Knowledge Hub Article
Published on
26th March, 2019
by Suzie Radcliffe-Hart
Next review: 29th March, 2021
The General Product Safety Directive, furniture industry guide to legislation
At a glance:
This 43 page guide aims to give an understanding the scope of the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).
Essentially the Directive ensures that only safe products are sold on the market. This includes new, second-hand and also reconditioned products, as well as commercial products which may end up in a consumers house. The Directive also complements sector specific legislation (such as the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988). Furthermore the Directive governs processes for tracing potentially dangerous products on the market to ensure that can be traced and removed to avoid any risks to consumers.
Highlights:
- The primary objective of the GPSD and what is a ‘safe’ product
- What products are covered, and not covered by the GPSD?
- Who does the GPSD apply to with a close look at producers and distributors and their obligations
- Placing products on the market and making the product available How products are assessed for safety, including risk assessments, reasonably foreseeable use / mis-use, hazard marking and warnings and voluntary European Standards
- Due Diligence, including reliance on third party information
- Technical documentation – The Technical file
- Penalties and offences
- PAS 7100: 2018 Code of practice on consumer product safety related recalls and other corrective action
Restricted content for Research Association members only - Login to view
If your company is a Member and you need a login please click here
Non-members can purchase a copy via the BMTRADA bookshop, or become a member and access free of charge
You may be interested in
entries related to...
Standards,
Regulations
66 Entries
New European standard for childcare furniture published
BS EN 1130: 2019 Children’s furniture. Cribs
Positive vote for a new standard for electrical furniture
IEC 60335 Part 2 -116 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-116
Standards meeting report – Domestic furniture
covered a range of topics including motorised furniture, swivel chairs, foldaway beds and more...
Baby Products Association technical meeting report - November 2019
Key topics covered at this latest meeting included the possible revision of BS 1877 Part 10
Standards meeting report – Non-domestic furniture
Meeting covered work on amendments to EN 15372 and EN 16121
Standards meeting report – Test methods for furniture
Meeting covered issues related to motorised furniture, foams and mattresses and seating
First office furniture Remanufacturing Standard
Covers office and contract chairs / seating, office and contract tables / desking, office and contract storage units
New standard for bariatric beds
Specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements
Standards Meeting Report - PAS 7050 Steering Group
Development of new specification for bringing safe products to market
European Standards meeting – outdoor furniture
The meeting focused on potential revisions of two standards - EN 581-1 and EN 581-2
New standard for furniture hardware published
BS EN 15939: 2019 Hardware for furniture
Furniture Industry Research Association share updates to standards and other key matters
Three new standards
Standards Meeting Report – CEN TC207 Plenary
Standards expected to be published in the coming years
Standards Report – Common test methods
Topics include motorised furniture, mattresses, seating and more
Standards meeting report – Suspended seating workshop
Possible test methods for suspended seating
Standards meeting report – seat loading template
Discussion on the seat loading point when testing stability
Standards meeting report – foldaway beds
Potential revision of EN 1129 Parts 1 & 2 Furniture - Foldaway beds - Safety requirements and testing
Standards meeting report – Non-domestic furniture
Committee merger and revision to EN 15372
Confirmation of standard for cot mattresses
European standard BS EN 16890: 2017 Children’s furniture – Mattresses for cots and cribs
New standard for office desks
BS EN 527-2: 2016 + A1: 2019 Office furniture. Work tables. Part 2
Standards Meeting Report - hardware for furniture
Draft standards for corrosion performance of hardware and also star bases for swivelling chairs
France issues update to list of reference standards under Childcare Decree 91-1292
For the prevention of risks arising from the use of childcare articles
European Standard for Cots amended
Corrigendum published modifying requirements for footholds
Standards meeting report – Storage furniture
Meeting covered issues identified during the drafting of the revised standard ISO 7170
Standards meeting report – outdoor furniture
Includes three main standards for outdoor furniture (EN 581 Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Standards meeting report – kitchen furniture
International Standards committee responsible or looking at standardising the sizes of kitchen furniture
Standards meeting report – Electrical furniture
Task Group meeting to liaise with IEC TC61 who have been developing an electrical standard for furniture
Standards meeting report – Beds
Developing the standard ISO WD 23769 Furniture-Mattresses-Test methods for the determination of functional characteristi...
Standards meeting report – Tables
Development of ISO 19682 Furniture — Tables — Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability
Standards meeting report – Seating
Key topic for discussion was ISO 7173 Furniture — Chairs and stools — Determination of strength and durability
Baby Products Association technical meeting report - February 2019
Key topics included possibility of new Standard for mattresses used in moses baskets and carrycot.
Standards Meeting Report – domestic furniture
Insights from CEN TC 207 WG1 (the committee responsible for developing European Standards for domestic furniture)
Final standards update for 2018
Details of new standards and updates to others
Standards meeting report – Hardware for furniture
The working group discussed two new draft standards.
New document for surface finish assessment published
PD CEN/TR 17292: 2018 Technical report regarding precision data for various standards
New European Standard for Office Seating published
BS EN 1335-2: 2018 Office furniture. Office Work Chair. Safety Requirements
New standard for seating published
A new European Standard for assessing the stability of seating has been published.
Standards meeting report – domestic furniture
A meeting of CEN TC207 WG1, the European standards committee tasked with producing standards for domestic furniture
Standards meeting report
CEN TC 207 WG9, the European Standards committee that develops common test methods for furniture standards
Furniture Industry Research Association release their latest Standards Update
The September update confirms the publication of a number of new standards across the furniture sector.
Children’s furniture standard - BS EN 16120: 2012 +A2: 2016
BS EN 16120: 2012 +A2: 2016 has had a minor change.
New Standards for children’s furniture published
Four revised standards for children’s furniture have been published. The standards have been produced by the Furniture I...
Electrical accessories incorporated into furniture - a guide to the UK Regulations
For designers and manufacturers of furniture with electrical features, covering applicable EU Directives and CE marking ...
Electrically actuated furniture for the domestic market - a guide to the UK Regulations
Guide to the Application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Edition 2.1 in relation to domestic furniture
Electrically powered office furniture - a guide to the UK Regulations
The 62 page guide identifies the relationship with powered office furniture products such as sit / stand desking and oth...
FIRA Guide to European Biocidal Products Regulations
This guide will help companies and their suppliers to comply with the obligations they may have under the Biocidal Produ...
Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations
Any filling material, whether foam or non-foam, intended for use in furniture, must meet specified ignition tests. This ...
FIRA Standards
Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Children’s Domestic Furniture - General safety re...
FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...
Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture – Seat...
FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...
Furniture Retail Quality Group Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture - Tables ...
FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...
Furniture Retail Quality Group - Industry Standard Furniture - Children’s Domestic Furniture – St...
FIRA Standard created due to the absence of any British or European Standards applicable to children’s domestic and camp...
The Furniture Retail Quality Group Best Practice Guide 2017 - Glass in Furniture
The guide has been developed in conjunction with the Furniture Retail Quality Group, whose members include technologists...
FIRA Standard - Performance and Dimensional Requirements for Bariatric Seating
This FIRA Standard specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements for the structural safety and stab...
FIRA Standard - Performance and Dimensional Requirements for Bariatric Beds
This FIRA Standard specifies safety, strength and durability performance requirements for the structural safety and stab...
FIRA Standard - Remanufacturing
FIRA Standard which specifies the requirements for the remanufacture of office and contract furniture including seating,...
Standards meeting reports
Quarterly Standards Update Reports
These quarterly reports reflect the changes to furniture related standards notified to the Research Association
September 2019 Standards Update Report
Details of new standards and standards in development
June 2019 Standards Update Report
Details of new standards and standards in development
March 2019 Standards Update Report
Details of four new standards and standards in development
December 2018 Standards Update Report
Details of new standards, changes and standards in development
September 2018 Standards Update Report
Details of new standards, changes and standards in development
June 2018 Standards Update Report
Details of new standards, changes and standards in development
Quarterly Standards update reports
A guide for manufacturers seeking to claim compliance with BS 7176
FIRA guidance - compliance with BS 7176 - Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-dome...