Archived News Article
Furniture Industry Research Association share updates to standards and other key matters - Jun - 2019
The Furniture Industry Research Association has published its latest summary of standards. The summary includes details of three new standards alongside information of further standards in development, under amendment or which may be withdrawn.
The three new standards published were confirmed as:
- BS EN 527‑2:2016+A1:2019 Office furniture - Work tables Part 2: Safety, strength and durability requirements
- BS EN 716: 2017 + AC: 2019 Furniture. Children's cots and folding cots for domestic use. Part 1: Safety requirements
- PD CEN/TR 16411:2019 Child care articles. Compiled interpretations of CEN/TC 252 standards
Further standards which are in development, or earmarked for amendment, and are highlighted in the Quarterly Standards Update include those within the following areas: non-domestic tables and desks / office desks, non-domestic / office seating, non-domestic / office storage, educational furniture, laboratory furniture, beds and mattresses, domestic seating, domestic tables, domestic storage, kitchens, outdoor furniture, children's furniture, flammability, hardware, surface finishes and common test methods.
Alongside the standards information, the update also carries important information on various other matters affecting the industry, including:
- Public consultation on the restriction of formaldehyde emissions, updates on proposals that consumer products should meet specified emission levels which is to be verified by testing of the whole product
- Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended), updates of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) / Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPS&S) funded project, led by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and attended by the Furniture Industry Research Association
- The Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) enquiry on the impact of toxic chemicals, how to access written evidence and view the recordings from the parliamentary sessions which included key organisations from the furniture industry
- Engagement with the Machinery Directive working group, proposals to classify certain components (such as drawer/door openers and height adjustable desk mechanisms) to be classified as machines in their own right
The latest Quarterly Standards Report is available to all members of the Furniture Industry Research Association via www.fira.co.uk/JuneStandards
The next Quarterly Standards Report is due in September, but in the interim we will be posting ad-hoc updates when available.
