Are bunk beds safe for kids?

All our Bunk Beds have passed the Australian Standards requirements however bunk beds can be a cause of injury in the home, particularly to young children.

As a result, all bunk beds supplied and sold in Australia must meet strict safety standards.

Safety questions

Before you buy a bunk bed, ask these questions to ensure the bed will be safe.

Is there roll-off protection for the top bunk?

All four sides of the top bunk must be fitted with a guardrail.  The top of the guardrail must be at least 160 mm above the top of the mattress.

The guardrail must clearly mark the maximum height of the mattress unless the height of the guardrail from the mattress base is at least 360 mm.

Are there any entrapment hazards?

There must be no gaps between 95 mm and 230 mm in the vicinity of the top bunk and guardrail where children can get their heads caught.

Where will I put the bunk bed?

Allow plenty of clear space between the sides and ends of bunks and ceiling fans. Adults should be able to safely access the top bunk without the added risk of getting in the way of moving fan blades. 

Who will use the bunk bed?

Children under nine years should never be allowed on the top bunk as they could get trapped in some spaces on the bunk ends or guardrail.

Ensure the bunk bed has properly attached ladders to provide safe access to and from the top bunk, especially during the night.

The correct size mattress should fit snugly into the bed frame, with a gap of no more than 25 mm between the mattress and the bed sides. This prevents dangerous gaps that small children could slide through.

Never use a thicker mattress than the manufacturer recommends. Ensure a gap of at least 160 mm between the top of the mattress and the top of the guardrail.

Provide some lighting for the person in the top bunk, such as a night light, bedside lamp or torch, so it is safer for them to get in and out of bed.

Ongoing maintenance

Follow the manufacturers’ assembly instructions closely. If the bunk bed comes with a tool, keep it in a safe place for future maintenance.

Regularly check the bed and fix any loose bolts, broken parts or splinters.