Archived News Article
New standard for children’s seating published – BS EN 1729-2:2023
A new standard for children’s seating, BS EN 1729‑2:2023 Furniture - Chairs and tables for educational institutions - Safety requirements and test methods, has recently been published.
The standard has been updated following issues concerning the application of EN 1729-2 experienced in the field and reported accidents in Europe, as well as to closer align the standard to BS EN 17191:2021 - Seating for children. Chairs that fulfil the strength and durability requirements of BS EN 1729-2 are also deemed to meet the strength and durability requirements of BS EN 17191, allowing school chairs to be sold for other end uses.
BS EN 1729‑2:2023 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to BS EN 1729‑2:2012+A1:2015:
- extension of scope to include safety requirements and test methods for kindergarten, childcare institutions and early years education settings
- removal of the gloss requirement for tabletops
- additional durability requirements for single-column chairs
- additional consideration of chairs with armrests
- clarification of seat loading points and back loading points
- amendment of some loads and forces
- modification of Annex A" (informative) "Test method for determination of stability of chairs placed on tabletops".
- inclusion of corner stability test for chairs
- inclusion of requirements for auxiliary writing surfaces which are integral parts of chairs
- inclusion of forward stability test for tables
- additional safety requirements for chairs sizemarks 0 to 3
For further information about testing to this new standard, please contact the Service Provider to the Research Association, FIRA International.
