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Glossary · Compliance
What is BIFMA (BIFMA standards)?
Voluntary US safety and durability standards for commercial furniture, published by BIFMA and widely specified for offices, schools and public spaces.
BIFMA, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, develops ANSI/BIFMA standards that test commercial furniture for safety, strength and durability. Examples include X5.1 for general-purpose office chairs, X5.4 for lounge and public seating, X5.5 for desks and tables and X5.9 for storage units.
The standards are voluntary in law, but architects, procurement teams and many contracts specify them, especially for offices, schools, hotels and public buildings. A factory claiming BIFMA compliance should be able to show test reports for the specific model from a qualified laboratory.
Check the report's date, model number and standard edition, and that the tested sample matches the construction you are buying. A change of frame material or foam can make an old report irrelevant.
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