BS EN 15372: 2008 Furniture — Strength, durability and safety — Requirements for non-domestic tables has recently been published.
This standard now covers all types of tables for non-domestic/contract use (with the exception of office desks, outdoor furniture and products for educational use).
The standard replaces the existing British Standard for tables, BS 4875-5: 2001 Strength and stability of furniture – Pt 5 Requirements for the strength, durability and stability of tables and trolleys for domestic use for contract use. BS 4875-5 is currently being revised to cover domestic products only.
BS 15372 has three test levels to cover the different types of use that contract tables may be subject to. These levels are:
Test Level 1 (light non-domestic use)
This covers applications where the user will, in general, exercise reasonable care when using the furniture (such as church halls, libraries and hotel bedrooms), broadly equivalent to BS 4875-5 test Level 3.
Test level 2 (general non-domestic use)
This is recommended for most applications (such as general hotel use, bars, restaurants, banks and waiting rooms), broadly equivalent to BS 4875-5 test Level 4.
Test level 3 (severe non-domestic use)
This test level is designed to be used where large volumes of public use are anticipated (hospital waiting rooms and transport termini for example) and less care/more abuse of the furniture is likely to occur, broadly equivalent to BS 4875-5 test Level 5.
What are the differences?
The key to the new standard is what are the main differences between BS EN 15372 and BS 4875-5. These are summarised within the table below:
Subject
BS 4875-5
BS EN 15372
Comments
General safety requirements
-
New requirements
Covers sharp edges, entrapment points etc
Stability – general
Vertical load and horizontal impact
Vertical load only
New requirements are slightly lower
Stability – tables over 950 mm high
No special requirements
Reduced requirements added
This take into account that people cannot sit on high tables
Stability – tables with drawers
No requirement
Requirement added
Horizontal static load
Included
Included
New requirements are lower than previous British Standard
Vertical static load
Included
Included
New requirements for severe use are slightly lower than previous Standard
Horizontal fatigue
Included
Included
New standard has higher loads, but fewer cycles
Vertical fatigue
Included
Included
New Standard requires less cycles than previous document
Sustained load/deflection
Included
Optional
There is no requirement for a sustained load test in the new standard, and the deflection requirements are optional – as they are contained within an informative Annex
Vertical impact – general
Included
Included
Other than light use the requirements in the new standard are lower than the previous document
Vertical impact – glass tables
Not included
Included
This was previously covered by BS 7376. The new standard operates a similar principle that non-safety glass tops need additional testing
Drop test
Included
Included
Again the new standard has lower requirements than the previous standard, but does have a specific requirement for glass tables as well.
In summary most tables that meet the requirements of BS 4875-5 should meet the requirements of BS EN 15373 at the relevant test level. The only area where additional consideration is really required is around safety/entrapment points and horizontal fatigue.
For information on how to cost effectively upgrade your existing FIRA BS 4875-5 certificates to BS EN 15372 please contact us on O1438 777700 or e-mail
