Leading global inspection, testing and certification company SGS has introduced a dedicated service to help furniture manufacturers demonstrate the quality and durability of their products through the new conformance programme from the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers' Association (BIFMA).
Launched on 1st March, the BIFMA Compliant programme enables manufacturers to list those products that conform to the trade association’s safety and durability standards within BIFMA Compliant, a new online product register, and display the BIFMA Conformance mark on products, packaging and marketing materials.
BIFMA, a US-based not-for-profit trade association for business and institutional furniture manufacturers, developed its conformance programme and mark to enable manufacturers to showcase products that meet its safety and durability standards. The programme is voluntary, and open to BIFMA members and non-members alike.
The new register and mark are also designed to support architects, designers, B2B buyers and consumers in the easy identification of products that have met the standards. Indeed, customers buying furniture can also access the registry to verify its status.
Since 1973, BIFMA has sponsored the development and refinement of standards, taught their importance and application, and translated their complexity into formats that are easily understood and implemented.
Kevin Smith, senior international sales executive, SGS, says: “We welcome BIFMA’s new compliance programme, which will help lift standards across the industry and make it easier for architects, designers, B2B buyers and consumers to identify furniture products that are safe and reliable.
“As a BIFMA member and an active participant in its technical committees, we are properly positioned to guide manufacturers through BIFMA’s testing and compliance process. In the end, we believe it’s only trusted because it’s tested.”
Through its network of ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratories, SGS can test the performance of furniture products and demonstrate compliance against the following physical and mechanical standards that focus on safety and durability: office seating; lounge and public seating; desk products; panel products; storage; educational seating; occasional-use seating; large-occupancy seating; and small office/home office.
SGS assists manufacturers, retailers and buyers to ensure well-designed, functional, durable and safe products reach the consumer, by checking a product’s compliance against regional, national and international standards and a company’s own specifications. Its furniture services cover all aspects of indoor and outdoor furnishings.
