Introduction 

When you step into a hotel, what's the first thing that catches your eye? It might be the plush armchairs in the lobby, the elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, or the sleek flat-screen TV in your room. These elements, along with countless others, fall under the category of FF&E, which stands for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment. FF&E is the backbone of any hotel, playing a vital role in shaping the guest experience and ensuring the functionality and aesthetics of the property. In this article, we will delve into the importance of FF&E in the hotel industry.

1. Guest Comfort and Satisfaction 

One of the primary purposes of a hotel is to provide a comfortable and enjoyable stay for its guests. FF&E is instrumental in achieving this goal. Comfortable beds, ergonomic chairs, and well-designed furnishings all contribute to guest satisfaction. After a long day of travel or business meetings, guests look forward to unwinding in a cozy and inviting space. Quality FF&E items enhance the overall ambiance of the hotel, making guests feel welcome and relaxed.

2. Aesthetic Appeal and Brand Image 

The aesthetics of a hotel can significantly impact its brand image. Well-designed FF&E items create a visual identity for the hotel that can set it apart from competitors. Whether it's a boutique hotel with unique, custom-made furniture or a luxury resort with opulent fixtures, the visual appeal of FF&E can leave a lasting impression on guests. Consistency in design throughout the hotel, from the lobby to the guest rooms, helps reinforce the brand's identity and message.

3. Durability and Longevity 

Hotels experience a constant influx of guests, often resulting in higher wear and tear compared to residential properties. FF&E items must be durable and able to withstand the rigors of daily use. Investing in quality furniture, fixtures, and equipment not only ensures that they last longer but also reduces maintenance and replacement costs over time. Durable FF&E can maintain their appearance and functionality for years, ultimately benefiting the hotel's bottom line.

4. Functionality and Efficiency 

In addition to aesthetics, FF&E plays a crucial role in the functionality and efficiency of a hotel. Appropriate fixtures and equipment in guest rooms, such as reliable lighting, climate control, and convenient storage solutions, enhance the overall guest experience. In hotel kitchens and dining areas, well-chosen equipment can improve the efficiency of food preparation and service, contributing to customer satisfaction.

5. Compliance with Safety and Accessibility Standards 

Hotels are subject to a variety of safety and accessibility regulations. Properly selected FF&E items can help hotels comply with these standards. For instance, accessible room fixtures, including grab bars and roll-in showers, are essential for accommodating guests with disabilities. Ensuring that FF&E meets safety and accessibility requirements not only helps hotels avoid legal issues but also demonstrates their commitment to inclusivity.

6. Flexibility and Adaptability 

The hotel industry is constantly evolving to meet changing guest preferences and market trends. FF&E items that are flexible and adaptable can help hotels stay competitive. Modular furniture and fixtures, for example, can be rearranged to create different room layouts or adapt to evolving design trends. This flexibility allows hotels to respond quickly to changing market demands without undergoing major renovations.

Conclusion

In the world of hospitality, the importance of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) in a hotel cannot be overstated. These elements are the unsung heroes that contribute to guest comfort, brand image, durability, functionality, safety, and adaptability. Hotels that invest wisely in FF&E can differentiate themselves from the competition, enhance guest satisfaction, and ensure long-term success in a highly competitive industry. As hotels continue to evolve and cater to the needs of modern travelers, FF&E will remain a cornerstone of their success.

© SATRA Technology Centre. Reproduction is not permitted in any form without prior written permission from SATRA.

Hotel furniture – safe and fit for purpose?

When supplying or buying furniture for hotels, understanding product performance levels and safety standards is vital.

Image © iStockphoto_Rpsycho

The main issues faced by UK-based suppliers and purchasers of furniture for hotels and other similar establishments, including beds, seating, desks and tables, are:

• the fire safety of the product. Does it conform to the relevant standards or guidelines?
• the performance of the complete item of furniture in use or fitness for purpose. Is the structure of the complete item strong and durable enough? Will it stand up to the likely wear and tear which could involve some elements of misuse?
• the durability of the surface finish (such as lacquer, paint, laminate and foil) on tables, desks and other horizontal surfaces. Will the surface of the furniture be fit for purpose and withstand normal use, and some foreseeable misuse?
• the durability of upholstery covers on seating units.

Suppliers will always strive to provide furniture that is fit for purpose and, hence, will not create customer or user complaints. Purchasers too, will be concerned that they are selecting and buying the appropriate furniture for hotel bedrooms and public areas.

SATRA recommends that all furniture for hotel use should be selected on the basis that it meets the appropriate strength and stability requirements.

Purchasers of hotel furniture will find it useful to use a written specification, which will indicate the minimum performance and safety levels needed to satisfy any regulations and to minimise wear of the products.

Fire safety

In the UK, the fire safety of non-domestic buildings such as hotels is controlled by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This requires every building to have a current fire risk assessment, and furnishings should be procured in line with this risk assessment.

To help both suppliers and manufacturers of furniture, British standards are in place to help select the correct furniture.

In the UK, BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 can be used to determine if upholstered seating products provide adequate fire safety for hotels. BS 7176 is a specification which contains tests based on four different ‘hazard categories’, and offers recommendations as to the appropriate level of fire safety needed for different buildings/uses. The ‘medium hazard’ category is appropriate for upholstered hotel furniture. The test requirements include a match flame test, smouldering cigarette tests and a flame ignition source 5 test (often called ‘crib 5’), which is specified in BS 5852:2006 Section 11.

In the rest of Europe, different standards apply and many, but not all, EU States will rely on EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2 tests to demonstrate fire safety. These are cigarette and match ignition tests on upholstery composite arrangements.

A typical case

An American chain of hotels was expanding its business in the UK and sourced upholstered furniture and beds directly from the USA. Unaware of the UK flammability requirements, the company was thereafter informed by the local fire officer that the furniture would not be acceptable, and would need to be replaced with items that complied with BS 7176:2007+A1:2011 – ‘Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing composites’ and BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 – ‘Specification for resistance to ignition of mattresses, mattress pads, divans and bed bases’.

The UK fire officer was alerted by the absence of any informative labels regarding ignition resistance. When an item was tested, the materials failed to meet the requirements of BS 7176. The US supplier suggested a surface treatment as a remedy, but the fire officer rejected this, as it would not be effective in making the foam filling and the covers wholly compliant. The whole set of furniture items had to be replaced with compliant items or be re-upholstered using compliant covers and compliant filling materials.

Additionally in the UK, BS 7177:2007+A1:2011 can be used to determine if mattresses and upholstered bed-base products provide adequate fire safety for hotels. Like BS 7176, BS 7177 is a specification which contains tests based on four different hazard categories, and offers recommendations as to the appropriate level of fire safety needed for different buildings/uses. The medium hazard category is appropriate for upholstered hotel furniture. The test requirements include a match flame test, smouldering cigarette tests and a flame ignition source 5 test, which is specified in BS 6807:2006 Section 9.

In the rest of Europe, different standards apply and many, but not all, EU States will rely on EN 597-1 and EN 597-2 tests to demonstrate fire safety. These are cigarette and match ignition tests on mattresses/upholstered bed bases.

Suppliers in non-UK countries should check with local authorities on current requirements for fire safety.

Labelling contract furniture

While there is no mandatory requirement to label the product to indicate ignition resistance of upholstered furniture and mattresses, it makes good sense to do so. Failure to do this could put the furniture supplier at risk from legal action if the furniture is moved to a more severe hazard category and a fire occurs. If there is no declaration on the product as to the suitability of the item for a particular end use or hazard category, the furniture supplier would be in a weak position if he had to demonstrate that the products were fit for purpose.

Additionally, the supplier may add his details to the product label to help with service issues, such as the purchase of spare parts or replacement products. If a supplier is making a claim for compliance with BS 7176 or BS 7177, the correct design of label should be used.

Structural performance requirements

Hotel furniture can be subject to heavy use, and therefore it is important that the furniture is strong and stable enough to stand up to this level of use. For example, seating and tables in public areas of hotels will be used for a variety of functions, such as meetings, weddings, parties and other celebrations, and may be moved in and out of storage on a regular basis to cater for large dining functions or meetings. Repeated movement of items to and from storage areas increases the wear and tear on tables and seating and, therefore, products need to be sturdy enough to survive these repeated movements. In some venues, the furniture will be in place permanently, so robustness for moving and storage may not be such an issue. In both cases, the furniture should be sufficiently strong to withstand normal use by those heavier individuals, together with some foreseeable misuse, such as a person standing on a chair or a table to change a light bulb or to hang decorations.

Specifying appropriate performance standards can offer reassurance to both procurers and suppliers that the furniture supplied will be able to stand up to such use. Details of the standards that SATRA recommends are shown in table 1.

Durability of surface finishes and upholstery covers

Reception furniture – including coffee tables, couches or chairs – will be used by people entering the building with luggage and possibly wet or damp clothing such as raincoats. There is a risk that wet clothing and sharp parts of luggage could damage or mark upholstered furniture.

Finishes on the surface of tables should meet the minimum requirements for durability, including scratch resistance, resistance to hot objects and resistance to liquids. In addition, the fabrics or leather covers selected for use on seating should meet the minimum performance requirements, which will help to significantly reduce or eliminate customer complaints during usage. Key attributes of fabrics or leathers for upholstery are light fastness, abrasion resistance, rub colour fastness, seam strength, pilling and soil resistance.

See table 1 for list of typical standards that SATRA uses to determine if furniture is fit for purpose when destined for hotel use.

Table 1: Typical standards for hotel furniture

Public areas

SATRA has inspected hotel furniture on many occasions for various clients. A list of some typical problem areas witnessed include:

• fabric, allegedly snagged either by clothing or luggage
• polished tabletops scratched by luggage studs and other sharp objects
• decorative embellishments on seating (including buttons, tassels, fringes and trim) that have become detached or loose
• soiling and water damage of upholstered furniture by accidental spillages or from wet garments such as raincoats
• polished tables damaged by liquids and hot objects
• excessive movement of the cover of cushions, resulting in loss of shape and distortion of seams
• gaping seams on upholstered seating
• loose joints in dining room chairs.

Some of these issues would have been prevented if suitable specifications and product or material testing had been carried out before the contract for the purchase of the furniture was agreed.

Recommendations

Suppliers of hotel furniture should check for any local rules and regulations regarding fire safety of furniture before quoting for contracts. Products and materials should be tested to demonstrate conformity, and they should be labelled to indicate the level of conformity, together with details of the source of the product. Delivery notes should also indicate the level of conformity of furniture. Test reports can provide a useful selling tool to demonstrate fitness for purpose.

Purchasers of hotel furniture should ensure that their product specification is consistent with any local or national rules and regulations concerning fire safety. They may need to consult with the operator of the premises, as he or she is ultimately responsible for fire safety.

Purchasers should look for evidence that products offered and supplied actually meet the appropriate requirements – test reports will help to do this. If there are any doubts, further tests could be carried out to demonstrate compliance.

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Please click here for further information on SATRA's furniture testing services. To discuss how to ensure that hotel furniture is evaluated for safety and fitness for purpose, email furniture@satra.com