How Safe are Bunk Beds?

Bunk beds offer a fun space saving solution for siblings sharing bedrooms and for kids that have frequent sleepovers, however, adults often question whether they really are safe for use.

We want our customers to feel confident in purchasing beds from OWN Furniture! To help you decide we have put together a handy guide to bunk bed safety:

• Kids love bunk beds, however, they're not a climbing frame and they should never be used as such. Although a bunk bed is a fun alternative to a regular bed, children should be discouraged from playing on the ladder and from leaning from the top bunk. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) most accidents involving bunk beds occur when children are playing on them.

• Only use the provided ladder to access the top bunk and never substitute this for anything else.

• Head room should be considered. We recommend that you have at least two feet (60.96cm) between the upper bunk and the ceiling or light fittings to prevent any unexpected bumps in the night!

• Never hang anything from the bunk bed and be sure to check that hanging cords or cables are not within reach of the bunk as they can pose a risk of strangulation.

• Top bunk being fought over? Solve this problem by allowing the kids to take turns in the top bunk. For their safety they must learn that only one person can be on the top bunk at any time.

• Children under the age of 6 years should not sleep in the top bunk. The low level of visibility at night may increase the risk of falls for younger children.

• Check the manufacturer's guidelines on weight limits for bunks. Each sleeping area limit is usually around 75-100kg.

• Ensure that the bed is assembled as per the instructions and regularly check the fittings to make sure the bed remains sturdy.

• Always use the provided bed safety rails as these prevent children from rolling out of bed in their sleep.

• We recommend that any mattress placed on the top bunk should have a depth of 15cm or less to maintain a safe height in relation to the guard rails.

Why does the top bunk mattress need to be a specific depth?

The top bunk should not have mattresses more than 15cm deep, especially on the upper bunk. This is for safety reasons as a deeper mattress can stop the side guards from doing their job properly. In terms of length and width of mattress, you need to choose either a standard UK single or a standard EU single mattress depending on which bed frame you’ve chosen.

Are bunk beds subject to any regulations?

Bunk beds that are sold in the UK must conform to British Standard: BS/EN 747:2012+A1. These current safety regulations require bunk beds to be manufactured with a solid structure and have no sharp edges or corners that may cause harm. The regulations on bunk beds are strict about gaps in the construction, to ensure that a child can’t get stuck or slip between the rail and the mattress.

We hope that our guidelines have eased any concerns you may have had over considering the use of bunk beds. Ready to purchase? Check out our range of bunk beds today!