Archived News Article
Updates to standards and other key matters
The Furniture Industry Research Association has published its latest summary of standards, which includes the publication of two new standards:
- BS EN 17214: 2019 Visual assessment of furniture surfaces
- PD CEN/TR 16411: 2019 Child care articles - Compiled interpretations of CEN/TC 252 standards
Turning to test foams / mattresses, a Technical Report will be produced to define the specification for furniture testing to help with standardisation across BS EN 1725:1998 Domestic furniture. Beds and mattresses. Safety requirements and test methods, BS EN 747-1:2012+A1:2015 Furniture. Bunk beds and high beds. Safety, strength and durability requirements, BS EN 716-1:2017 Furniture. Children's cots and folding cots for domestic use. Safety requirements, BS EN 1727:1998 Domestic furniture. Storage furniture. Safety requirements and test methods, BS EN 1730:2012 Furniture. Tables. Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability and BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 Childrens beds for domestic use. Safety requirements and test methods.
The report also carried details of a proposal for a new test method standard for suspended seating, with the possibility of incorporating into BS EN 1022:2018 Furniture. Seating. Determination of stability and BS EN 1728:2012 Furniture. Seating. Test methods for the determination of strength and durability at a later date. A draft document has been circulated and will be discussed in November 2019.
Standards expected to become subject to amendments in the future include ISO 9241-5:1998 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) -- Part 5: Workstation layout and postural requirements, EN 15372 2016 Furniture – Strength, durability and safety – Requirements for non-domestic tables, prEN 16139: 2013 - Furniture - Strength, durability and safety - Requirements for non-domestic seating. In addition, it’s excepted that EN 14073-2: 2004 Office furniture - Storage furniture - Safety requirements will be merged with BS EN 16121:2013+A1:2017 Non-domestic storage furniture. Requirements for safety, strength, durability and stability.
The Standards Update also covers other key topics including:
- Public Consultation – Restriction of Formaldehyde Emissions – Consultation open until September
- German Chemicals Act – Formaldehyde
- New order relating to potential safety issues of consumer products
- Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended
- Environmental Audit Committee - Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life - Twentieth Report of Session 2017–19
- Engagement with the Machinery Directive Working Group
- Machinery Directive Roadmap for Revision
The final Quarterly Standards Report of 2019 is due in December., but in the interim ad-hoc updates will be published on the website.