BIFMA-Standard

BIFMAX5.1-2002ThisisaDRAFTstandardthisispresentlyunderdevelopmentbyBIFMA1BIFMAX5.1-2002EDITEDDRAFTWITHILLUSTRATIONSStandardforOfficeFurniture-GeneralPurposeOfficeChairs-TestsDraft–APRIL4,2002SponsorTheBusinessandInstitutionalFurnitureManufacturer’sAssociationBIFMAX5.1-2002ThisisaDRAFTstandardthisispresentlyunderdevelopmentbyBIFMA2ForewordThematerialpresentedinthisstandardwasdevelopedasaresultoftheeffortsofthemembersofBIFMAInternationalandreviewedbyabroadrepresentationofinterestedparties,governmentorganizationsandcommercialtestingandprocurementandinteriordesignorganizations.Thisstandarddefinesspecifictests,laboratoryequipment,conditionsoftest,andrecommendedminimumlevelstobeusedinthetestandevaluationoftheperformance,durability,andstructuraladequacyofgeneral-purposeofficechairs.TheoriginalworkonthisstandardwascompletedinMay,1974bytheBIFMAEngineeringCommitteeand,particularlybyitsSubcommitteeonChairStandards.DuringtheperiodsfromFebruary1983throughJanuary1984,March1990throughApril1993,andagainfromSeptember1997toDecember2001,theSubcommitteeonChairStandardsconductedreviewsofthestandardtoensurethatthetestsaccuratelydescribethepropermeansofevaluatingthesafety,durability,andstructuraladequacygeneral-purposeofficechairs.Thereviewsproducedrevisionsand/oradditionstothevarioustestproceduresthatimprovetheproceduresandprovideconsistency.TherevisionsweresubmittedtothemembershipofBIFMAInternationalandapprovedinDecember2001.AcanvassofinterestedpartiesandstakeholderswasconductedinaccordancewiththerequirementsofanANSIaccreditedstandardsdeveloper.Aftercompletionofthecanvassprocess,thestandardwassubsequentlysubmittedtotheAmericanNationalStandardsInstituteforapprovalasanAmericanNationalStandard.ConsensusforthisstandardwasachievedthroughuseoftheCanvassMethod.Suggestionsfortheimprovementofthisstandardarewelcome.TheyshouldbesenttoBIFMA,International,2680HorizonSE,SuiteA1,GrandRapids,MI49546.Thefollowingorganizationsrecognizedashavinganinterestinthestandardizationoftestsforgeneral-purposeofficechairswerecontactedpriortotheapprovalofthisstandard.InclusioninthislistdoesnotnecessarilyimplythattheorganizationconcurredwiththesubmittaloftheproposedstandardtoANSI.BIFMAX5.1-2002ThisisaDRAFTstandardthisispresentlyunderdevelopmentbyBIFMA3ContentsPageForeword.................................................................................................................21Scope...........................................................................................................62Definitions.....................................................................................................73General......................................................................................................103.1Typesoftests..................................................................................103.2Manufacturer’sinstructions...............................................................113.3Figures............................................................................................123.4FigureSymbols................................................................................133.5Measurements.................................................................................133.6Tolerances.......................................................................................133.7RecommendedTestReportFormat..................................................144TypesofChairs..........................................................................................155BackStrengthTest-Static-TypeI............................................................186BackStrengthTest-Static-TypeII&III......................................................237BaseTest-Static.......................................................................................268DropTest-Dynamic...................................................................................289SwivelTest-Cyclic....................................................................................3010TiltMechanismTest-Cyclic.......................................................................3211SeatingDurabilityTest-Cyclic...................................................................3412StabilityTest...............................................................................................4013ArmStrengthTest-Vertical-Static..........................................................4414ArmStrengthtest-Horizontal-Static........................................................4615BackDurabilityTest-Cyclic-TypeI..........................................................5116BackDurabilityTest-Cyclic-TypeIIandTypeIII......................................5717ChairBaseandCasterTest-Cyclic..........................................................6518Legstrength-FrontandSideApplication..................................................6819FootrestDurabilitytest-Vertical-Cyclic...................................................7120ArmDurabilityTest-Cyclic......................................