The ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards are developed by the BIFMA Engineering Committee. The standards are reviewed every five years according to guidelines established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standards are intended to provide manufacturers, specifiers, and users with a common basis for evaluating safety, durability, and the structural adequacy of the specified furniture, independent of construction materials. The standards define specific tests, laboratory equipment to be used, the conditions of test, and the minimum acceptance levels to be used in evaluating these products. Copies of obsolete editions of the various standards are available upon request. All accredited standards developers must follow the ANSI Essential Requirements and their own set of written procedures in the process of developing new or revising existing standards. To obtain a copy of the ANSI Essential requirements go to http://www.ansi.org. If you are interested in the procedures that BIFMA uses in developing standards you may download a copy from the following: BIFMA_Procedures_17Nov2011.pdf Below is the Scope of Accreditation on file with ANSI: Scope of Accreditation Also, BIFMA is accredited by ANSI to be the administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO Technical Committee TC-136 Furniture. This has been very useful for BIFMA in our involvement with International Standards for office furniture. However, ISO TC-136 covers ALL furniture, not just office furniture. If you have an interest in International Standards for furniture that would be other than office furniture, BIFMA would like to hear from you.
ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011e FURNITURE SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD BIFMA International and NSF International have released an open, consensus based method to evaluate the sustainable attributes of furniture products.  It includes criteria for evaluating materials selection and useage; energy and atmosphere; human and ecosystem health; and social responsibility impacts. A copy of the standard may be obtained at https://bifma.org/secure/orderform.html. In June of 2009, BIFMA announced the premier of the product certification program, level®. For more information, the news release is available at http://bifma.org/news/newsrelease.pdfs/level_PR_05.pdf and the level® website is located at http://levelcertified.org. Interpretations of various sections of the standard are available as additional guidance for users of the standard and certification bodies assessing conformance with the standard. That guidance can be found at the end of the standard and at the following link: INTERPRETATIONS
ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2011 General Purpose Office Chairs - Tests Approved by ANSI, May 13, 2011 If you have any questions please contact Roxanne DeBoer at BIFMA email@bifma.org or dpanning @bifma.org Order ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards using our Online Order Form or using our Printable Order Form (Printable Order Form requies Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
X6.1 PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL SEATING STANDARD BIFMA Members under the leadership of Robert Hupe of Virco have been working with the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) in development of this standard. The draft standard was sent to Association Ballot on January 20, 2012 and started the Pre-Canvass Interest Survey on January 31, 2012. Questions please contact Dave Panning at dpanning@bifma.org or Roxanne DeBoer at email@bifma.org.
ANSI/BIFMA FURNITURE EMISSIONS STANDARDS
ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2011 Emission Standard and ANSI/BIFMA M7.1-2011 Emission Methods APPROVED BY ANSI April 20, 2011 Under the leadership of Subcommittee chair, Randy Carter of Steelcase, efforts are underway to study data variation, as BIFMA desires to clarify measurement uncertainty prior to the next revision. Order ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards using our Online Order Form or using our Printable Order Form (Printable Order Form requies Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
BIFMA X5.3 - 2007 (R2012) VERTICAL FILES Tests Approved by ANSI, January 17, 2012
X5.4 BIFMA LOUNGE SEATING STANDARD Tests Approved by ANSI, January 26 , 2012 If you have questions please contact either Dave Panning: dpanning@bifma.org or Roxanne DeBoer: email@bifma.org.
X5.5 DESK/TABLE STANDARD At this time we are seeking volunteers to join us establishing a workgroup to revise the ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2008 Desk/Table Test Standard. If you are willing to share your expertise regarding Desk/Table Furniture, then please join us by contacting BIFMA at email@bifma.org or contact Dave Panning with any questions dpanning@bifma.org.
X5.6 PANEL SYSTEMS STANDARD APPROVED BY ANSI AUGUST 4, 2010
X5.9 STORAGE UNITS STANDARD A Work Group under the guidance of Subcommittee Chair Tom Dykstra of Haworth was assembled to update ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2004 Storage Units-Tests. The Association Ballot voting concluded on August 8. The revision team has finished reviewing Association Ballot comments and the Group has determined that the draft document should move onto the ANSI Canvass Consensus Body which has also been formed. The team anticipates completing the ANSI process in 2012. Contact: Roxanne DeBoer email@bifma.org
X5.11 PROPOSED HEAVY LOAD CHAIR STANDARD A team has been formed to begin development of this proposed standard for chairs intended for heavy users. The first meeting was held on May 10, 2011 with subsequent meetings held on June 29, June 30, and August 8. Two critical elements that received a lot of attention were Weight and Seat Pan Width. The team recently bumped up the target weight from 375 lbs. to 400 lbs. The team is proposing a minimum Seat Pan Width of 22 inches to qualify for testing to X5.11. Test plans are being formulated with Mississippi State University to study chair stresses from heavy occupants. Please contact Roxanne DeBoer email@bifma.org or Dave Panning at dpanning@bifma.org if you would be interested in joining this team.
BIFMA to DEVELOP A HEALTH CARE FURNITURE STANDARD BIFMA has submitted a Project Initiation Notice in December of 2009 with ANSI to develop a standard for evaluating the safety, durability, and structural performance of Healthcare Furniture. BIFMA leadership and key members of the Engineering Committee believe we will be ready to begin the documentation process in early 2012. At this time we are seeking volunteers to join us for this upcoming project. If you are willing to share your expertise regarding Healthcare Furniture, then please join us by contacting BIFMA at email@bifma.org or contact Dave Panning with any questions dpanning@bifma.org.
SMALL OFFICE HOME OFFICE PRODUCTS APPROVED BY ANSI AUGUST 4, 2008. NEW EDITION AVAILABLE FROM BIFMA. No activity.
FLAMMABILITY The EPA has formed an Alternatives Assessment Task Team for recommendations to replace decaBPE as a fire retardant chemical. Scientists believe there are health risks associated with decaBPE. They are looking to provide a list of 20 recommendations to be assessed in 2011 with a final recommendation from the EPA in early 2012. Members of this team are from the aeronautical, automotive, electronics, textile, and furniture industries. Our furniture representatives include Gabe Wing of Herman Miller, Inc. and Aaron Smith of Kimball. A Task Group has been formed and will be led by Jeff Musculus of Steelcase and Randy Ruster of Herman Miller, Inc. to provide guidance to California TB-133 Fire Testing. The Flammability Subcommittee met on March 30, 2011 in Grand Rapids and again on October 3rd. Please contact BIFMA if you have input into TB-133 testing or wish to join this task group.
BIFMA COLOR MEASUREMENT STANDARD Color 3.1-2005 (Approved October 19, 2005)
BIFMA TEXTILE CHARACTERISTICS STANDARD Tex4.1-2005 (Approved March 9, 2005)
BIFMA QUALITY SYSTEM STANDARD
ERGONOMIC GUIDELINES G1-201X The Ergonomics Work Group led by Lucy Hart of Global Group is finalizing its revisions to BIFMA G1-2002 Ergonomics Guideline. The workgroup believes we will have an updated BIFMA G1 standard in 2012. The Working Group is using the CAESAR database which takes into consideraton the civilian population vs the previous G1 document that used the Military population. Two individuals from the Working Group, Scott Openshaw of HNI Corp. (Allsteel) and David Trippany of Steelcase, Inc., have met with Dr. Claire Gordon, Biological Anthropologist from the U.S. Army Natic Soldier Center. Dr. Gordon, one of the nation's leading Anthropologist, assisted in shaping our data to make it more useable for our revision work. Anyone with questions should contact Roxanne DeBoer email@bifma.org or Dave Panning dpanning@bifma.org.
SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES-2005 Developed to provide a roadmap for office furniture manufacturers and suppliers of all sizes to establish and/or expand their environmental management systems and include sustainable business practices.
PD-1-2011 MECHANICAL TEST STANDARDS-Compiled Definitions
DEFINITION OF STANDARD WORKSTATION SYSTEMS For use in LEED-CI MR Credit 4.1 and 4.2 (Recycled Content)
Information on locations and capabilities of test labs worldwide.
Order ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards using our Online Order Form or using our Printable Order Form (Printable Order Form requies Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
Contact: Dave Panning, Director of Technical Services if you have comments or questions.
This page updated 2012/02/01