BIFMA Revises Desk and Table Products Standard

Thursday, February 11, 2021

February 11, 2021

Grand Rapids, MI - The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the revisions for the safety and performance standard: ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021, Desk and Table Products.

The BIFMA Subcommittee for Desk and Table Standards worked diligently for the past three years to revise this ANSI standard. The Subcommittee began work in 2018 with an invitation to broad industry stakeholder participation. Numerous participants worked on extensive reviews of the standard and many improvements have been achieved. However, there was special emphasis on the Stability, Leg Strength, and Height Adjustable Desk/Table Surfaces tests. Two new tests were added to X5.5. One to evaluate Unattached Top Retention, and a second new informative test to evaluate the Stability of units with monitors attached.

Several multi-stakeholder lab workshops were held in 2018 and 2019. In 2020 the draft proposals were reviewed by the BIFMA Association and approved. In late 2020 and early 2021 the ANSI Consensus Body reviewed and unanimously approved the revisions.

The Scope of ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021 includes the following: 'This standard provides a common basis for evaluating the safety, durability and structural performance of desk and table products intended for use in commercial office, institutional and educational environments; including retail spaces, restaurants, and cafeterias.'

Thanks to the hard work of the BIFMA Subcommittee and diverse industry stakeholders, this national consensus standard was finalized and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on February 8, 2021.

Copies of the new standard are available from BIFMA immediately. This and other standards may be ordered online.

About BIFMA

BIFMA is the non-profit trade association serving business and institutional furniture manufacturers. Since 1973, the organization has been the industry leader in developing furniture safety, durability, and sustainability standards that establish parameters for product performance. BIFMA educates the community on the proper use of these standards; hosts product registries to support customer buying confidence; publishes industry statistics; and
advocates for regulatory conditions that enhance value and foster innovation.

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