodation and other commercial properties.

What does Crib 5 actually mean?

The word "Crib" refers to a specific fire test used to assess how materials react when exposed to an ignition source.

A Crib 5 test uses a specially designed ignition source to simulate a real-life fire risk. To pass, the mattress and bed components must demonstrate a high level of resistance to ignition and fire spread.

You don't need to understand the technical details to buy the right bed. The important thing to know is that Crib 5 certification demonstrates that a bed has been manufactured to meet recognized commercial fire safety standards.

What is the difference between a Crib 5 bed and a normal bed?

The main difference is compliance and intended use.

A standard domestic bed is designed for use in a private home and complies with residential furniture regulations.

A Crib 5 bed is designed for commercial environments and must meet stricter fire safety requirements.

Domestic Bed	Crib 5 Contract Bed
Private residential use	Commercial use
Standard household regulations	BS7177 compliant
Designed for family use	Designed for guest and public use
Lower fire resistance requirements	Enhanced fire resistance
Suitable for homes	Suitable for hotels, care homes and commercial accommodation

Are Crib 5 Beds Fireproof?

No, and it's important to understand the difference between fireproof and fire resistant.

No mattress, bed or upholstered furniture can be described as completely fireproof. Even materials specifically designed for fire safety can eventually burn if exposed to enough heat or flame for a prolonged period.

A Crib 5 bed is designed to be significantly more resistant to ignition than standard domestic furniture. Through rigorous testing, Crib 5-compliant beds and mattresses must demonstrate that they can resist common ignition sources and help slow the spread of fire. This makes them far safer for use in commercial environments such as hotels, guest houses, care homes, student accommodation and other public settings.

The purpose of Crib 5 compliance is not to prevent a fire from ever occurring. Its purpose is to reduce the likelihood of a bed igniting, limit how quickly flames can spread, and provide valuable extra time for occupants to react, evacuate safely and for emergency services to respond.

In commercial accommodation, those extra minutes can make a critical difference. This is why Crib 5 beds are widely specified throughout the hospitality, healthcare and accommodation sectors and form an important part of an overall fire safety strategy.

In simple terms:

✔ Fireproof = Impossible to burn (which furniture is not)

✔ Fire Resistant = Designed to resist ignition and slow fire spread

✔ Crib 5 Beds = Tested and certified to meet recognized UK commercial fire safety standards, helping improve safety and compliance in commercial environments.

Why Are Crib 5 Beds Important?

When you operate a hotel, guest house, care home, student accommodation, serviced apartment or any other commercial property, you're responsible not only for providing a comfortable place to sleep but also for ensuring the safety of every guest, resident, visitor and member of staff who enters the building.

Fire safety is one of the most important aspects of that responsibility.

Unlike a private home, commercial accommodation often houses multiple occupants across numerous rooms, many of whom are unfamiliar with the building layout, emergency exits or evacuation procedures. In the event of a fire, the speed at which furniture ignites and contributes to fire spread can have serious consequences.

This is where Crib 5 beds play a vital role.

Crib 5-compliant beds and mattresses are specifically designed and tested to meet recognized UK commercial fire safety standards. Their enhanced fire resistance helps reduce the risk of ignition and slows the progression of fire, providing valuable additional time for occupants to be alerted, evacuate safely and for emergency services to respond.

For commercial property owners, Crib 5 compliance is about far more than simply meeting regulations. It demonstrates a commitment to protecting people, property and business continuity.

Crib 5 Beds Help To:

✔ Reduce the risk of ignition from common fire sources

✔ Slow the spread of flames and heat should a fire occur

✔ Improve the safety of guests, residents and staff

✔ Support compliance with UK fire safety requirements

✔ Help satisfy insurance and risk management obligations

✔ Protect valuable property, assets and business operations

✔ Provide greater peace of mind for property owners and operators

✔ Demonstrate a commitment to guest and resident safety

For hotels, care homes, student accommodation providers and commercial landlords, investing in Crib 5 beds isn't simply about purchasing furniture. It's about creating safer environments, reducing risk and ensuring your property meets the standards expected within today's hospitality and accommodation sectors.

Crib 5 FAQs

In most cases, yes.

Hotels are considered commercial accommodation providers and must comply with applicable fire safety regulations.
Crib 5-compliant mattresses and beds are widely specified across the hospitality industry because they meet recognised standards for commercial environments.
If you operate a hotel, guest house or similar accommodation business, you should always seek professional fire safety guidance to ensure compliance with current regulations.

In most cases, yes.

If you operate a guest house, bed and breakfast, holiday let, serviced accommodation or similar commercial lodging business, you will generally be expected to use furniture and mattresses that comply with relevant commercial fire safety standards rather than products intended solely for domestic use.

While the exact requirements can vary depending on the type of property, occupancy levels and fire risk assessment, Crib 5-compliant beds and mattresses have become the recognized standard across much of the hospitality industry because they provide an enhanced level of fire resistance compared to standard domestic furniture.
Many guest house owners mistakenly assume that because their property is smaller than a hotel, domestic beds are sufficient. However, once you begin accommodating paying guests, different fire safety considerations apply. Guests are often unfamiliar with the building layout, emergency exits and evacuation procedures, making fire prevention and fire-resistant furnishings particularly important.
Using Crib 5 beds can help:

✔ Meet commercial fire safety expectations
✔ Support compliance with applicable regulations and risk assessments
✔ Satisfy insurer requirements and recommendations
✔ Protect guests, staff and property
✔ Demonstrate a professional approach to guest safety
✔ Reduce liability and risk exposure for business owners For many guest house operators, Crib 5 beds are not simply about compliance—they are about providing reassurance.

They show guests, insurers and regulatory bodies that fire safety has been properly considered and that the property has been furnished to standards commonly expected within the hospitality sector.
If you're unsure whether your guest house, B&B or holiday accommodation requires Crib 5-compliant furniture, we always recommend consulting your fire risk assessor, local authority guidance and insurance provider.
However, for most commercial accommodation providers, choosing Crib 5 beds is the safest and most widely accepted approach.

This depends on the nature of the accommodation and the property's operating model. Many professional Airbnb operators and serviced accommodation providers choose Crib 5 beds because they provide:

Better durability Commercial-grade construction Improved fire safety Greater peace of mind If you're operating multiple units or treating your property as a hospitality business, Crib 5 products are often a sensible choice.

Care homes frequently use Crib 5 beds and mattresses because of the enhanced fire safety standards they provide. Some care environments may require additional specifications depending on risk assessments and local requirements.

Yes, many universities, private student accommodation providers and housing operators specify Crib 5-compliant beds and mattresses as standard. These environments involve multiple occupants and therefore require furniture designed for commercial use.

BS7177 is the British Standard that sets out fire resistance requirements for mattresses, mattress toppers and upholstered bed bases used in commercial settings. It is one of the most widely recognised standards for contract beds and mattresses in the UK.

When people search for: BS7177 beds Crib 5 beds Contract beds They are often referring to the same category of commercial furniture.

A contract bed is a bed designed specifically for commercial environments rather than private homes.
Contract beds are manufactured to meet additional requirements relating to:

Fire safety Durability Performance Commercial usage Contract beds are commonly used in:
Hotels Guest houses Care homes Student accommodation Staff accommodation Housing associations Supported living properties

In most cases, the terms are interchangeable.
A hotel bed is usually a type of contract bed designed specifically for hospitality use. All hotel beds are contract beds, but not all contract beds are used in hotels.

Yes. Contract beds are designed to withstand significantly higher levels of use. A domestic bed may be used by one household for years. A hotel bed could be used by hundreds or even thousands of guests over the same period. For this reason, contract beds are often built with: Stronger frames More durable materials Higher-performance fabrics Commercial-grade construction methods

Hotels need furniture that can handle frequent use while meeting fire safety standards. Contract beds provide: Better durability Compliance with regulations Improved longevity Reduced replacement costs Better guest experiences

Crib 5 beds are commonly used by: Hotels Guest houses Bed and breakfasts Holiday parks Care homes Nursing homes Student accommodation providers Serviced apartments Housing associations Supported living providers Staff accommodation providers Contractors and developers

Absolutely. Many homeowners choose commercial-grade beds because of their durability and quality. There is no restriction on using a Crib 5 bed in a private home.

Comfort depends on the mattress and bed specification rather than the Crib 5 certification itself. A Crib 5 bed can be: Soft Medium Firm Luxury Orthopaedic The fire safety standard does not determine comfort levels.

Typically, yes. This is because additional fire-resistant materials and testing are required during manufacture. However, many commercial buyers view this as a worthwhile investment because of the durability and compliance benefits.

This depends on usage levels and maintenance, but high-quality contract beds are designed for long-term commercial use. When properly cared for, a quality contract bed can provide many years of reliable performance.

Contract beds are available in all standard UK sizes:
Bed Size Dimensions

Single 90cm x 190cm
Small Double 120cm x 190cm
Double 135cm x 190cm
King Size 150cm x 200cm
Super King 180cm x 200cm

At Online Bed Store, bespoke sizes may also be available because we manufacture our own beds.

Yes. One of the advantages of working directly with a manufacturer is flexibility.
We can often accommodate requests for:
Bespoke sizes Custom headboards Commercial upholstery fabrics Specific design requirements Bulk project orders If your project has unique requirements, our team can discuss the available options.

Yes. Unlike many retailers that source products from wholesalers or importers, Online Bed Store manufactures beds in Yorkshire.

This provides several advantages:
Better quality control Consistent manufacturing standards Bespoke options Factory-direct pricing Expert product knowledge

Absolutely. Contract beds are available in a wide range of styles, from simple practical designs to luxury upholstered hotel beds.
Many boutique hotels choose bespoke contract beds that combine commercial durability with premium aesthetics.

The best hotel mattress depends on your target guest profile, budget and brand positioning. Most hotels aim for a medium-comfort level because it appeals to the widest range of guests.
At Online Bed Store, we can help match contract mattresses to specific hospitality requirements.

When comparing suppliers, consider:

Crib 5 compliance BS7177 certification
Mattress quality
Build quality
Durability Warranty
Lead times
Manufacturer expertise
Customer support

Price is important, but long-term value is often more important.

We believe commercial buyers deserve more than simply a compliant bed. They deserve a bed that delivers comfort, durability and long-term value.

With more than 50 years of manufacturing experience, Online Bed Store offers:

✔ British-made beds
✔ Crib 5-compliant contract beds
✔ Factory-direct pricing
✔ Bespoke manufacturing options
✔ Bulk order capability
✔ Hotel, care home and accommodation expertise
✔ Yorkshire manufacturing
✔ Free 2-Man Delivery
✔ Dedicated customer support
✔ Long-lasting commercial quality

Whether you're furnishing a boutique hotel, a student accommodation block, a guest house or a care facility, our contract bed range is designed to help you create safer, more comfortable and more durable sleeping environments.