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BIFMA Introduces New ANSI Occasional-Use Seating Standard

Furniture World News Desk on 1/15/2021


The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the new safety and performance standard: ANSI/BIFMA X6.4-2021, Occasional-Use Seating.

The BIFMA Subcommittee for Seating Standards worked diligently for the past three years to introduce this new ANSI standard. The Subcommittee began work in 2017 and provided guidance for the 2018 publication of BIFMA X6.4-2018 Occasional-Use Seating. Demand for this standard increased in 2020 with the influx of work at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Association sponsored development of X6.4 to become an American National Standard.

The Scope of ANSI/BIFMA X6.4-2021 includes the following: “Occasional-use seating is normally used in indoor common/shared spaces such as waiting, reception, visitor seating in patient rooms, restaurant / dining / cafeteria settings and other gathering areas. Occasional-use seating may also be used in the home environment.” This new standard defines the specific tests, laboratory equipment, conditions of test, and recommended minimum levels to be used in the testing and evaluation of the safety, durability, and structural adequacy of Occasional-Use Seating products.

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 January 7, 2021.

Copies of the new standard are available from BIFMA immediately. This and other standards may be ordered online at https://www.techstreet.com/bifma/pages/home.


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.