Understanding Standards for Beds and Mattresses – whose job is it anyway?

This is the story of a contract adjudication group (Everybody) who were asked by the tender management team (Somebody), if the standards cited in a bed and mattress contract were correct/up to date.

When Everyone Thinks It’s Somebody Else’s Job

A familiar scenario: a contract adjudication group (Everybody) is asked by the tender management team (Somebody) whether the standards listed in a bed and mattress contract are current and accurate.

  • Everybody assumes Somebody will know.
  • Somebody assumes Everybody must know.
  • Anybody vaguely recalls something about fire safety and bed rails.
  • But in the end, Nobody is really sure which standards apply—or if they even should be included in the contract specification.

Why Understanding Standards Matters

If you’re part of a contract adjudication group, you play a critical role in supporting fair, transparent procurement—helping to ensure best value for money by assessing cost, quality, and sustainability.

A key part of evaluating quality is confirming that products meet appropriate safety and performance standards. But navigating these standards can feel like getting lost in a virtual forest.

Which Standards Should You Use?

Should you refer to:

  • British Standards (BS)

  • European Norms (EN)

  • International Standards (ISO)?

And what about Technical Reports or Specifications? Knowing which ones are relevant and how they’re applied can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be.

SoTV and BHTA: Cutting Through the Confusion

To help make sense of it all, SoTV has teamed up with the British Health Trades Association (BHTA)—specifically the Beds and Support Surfaces and Pressure Care and Seating Sections—to create a series of bite-sized blogs.

These posts will guide you through the standards landscape, making it easier to understand what’s essential and how to apply it in practice.

Start Here: A Helpful Introduction

While we prepare the series, you can explore a helpful starting point:
🔗 New Standards for Testing Mattresses and Related Products – An Introduction

This article introduces the BS EN ISO 20342 series and outlines key updates in safety and performance testing.

A Note on Terminology

These standards are developed by ISO. When adopted:

  • In Europe: EN ISO 20342

  • In the UK: BS EN ISO 20342

For technical guidance:

  • Technical Reports = CEN

  • Technical Specifications = PD