Quality requirements

TABLES

Safety requirements in accordance with the standard: ENV 12521:2000

• This involves, for example, requirements for tube ends to be closed or covered, for edges to be free from burrs and to be rounded or chamfered and for there to be no cutting or crushing risks associated with use.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 1730:2000

• Here, the product is subjected to loading in the relevant directions (longitudinal, transverse, vertical and horizontal loading), static  loading, horizontal and vertical fatigue tests, impact tests  against the desk surface, and drop testing.

Durability of the surface in accordance with: NS-EN 12720, NS-EN 12722, NS 8057 and NS 8058

• The desk surface is tested for its resistance to various types of liquids and stresses: water, grease, colouring liquids (coffee), dry heat, grease in scratches, scratching of the surface. The subframe is tested for water and grease on the varnish surface.

Glass used in furniture is tested in accordance with: NS-EN 14072

OFFICE DESKS/WORKTOPS

Dimensional requirements in accordance with NS-EN 527-1:2002

• Requirements apply concerning the usable area of the work surface (minimum requirements), the height of the work surface and minimum requirements for legroom.

Safety requirements in accordance with NS-EN 527-2:2002.

• Requirements are imposed for tube ends to be closed or covered, for edges to be free from burrs and to be rounded or chamfered and for there to be no cutting or crushing risks associated with set-up and use, etc. Requirements concerning stability also apply. This is tested through application of the load at the centre of the short side (the longitudinal direction) or the centre of the long side, 50mm in from the desk edge.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 527-3:2002

• Strength and durability are tested with regard to static vertical and horizontal loading in the relevant directions and in the most exposed places, fatigue horizontally and vertically and drop testing. Stricter requirements are imposed on office desks/work surfaces than ordinary tables.

Durability of the surface in accordance with: NS-EN 12720, NS-EN 12722, NS 8057 and NS 8058

• The desk surface is tested for its resistance to various types of liquids and stresses: water, grease, colouring liquid (coffee), dry heat, grease in scratches, scratching of the surface. The subframe is tested for water and grease on the varnish surface. 

SITTING FURNITURE

Safety requirements in accordance with: ENV-12520 (domestic furniture)

• Tube ends must be closed or covered and edges must be free from burrs and be rounded or chamfered. There must be no cutting or crushing risks associated with set-up and use.

Safety requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 13761 (public sector furniture)

• Edges of seats, backs and armrests with which the user comes into contact must have a minimum radius of 2 mm; handles must be rounded with a minimum radius of 2 mm in the direction of movement/force; the safe distance between moving parts must not be less than 8 mm or more than 25 mm during movement; it must not be possible for parts under load to become loose unintentionally and lubricated parts must not soil the user.

Stability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 1022

• Stability is tested with regard to tipping in relevant directions, with a seat plumb and loads.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 1728

• Here, the furniture is tested with various static and dynamic loads on the seat, back, front edge of the seat, foot and leg support, armrests, wings, loading of legs, impact testing of the seat, impact testing of the back, impact testing of arms, drop testing and leg support.

Durability of the surface in accordance with: NS-EN 12720, NS-EN 12722, NS 8057 and NS 8058

• The surface is tested with regard to resistance to various types of liquids and stresses: water, grease, colouring liquid (coffee), dry heat, grease in scratches, scratching of the surface. The subframe is tested for water and grease on the varnish surface.

Fire resistance in accordance with: NS-EN 1021-1

• Here, the furniture's textiles are tested with a smouldering cigarette end. The product must not ignite within 60 min.

SCHOOL AND NURSERY FURNITURE

School furniture is divided into seven size categories from user heights in the range 80 - 100 cm (Category 1) to user heights over 185 cm (Category 7). The loading requirements depend on the size/year group that the furniture is intended for.

Safety requirements

• Requirements are imposed for tube ends to be closed or covered, for edges to be free from burrs and to be rounded or chamfered and for there to be no cutting or crushing risks associated with set-up, adjustment or joining.
• Edges of seats, backs and armrests with which the user comes into contact must have a minimum radius of 2 mm; handles must be rounded with a minimum radius of 2 mm in the direction of movement/force; the safe distance between moving parts must not be less than 8 mm or more than 25 mm during movement; it must not be possible for parts under load to become loose unintentionally and lubricated parts must not soil the user.

Stability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 1022

• The furniture is tested with regard to stability, including tipping forwards with a 20 N horizontal tensile force,  to the side and backwards with forces of 20 N and 80N respectively. There are separate requirements for tipping chairs, rocking chairs and chairs with front support.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: NS-EN 1728

• Here, the furniture is tested with various static and dynamic loads on the seat, back, front edge of the seat, foot and leg support, armrests, wings, loading of legs, impact testing of the seat, impact testing of the back, impact testing of arms, drop testing and leg support.

Durability of the surface in accordance with: NS-EN 12720, NS-EN 12722, NS 8057 and NS 8058

• The surface is tested with regard to resistance to various types of liquids and stresses: water, grease, colouring liquid (coffee), dry heat, grease in scratches, scratching of the surface. The subframe is tested for water and grease on the surface of the varnish.

Children's high chairs are tested in accordance with: NS-EN 14988

Fire resistance in accordance with: NS-EN 1021-1

• Here, the furniture is tested against ignition by a smouldering cigarette end (the cigarette test). The requirement is no ignition within 60 min. This is a statutory requirement in Norway (see the Regulations on the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered furniture).

STORAGE FURNITURE

Safety requirements in accordance with: prEN 14073-2

• Here, components with which the user can come into contact are required not to have burrs, sharp edges, sharp corners or open tube ends; moving parts must not work loose and there must be a safe distance between moving parts; Venetian blinds (vertical) must not self-close; pull-out elements, shelves and rails, frames and drawers must be fitted with stoppers, shelves must be secured so that they cannot slide, fall out or move.

Strength and stability requirements in accordance with: prEN 14073-3

• Here, a requirement is imposed for the product to tolerate certain loads on all storage surfaces.
• The product must be stable. This is partly tested  through repeated loading of the short side/long side with open doors/drawers.
• Requirements are also imposed concerning the strength of the product. This is tested through repeated loading of the short and long sides, shelves, shelf supports/shelf brackets and upper surface
• In the case of wall-mounted units, cupboards and shelves must tolerate a vertical force from below of at least 100 N without  collapsing. Requirements are also imposed concerning the strength of fixings for screen partitions and walls.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: ISO 7170

• A requirement is imposed for shelves and clothes rails to tolerate long-term loading. This is tested through loading over a period of seven days.

Strength and durability requirements in accordance with: prEN 14074

• Requirements are imposed concerning the durability of drawers and pull-out elements. This is partly tested through repeated loadings (50,000 cycles). Impact and closing tests on drawers and pull-out elements are tested through 10 cycles of loading with 35 kg. Hinged and pin-hinged doors are loaded vertically with 30 kg over 10 cycles; horizontal static loading against open doors 80 kg over 10 cycles. Vertical Venetian blind doors are tested for durability through opening and closing them 20,000 times. Flaps and pull-out surfaces are tested through vertical static loading with 250 kg over 10 cycles; durability pull-out over 20,000 cycles.
• Mobile units are tested through a rolling movement over 1000 mm, 2,000 cycles.

Durability of surfaces in accordance with: EN 12720, NS-EN 12722, NS 8057, NS 8058

• Panels/surfaces should tolerate water and grease, etc. on the varnished surface for 24 hours, grease in scratches for 24 hours, alcohol (48%) and colouring liquid (coffee) for one hour, dry heat (85 degrees Celsius) for 15 min. On the sub-frame, the product must tolerate water and grease on the varnished surface for 24 hours.

BEDS AND MATTRESSES

Functional requirements in accordance with: EN 1334

• The functional requirements establish maximum and minimum dimensions for the products. The basis is the manufacturer's specified dimensions and no major deviations are permitted.

Safety requirements in accordance with: EN 1725

• Edges must be free from burrs and be rounded or chamfered; tube ends must be closed or covered, the safe distance between moving parts must not be less than 8 mm or greater than 25 mm during movement, the safe distance to avoid crushing feet under moving parts must be over 100 mm from the floor, the complete bed or frame must not tip over.

Strength and durability requirements for beds in accordance with: EN 1725

• The product is tested with regard to tipping in four positions, fatigue and impact.

Strength and durability requirements for mattresses in accordance with: prEN 1957

• The mattress undergoes fatigue testing of the spring properties both on the edge and on the surface. This is partly carried through rolling a roller of 1400 Newtons (10 N = 1 kg) over the mattress 30,000 times.

Fire resistance in accordance with: NS-EN 597-1 Furniture

Assessment of ignitability of mattresses and upholstered furniture

• Here, the bed/mattress is tested with a smouldering cigarette end. The product must not ignite within 60 min. This is a statutory requirement in Norway.