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Furniture – European Safety Standards

It’s increasingly common for furniture manufacturers that they prior to selecting a sub-supplier, require that e.g. hinges, shelf supports, drawer extensions are product tested.

It is a great advantage to the suppliers/importers of the furniture components in their mutual competition to clarify the actual quality of their products.

Architects, designers and manufacturers can avoid numerous problems by already at the drawing table to prepare constructions, material choice and dimensions in such a way that the finished product will satisfy the standards. In many cases part tests can be carried out on components/constructions and prototypes e.g. strength and durability of shell chairs made of synthetic materials or laminated veneer. In such cases a test programme can be made up to expose different designs and material choices to static and dynamic loads before the final design and tool are decided.

The European standards for furniture are listed below:

Domestic / Outdoor / Glass Tables	Safety Standards
Bench	EN / BS EN 581-1 ENV / DD ENV 581-2 EN / BS EN 1022 EN / BS EN 581-3
Impact Performance – safety glass for use in tables and buildings	BS 6206
Domestic Table	BS 4875-5 EN / BS EN 1730
Domestic Table with Glass	BS 4875-5 EN / BS EN 1730 BS 7376
Outdoor Table	EN / BS EN 581-1 EN / BS EN 581-3
Outdoor Table with Glass	EN / BS EN 581-1 EN / BS EN 581-3 BS 7376
Table – Specific Physical & Mechanical Tests
Stability under Vertical Load	EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.7
Stability – Horizontal Impact	BS 4875-5 Annex B
Horizontal Static Load	EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.2
Vertical Static Load	EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.3
Horizontal Fatigue	EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.4
Vertical Impact	EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.6
Drop Test	BS 4875-5 Annex D or EN / BS EN 1730 Clause 6.8

Domestic / Outdoor Chairs Lounges , Park benches	Safety Standards
Folding Lounge (with Armrests) Folding Lounge (without Armrest)	EN / BS EN 581-1 ENV / DD ENV 581-2
Domestic Chair with Multi-positions Domestic Chair with Back & Armrests Domestic Chair with Back but no Armrest Domestic Tilting Chair Stool without Armrest	BS 4875-1 EN 1728 EN / BS EN 1022
Outdoor Chair with Armrests Outdoor Chair without Armrest Bench (outdoor chair with multi-positions) Outdoor Director Chair with Armrests	EN / BS EN 581-1 ENV / DD ENV 581-2 EN / BS EN 1022
Folding Lounge/Sunbed with Armrests Folding Lounge/Sunbed without Armrest	EN / BS EN 581-1 ENV / DD ENV 581-2
Frame Picnic Bench (table and bench without back/armrest)	EN / BS EN 581-1 ENV / DD ENV 581-2 EN / BS EN 581-3 EN / BS EN 1022

Chair – Specific Physical & Mechanical / Flammability Tests
Seat & Back Static Load	EN 1728 Clause 6.2
Arm and Wing Sideways Static Load	EN 1728 Clause 6.5
Arm Downwards Static Load	EN 1728 Clause 6.6
Combined Seat & Back Fatigue	EN 1728 Clause 6.7
Seat Front Edge Fatigue	EN 1728 Clause 6.8
Leg-rest Fatigue	EN 1728 Clause 6.11
Leg Forward Static Load	EN 1728 Clause 6.12
Leg Sideways Static Load	EN 1728 Clause 6.13
Seat Impact Test	EN 1728 Clause 6.15
Back Impact Test	EN 1728 Clause 6.16
Arm Impact Test	EN 1728 Clause 6.17
Drop Test	BS 4875-1 Annex C
Seat Static Load Test	ENV / DD ENV 581-2 Clause 6.2.2.1
Seat Fatigue Test	ENV / DD ENV 581-2 Clause 6.2.2.2
Seat Impact Test	ENV / DD ENV 581-2 Clause 6.2.2.3
Fatigue Test of Folding Lounge	ENV / DD ENV 581-2 Clause B3.1.2
Flammability for Chairs	BS 5852