Summary of Mechanical and Physical Testing Standards for Children’s Furniture in China and Vietnam
FIRA/FRQG C001:2021 Furniture – Children’s Domestic Furniture – General safety requirements
FIRA-FRQG C002: 2016 Furniture – Children’s domestic furniture – Seating – Requirements for strength, stability and durability
FIRA/FRQG C003:2021 Furniture children’s domestic furniture Tables and desks requirements for strength, stability and durability
FIRA/FRQG C004:2016+A1:2017 Furniture children’s domestic furniture Storage unit requirement for strength, stability and durability
The Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) and the Furniture Retail Quality Group (FRQG) have jointly released these four new standards related to children’s furniture.
FRQG includes representatives from most major furniture retailers in the UK. This group is chaired by FIRA and is specifically responsible for developing standards and guidance documents covering areas of concern for the furniture industry that are not fully covered by British or European standards.
BS 8509-2008+A1:2011 Children’s beds for domestic use – Safety requirements and test methods
BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 is a British standard that specifies safety requirements for fully assembled and usable child beds.
The BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 standard is formulated for children’s bed designers, children’s bed manufacturers, children’s bed suppliers, children’s bed testers, and the health and safety industry.
BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 provides the latest guidelines and recommendations to ensure the safety of household children’s beds with a maximum inner width of 1000 millimeters and a maximum bed base height of 400 millimeters.
ASTM F1912-2021 Standard Specification for Safety of Bean Bag Chairs and Bean Bag Covers
ASTM F1912 aims to reduce suffocation and suffocation hazards associated with bean bag chairs and bean bag seat covers.
ASTM F1912 covers bean bag chairs and bean bag seat covers with and without zippers.
ASTM F1912 includes two types of beanbag chairs: 1) beanbag chairs designed for refilling, and 2) beanbag chairs designed with permanent closures and not intended for refilling.
ASTM F1912 does not include foam chips or fiber filler products as internal filler materials.
ASTM F2613:2012 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Children’s Chairs and Stools Safety Testing
ASTM F2613 specifies testing requirements for the structural integrity and performance requirements of children’s chairs and stools. It also specifies requirements for labeling.
ASTM F2613 is not applicable to products used in commercial environments, nor to products without rigid frames, such as bean bag chairs or foam chairs.
ASTM F2613 is not applicable to seats with restraint systems, baby or toddler rocking chairs, child step stools, or child toilets. The term unit or product will refer to a children’s chair or stool.
ASTM F2613 covers chairs or stools for individual children who can enter and exit the product without assistance. The seat height is 15 inches or less, with or without a shaking base.
Any product produced after the approval date of ASTM F2613 shall not be indicated by labeling or other means as complying with this specification unless it meets all applicable requirements before and after all tests.
NF D60-300-1:2019 Furniture for Young Children Part 1: General Safety Requirements for Furniture for Young Children
NF D60-300-1 specifies general safety requirements for tables, seats, lockers, and beds exceeding 1500 millimeters in length for indoor and outdoor use by children in households.
NF D60-300-2:2008 Furniture for Young Children Part 2: Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Indoor and Outdoor Seating
NF D60-300-2 specifies the safety requirements and corresponding testing methods for indoor and outdoor seats for household and toddler use.
NF D60-300-3: 2008 Furniture for Young Children Part 3: Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Indoor and Outdoor Tables
NF D60-300-3 specifies the safety requirements and corresponding testing methods for indoor and outdoor household tables with a top height of less than 600mm for use by young children.
NF D60-300-4:2019 Children’s furniture For domestic use Part 4: Requirements and test methods for Toddler beds
NF D60-300-4 specifies safety requirements and testing methods for cribs without a basket, for children who are able to leave the crib on their own and lie down at home with a length of less than or equal to 1500 millimeters.
ASTM F 1838-2019 Adults and Children’s Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use
ASTM F 1838 establishes nationally recognized performance requirements for Class A (residential) and Class B (non residential) adult and child plastic chairs for outdoor use.
ASTM F 1838 does not address conditions that affect the performance of chairs outside of the production site.
ASTM F 1838 is not applicable to reclining chairs, multi-position chairs, upholstered chairs, or other types of furniture.
ASTM F 1838 covers the performance of products in outdoor weathering, impact, static load, and hind leg testing.
BS EN 17191:2011 Children’s furniture Seating for children Safety requirements and test methods
BS EN 17191 discusses children’s seat furniture. BS EN 17191 specifies the safety requirements and testing methods for seats specifically designed for children who can walk and sit on their own.
BS EN 17191 specifies the safety requirements and testing methods for household and non household child seats, including those used in day care centers and indoors and outdoors.
BS EN 17191 only applies to the functionality of seats. If the seat has additional functions or can be converted to other products.
The seats to which BS EN 17191 applies include but are not limited to chairs, benches, stools, bean bags, lounge chairs, rocking chairs, lounge chairs, armchairs, foldable chairs, and swivel chairs.
BS EN 17191 is not applicable to children’s high chairs, child care products, such as tilting cradles and seats in educational institutions, nor to rocking chairs, wheelchairs, electrical safety or child seats with special needs.
BS EN 17191 for child seats is applicable to the following groups: designers and manufacturers of child seats, importers and suppliers, and end users.
