Sit the Bambach Way and improve your health
When choosing a saddle seat for your workplace, laboratory, clinic or studio, function and comfort is important - but safety and fire performance are essential.
That’s why understanding Crib 5 regulation can help you make a better, safer choice. At Bambach, all of our premium ergonomic saddle seats are fully Crib 5 compliant, unlike many cheaper copy products on the market.
Crib 5 is an industry standard for fire safety and flame retardancy in materials used in seating and upholstery. Specifically, Crib 5 tests whether a product:
- Resists ignition and flames
- Limits flame spread
- Meets strict burning behaviour standards
Products that pass Crib 5 must withstand more stringent fire exposure conditions than many other regulations. This makes them safer in environments where fire risk is a concern, such as:
Medical facilities | Laboratories | Dental practices | Industrial workplaces | Public and educational settings
In contrast, cheaper saddle seats that do not meet Crib 5 may use lower-grade foams, fabrics or coverings that burn more easily and pose a greater risk in the event of a fire.
Crib 5 is a recognized benchmark for safety and flame performance, not an optional “nice to have” extra.
When a seat carries Crib 5 approval:
- You have confidence in fire resistance
- You reduce potential liability and the risk of invalidating insurance cover
- You protect users, staff and visitors
- You meet enhanced safety expectations in regulated environments
Non-Crib 5 seats may save money upfront, but they do not provide the same level of protection and in some sectors they may not be legally compliant.
Every Bambach saddle seat is engineered and manufactured to meet, and often exceed, Crib 5 fire retardancy requirements. Our compliance is the result of:
✔ Premium materials selected for safety and durability
✔ Rigorous independent testing and certification
✔ Carefully designed upholstery and foam components
✔ Full documentation and traceability
Bambach is the original saddle seat, created to enhance health and well-being. In recent years, lower-cost saddle seats have flooded the market. While they may look similar, many of these alternatives:
✗ use non-Crib 5 compliant foams
✗ are made with flammable fabrics
✗ lack independent fire testing
✗ are non-compliant
Choosing based on price alone can leave you with a potentially dangerous and ergonomically sub-optimal product.
Bambach guarantees: high-quality materials, engineered ergonomics and full safety compliance.
A. Yes - Bambach saddle seats supplied in the UK are manufactured using materials that conform to Crib 5 standards. Documentation can be provided upon request. This makes a Bambach suitable for professional, clinical and regulated environments where safety standards matter.
A. No, many lower-cost or “copy” saddle seats do not meet Crib 5 standards. They may use cheaper foams and coverings that have not been independently tested for enhanced fire resistance - while they may look similar in shape, they often differ significantly in material quality and safety performance.
A. Crib 5 refers to a recognised UK fire safety test for upholstered furniture. It measures how resistant materials are to ignition and flame spread when exposed to a simulated fire source.
To pass Crib 5, the upholstery and foam must self-extinguish within strict limits and must not allow excessive flame spread. It is a higher level of fire performance than basic domestic upholstery standards.
A. In many commercial and public environments, Crib 5 compliance is either mandatory or strongly recommended under fire safety and furnishing guidelines.
This commonly includes: healthcare and dental practices, laboratories, schools and colleges, care homes, commercial offices and public buildings.
If you are responsible for workplace safety or compliance, specifying Crib 5 seating is strongly recommended.
A. Yes. In commercial environments, using Crib 5 compliant seating can support:
✔ Fire risk assessments
✔ Workplace safety audits
✔ Insurance requirements
✔ Health & safety compliance
It demonstrates that appropriate fire-resistant furnishings have been selected.
A. You can call your supplier and ask for:
✔ certification or test documentation
✔ confirmation of upholstery and foam fire rating
✔ manufacturer compliance statements
If a supplier cannot provide written confirmation, the product may not meet Crib 5 standards.
Bambach UK can provide supporting documentation upon request.
A. Healthcare and dental environments often require higher fire performance standards due to:
✔ the need for patient and staff safety
✔ use of electrical equipment
✔ controlled building regulations
✔ insurance and liability requirements
Choosing Crib 5 compliant seating helps reduce risk and ensures you meet expected safety standards.
A. No, Bambach seats are designed to combine:
✔ Ergonomic support
✔ High-density, durable foam
✔ Premium upholstery
✔ Fire-retardant materials
A. Simply contact us at Bambach and we will be happy to provide relevant compliance documentation and product specifications.