What are fire-rated artificial plants & are they required?

We offer a limited range of inherently fire resistant artificial plants because there is no legal requirement for them in the UK or the EU (we’ve checked!), they are roughly 30% more expensive than their non-FR counterparts and the name is can be fairly misleading.

What’s currently available?

There are currently two different types of flame-resistant artificial plants and trees on the market: inherently flame-resistant and surface-treated.

The foliage on inherently flame-resistant trees is made from materials which are chemically treated to resist ignition from a naked flame – e.g. a match or lighter. Inherently flame-resistant artificial foliage is tested to varying British and European standards. Some companies will provide a certificate for these items.

Surface-treated flame-resistant artificial plants have either been dipped into a flame-resistant solution or sprayed.

This results in a slightly greasy surface which looks shiny and attracts dust particles – erghhh! The other drawback with surface-treated plants is that they cannot be certified as there is no guarantee that the spray or solution has been applied evenly. It’s for these reasons that we don’t provide a spray-on solution either!

So inherently flame-resistant trees are fireproof…

Wrong.

Buying a flame-resistant artificial plant or tree does not mean your product is fireproof. Only the foliage and the stem moulding is actually flame-resistant. The stem of the tree (which is normally made from natural wood) hasn’t been treated and will burn.

Also flame-resistant (or fire-retardant) artificial foliage does what it says on the tin – resists flames. If the foliage is exposed to constant and extreme heat it will eventually catch light or melt.

So, should you buy flame-resistant (or fire-retardant) artificial plants & trees?

For the majority of customers, our range of standard indoor faux plants, trees, flowers, and foliage is ideal. By buying non-flame-resistant artificial plants you get a far greater choice at a lower price.

The exception to this is if you are buying for public buildings or commercial premises.

The exception to this is if you are buying for public buildings or commercial premises. We then recommend that you seek advice from your fire safety officer before purchasing either standard or flame resistant artificial trees.