There is no doubt that bunks beds have much to offer those with children. With beds stacked above one another, more space is freed up. From additional floor area for playing games to making room for wardrobes and drawer units, this can be a valuable asset, particularly in smaller properties. Exceptionally flexible, many products can be converted, allowing add-ons like desks and storage options to be adopted. As a result, as children grow up and their needs change, kids bunk beds are just as useful. They’re also a superb option for sleepovers, ensuring kids and their friends sleep comfortably, instead of camping out on the carpet. However, when considering bunk beds UK families are often concerned about whether or not they are a safe sleeping solution. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), 6,000 people each year die in home-related accidents and around 2.7 million attend A&E departments in need of treatment, so, understandably, safety is a concern. Additionally, since the pandemic started in March 2020, the UK has been increasingly focused on the health and wellbeing of family members, especially their children. With disruptions to schooling and socialising and a new set of concerns to cope with, a good night’s sleep is still the best foundation for any child’s day. In the following sections, we’ll explore whether bunk beds provide a secure place for kids to sleep and whether they are currently subject to British safety standards.
Child safety is in your hands
Bunk beds made today feature far higher standards of safety than those built in the past. Governedstrict regulations, parents can rely on UK bunk beds being robust with a hard-wearing structure. The RoSPA deems bunks beds a safe sleeping option providing that safety checks are undertakenparents. Misuse of bunks beds is among the most common causes of accidents, so parents must take due care to instruct their children on safe usage of the ladder and reaffirm that the bed is not a play area. Installing a clip light to illuminate the ladder is a useful precaution to put in place in case kids need to alight from the top bunk at night.
What age are bunk beds safe for?
While the bottom bunk is suited to every age of child, they must understand that the top bunk is out of bounds without adult supervision. The upper bunk is best for children aged six and over, but those with more responsible kids may feel safe to allow them access earlier.
What standards must UK bunk beds conform to?
Each bunk bed that is sold here in Britain must conform to the British Standard: EN747-1:2012+A1:2015. This exacting legislation ensures that every bunk bed has a solid construction and contains no sharp edges. The standard states that every bunk bed must have slats that are no greater than 7.5 centimetres apart from those adjacent and that guardrails must be connected on both sides. At a minimum, the guardrails included must be at least 10 centimetres taller than the top bunk mattress. For access, the top bunk bed must have a gap of at least 300 millimetres and the rungs on the ladder to reach it must be 20 centimetres apart and 3 centimetres wide.
A safe option for sleeping
In sum, modern UK bunk beds offer families many advantages and are well-made to ensure they are strong, sturdy, and safe to use. However, once a bunk bed has been bought, it is up to each parent to ensure their children use the sleeping solution safely.