Share this on

ANSI/BIFMA Desk/Table Standard Approved

The standard is designed to work with other ANSI/BIFMA standards.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 1/24/2008 12:00:00 AM

A new desk and table standard is on the market. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 Desk Table Products standard. Copies are available through furniture industry nonprofit the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA).

The new standard was conceived to work with other ANSI/BIFMA standards, including ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2004 Storage Units, ANSI/BIFMA X5.6-2003 Panel Systems, and ANSI/SOHO 6.5-2001 Small Office Home Office. Definitions, test set-ups, test procedures, and load applications were designed for consistency, BIFMA says.

X5.5 reflects testing including top loading, load ease, lock mechanism, expandable element or roll-out shelf cycle, out stop, rebound, racking, leg strength, horizontal and vertical adjustment, stability, cycle testing for receding doors, interlock, drop test for receding door, unit drop, and table tests.

For more information contact Dick Driscoll via email at rdriscol@bifma.org or 616-285-3963.