National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 1728:2012, incorporating corrigendum July 2013. It supersedes BS EN 1728:2001 which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee FW/0, Furniture, to Subcommittee FW/0/1, Common Test Methods for Furniture.

A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 September 2012.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 9 June 2012.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Foreword

This document (EN 1728:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 207 “Furniture”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2013, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 2013.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 1728:2000.

The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below.

All test methods for seating used in European Standards for furniture have been collated in one document. The document now contains methods that were previously listed in EN 581‑2, Outdoor furniture, EN 1335‑3, Office work chair, and EN 15373, Non-domestic seating.
A static load test for headrests has been included.
Wherever possible test methods have been simplified and clarified for ease of use.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

1 Scope

This European Standard specifies test methods for the determination of strength and durability of the structure of all types of seating without regard to use, materials, design/construction or manufacturing process.

This European Standard does not apply to children’s highchairs, table mounted chairs and bath seats which are covered by other European Standards.

Test methods for the assessment of ageing, degradation, ergonomics and electrical functions are not included.

The test methods are not intended to assess the durability of upholstery materials, such as upholstery filling materials and upholstery covers.

This European Standard does not include any requirements. Requirements for different end uses can be found in other Standards.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General test conditions

4.1 Preliminary preparation

4.2 Application of forces

4.3 Tolerances

5 Test equipment and apparatus

5.1

5.2

5.3 Stops.

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.8 Foam for use with loading pads.

5.9 Seat impactor.

5.10

5.11

5.12

5.13

6 Test procedures - Chairs other than Work Chairs

6.1 General

6.2 Determination of seat and back loading points

6.3 Determination of Back Angle

6.4 Seat static load and back static load test

6.5 Seat Front Edge Static Load

6.6 Vertical load on back rests

6.7 Horizontal forward static load test on back rests

6.8 Foot rest static load test

6.9 Leg rest static load test

6.10 Arm rest sideways static load test

6.11 Arm rest downwards static load test

6.12 Headrest static load test

6.13 Vertical upwards static load on arm rests

6.14 Vertical static load on auxiliary writing surfaces

6.15 Leg forward static load test

6.16 Leg sideways static load test

6.17 Combined seat and back durability test

6.18 Seat front edge durability test

6.19 Durability test on seating with a multi-position back rest

6.20 Arm rest durability test

6.21 Foot rest durability test

6.22 Auxiliary writing surfaces durability test

6.23 Tipping seat operation

6.24 Seat impact test

6.25 Back impact test

6.26 Arm rest impact test

6.27 Drop tests

6.28 Backward fall test

6.29 Castor and chair base durability

6.30 Rolling resistance of the unloaded chair

7 Test procedures - Work Chairs

7.1 General

7.2 Loading points

7.3 Combined seat and back static load test

7.4 Seat front edge static load test

7.5 Arm rest downward static load test – central

7.6 Arm rest downward static load test – front

7.7 Arm rest sideways static load test

7.8 Foot rest static load test

7.9 Seat and back durability

7.10 Arm rest durability

7.11 Swivel test

7.12 Foot rest durability

7.13 Castor and chair base durability

7.14 Rolling resistance of the unloaded chair

8 Test procedures – Loungers

8.1 General

8.2 Seat and back static load test

8.3 Additional seat and leg rest static load test

8.4 Seat and back durability test

8.5 Durability test on back rest mechanism

8.6 Arm rest downwards static load test

8.7 Arm rest durability test

8.8 Impact test

8.9 Lifting test for mobile loungers

BS EN 1728:2012

Furniture. Seating. Test methods for the determination of strength and durability

Current

Published:

30 Sep 2012