What age for a top bunk?
Beds with a base higher than 600 mm are marked as not suitable for children under six. That is a warning, not a statement that six is old enough. Follow the maker if they set a higher age.
Topic
Safety
The under-six warning, mattress depth, guard rails, and what BS EN 747-1:2024 actually covers.
Bunk bed mattress depth and guard rails
A thick mattress lifts the child up the guard rail. The frame is marked with a maximum mattress thickness. A trade summary of BS EN 747-1:2024 says the mattress top should stay at least 160 mm below the top of the barrier.
BS EN 747: what parents need from the bunk bed standard
BS EN 747-1:2024 is the safety, strength and durability standard for bunks and high beds whose base is 600 mm or more above the floor. A listing that says “safe” is not the same as a test report for that model.
When to take a bunk bed apart
Take a bunk down when nobody needs the stacked layout any more, or when the person on top no longer suits the maker’s limits. Only use the parts as two single beds if the instructions say the frame can be built that way.
Checking a bunk bed after a move
A bunk that has been taken down and rebuilt is a new build. Count the fixings, refit every rail and the ladder exactly as the instructions show, and check the mattress against the mark on the frame before anyone sleeps on top.