BIFMA Announces Revised X5.5-2021, Desk and Table Products Standard

UL informs the commercial furniture industry that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recently approved revisions for the safety and performance standard: ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021, Desk and Table Products.

The Scope of ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021 

“The standard provides a common basis for evaluating the safety, durability and structural performance of desk and table products intended for use in commercial office, institutional and educational environments, including retail spaces, restaurants and cafeterias.” 

One new test was added for unattached desk or tabletop retention and clarifications were made to several tests. The revisions have been specifically on stability, leg strength, and height adjustable desk/table surfaces tests.

UL is an active BIFMA member and maintains multiple ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories globally. To learn more about the revised standard and the new tests, contact UL now. The test reports issued from our accredited labs can be used for BIFMA’s Compliant Program. And, in addition, UL offers the UL Mark Certification that helps demonstrate that your office furniture products meet industry performance and durability requirements, backed by a reputable third-party certification. Customers will use the UL enhanced Mark to help differentiate your products in the marketplace, including being featured and listed in UL Product iQTM, UL's online location for complimentary certification information.

UL offers safety solutions for office desks and tables

While height adjustable tables offer many benefits, like ergonomic and health benefits, increased productivity and energy, they also present potential hazards to users, including tip-over, pinch points, and potential electrical and fire hazards. Incidents can be extremely costly, especially if you sell in markets like in the U.S. In some municipalities in North America, certification to UL 962, the Standard for Household and Commercial Furnishings, is required prior to installation in commercial or office settings. In addition, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires third-party certification of height adjustable tables to support a safer workplace.

UL offers comprehensive safety testing and certification solutions for height adjustable table products, allowing you to help ensure the suitability of your products for U.S. and international markets. With testing to UL 962, you can:

• Verify the mechanical, electrical and fire safety of height adjustable table frames and/or tables during recommended use as well as foreseeable misuse
• Mitigate risk with third-party certification of your product’s safety
• Assess the suitability of your products for sale in North America and globally

As a global safety expert, we also test commercial desks and tables to European safety standards including EN 1730:2012 and EN 527- 2:2016+A1:2019, Office Furniture. Work tables. Part 2: Safety, strength and durability requirements.

Innovative safety

In response to an increasing demand for table bases that can accommodate any work surface, UL has developed a new safety certification solution: UL Listed Safety Certification for Adjustable Table Bases. This solution enables manufacturers of height adjustable table frames to demonstrate that their products meet specific criteria, certifying them as finished products rather than furniture components.

Through a more flexible process that includes testing, product construction review and documentation, as well as manufacturer site audits, recipients of Safety Certification for Height Adjustable Table Base receive UL Certification.

Standard

Household and Commercial Furnishings