BIFMA Releases New Standard for Occasional-Use Seating

BIFMA has released a new test standard for occasional-use seating: ANSI/BIFMA X 6.4 2018. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) August 23, 2018 - The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) has released a new test standard for occasional-use seating. The standard, ANSI/BIFMA X 6.4 2018, received approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in May 2018.

ANSI/BIFMA X 6.4 2018 provides a common foundation for evaluating safety, durability and structural adequacy in occasional-use seating. It covers products that are estimated to have a product life of five years, based on continuous single-shift usage.

The standard was drafted by BIFMA’s Subcommittee for Seating Standards to cover public and lounge seating that does not receive vigorous daily use in the office environment. ‘Occasional-use seating’ is defined in the standard as freestanding and normally used in indoor spaces, such as waiting, reception, or gathering areas. It includes products with single seat units, units with multiple seating positions within one unit or ganged seating units. In general, occasional-use seating is not adjustable for personal use.

The standard incorporates the following tests, consistent with ANSI/BIFMA x5.1 “Office Chairs”, using the 95th percentile male weighing 125 kg (275 pounds):

• Backrest Strength Test - Horizontal - Static
• Backrest Strength Test - Vertical - Static
• Backrest Durability Test - Horizontal - Cyclic
• Backrest Durability Test - Vertical - Cyclic
• Arm Strength Test - Horizontal - Static
• Arm Strength Test - Vertical - Static
• Arm Durability Test - Horizontal - Cyclic
• Arm Durability Test for Multiple Seating Units - Vertical - Cyclic
• Arm Durability Test for Single Seat Units - Angular - Cyclic
• Seating Durability Tests - Cyclic
• Drop Test - Dynamic
• Leg Strength Test - Front and Side Application
• Unit Drop Test - Dynamic
• Caster/Unit Base Durability Test - Cyclic
• Swivel Test - Cyclic
• Tilt Mechanism Test - Cyclic
• Stability Tests

To help manufacturers of occasional-use seating certify to the new BIFMA standard, SGS has furniture testing capabilities in both Europe and Asia.

SGS Furniture Services
SGS helps you deliver well-designed, functional, durable and safe products to your customers. We have the furniture industry, regulatory and technical expertise to check your products’ compliance against relevant standards and/or your own specifications. Learn more about SGS’s Furniture Services: [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/hardgoods/furniture]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full New Standard for Occasional-Use Seating: ANSI/BIFMA X6.4: 2018 SafeGuardS. [https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/07/safeguards-10118-new-standard-for-occasional-use-seating]

Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Raymond Luo
Hardlines Sales Team
Tel: +86 (757) 2280 5668
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

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