BS 6396 discusses furniture. The aim of the BS 6396 is to provide the best industrial practice for electrical systems in furniture.
BS 6396 specifies requirements for the provision and assembly of electrical power, data and telecommunications distribution systems in furniture. Requirements are specified for furniture for general use and also for use with specific equipment, parts of which are potentially built-in during manufacture.
BS 6396 covers furniture incorporating single phase electrical power distribution systems operating at rated voltages up to 250 V a.c. that are either supplied by connection to the fixed wiring of the permanent installation of the building by a 13 A fused plug and socket outlet arrangement conforming to, for plugs, BS 13631 and, for socketoutlets, BS 13632, and/or derived from batteries at a nominal voltage not exceeding 48 V d.c.
Note: BS 6396 does not apply to electrical appliances used with or within an article of furniture, for which appropriate standards are available.
BS 6396 on electrical systems in furniture is useful for:
The electrical facilities of furniture shall be so designed that under all conditions of normal use, and under a fault condition, protection is provided against personal injury.
BS 6396 provides the general requirements and test methods that can be followed while designing and constructing of electrical system for the furniture. This ensures that the furniture to which a cable management and power distribution system is to be applied shall be suitable for its intended purpose and be structurally sound and stable. It shall conform to the applicable safety standards.