AS-NZS-4688.1-2007.pdf

AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 Australian/New Zealand Standard FurnitureFixed height chairs Part 1: Human-interface and general requirements AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 This Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard was prepared by Joint Technical Committee CS-088, Commercial Furniture. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 15 October 2007 and on behalf of the Council of Standards New Zealand on 26 October 2007. This Standard was published on 23 November 2007. The following are represented on Committee CS-088: Australia Post Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Australian Industry Group Australian Taxation Office Business New Zealand Ergonomics Society of Australia Furnishing Industry Association of Australia Furniture Association of New Zealand Furntech National Occupational Health safety requirements, testing. The term informative has been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which it applies. An informative appendix is only for information and guidance. Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 3 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 CONTENTS Page 1 SCOPE4 2 OBJECTIVE.4 3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS4 4 DEFINITIONS5 5 MATERIAL AND COMPONENT REQUIREMENTS 5 6 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS6 7 TEST LEVELS.7 8 DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS7 9 TOLERANCES.8 APPENDIX A GUIDE TO HUMAN-INTERFACE FOR FIXED HEIGHT CHAIRS. 11 Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 4 COPYRIGHT STANDARDS AUSTRALIA/STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND Australian/New Zealand Standard FurnitureFixed height chairs Part 1: Human-interface and general requirements 1 SCOPE This Standard sets out the dimensional requirements and general requirements for chairs (excluding lounge chairs) of fixed height with either fixed or swivel bases, intended to seat one person in an upright position (such as when sitting at a desk or table). The requirements for adjustable height chairs and plastic monobloc chairs are not covered by this Standard. 2 OBJECTIVE The objective of this Standard is to provide specifiers and manufacturers with a Standard containing human-interface and general requirements for chairs and general requirements for stools to enable purchasing authorities, retailers and users to use these criteria to assist in selection and evaluation. 3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS AS 2281 Flexible cellular polyurethane for seat cushioning and bedding 2282 Methods for testing flexible cellular polyurethane 2282.3 Part 3: Determination of apparent density AS/NZS 1957 TextilesCare labeling 4088 Specification for burning behavior of upholstered furniture 4088.1 Part 1: Upholstery materials for domestic furnitureSmoldering ignitability 4438 Height adjustable swivel chairs 4688 FurnitureFixed height chairs 4688.2 Part 2: Determination of strength and durability 4688.3 Part 3: Determination of stabilityUpright chairs 4688.4 Part 4: Determination of stabilityChairs with tilting or reclining mechanisms when fully reclined, and rocking chairs BS 5852 Methods of test for assessment of the ignitability of upholstered seating by smoldering and flaming ignition sources AFRDI 104 Performance of furniture and furniture components under various climatic conditions 108 Requirements for surface coatings for furniture Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 5 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 COPYRIGHT 4 DEFINITIONS 4.1 Importer The persons or corporate body assuming legal responsibility for the product under the relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory Regulation, if the product is not manufactured in Australia or New Zealand. 4.2 Manufacturer The persons or corporate body assuming legal responsibility for the product under the relevant Commonwealth State or Territory Regulation, if the product is manufactured in Australia or New Zealand. 4.3 Shall Indicates that a statement is mandatory. 4.4 Should Indicates a recommendation. 5 MATERIAL AND COMPONENT REQUIREMENTS 5.1 Timber Timber shall be free of cracks and internal stresses, with a moisture content appropriate to the application, within the range of 8-12%. 5.2 Metal All metal components shall be suitably protected from corrosion and have adequate resistance to wear. 5.3 Burning behaviour Covering materials and filling materials shall meet the burning behaviour as set out in AS/NZS 4088.1. NOTE: More stringent requirements such as BS 5852 Source 5 for upholstery or filling materials or other regulatory requirements may need to be met in public space seating. This Standard describes the testing of upholstery combinations set up in a mock up test rig as well as complete items of furniture. 5.4 Filling material The following requirements apply: (a) Polyurethane foam used at durability levels 4, 5 and 6 (see Table 1) shall comply with AS 2281, Type HR. NOTE: For polyurethane foam used at durability level 3 (see Table 1) refer to AS 2281. (b) Polyurethane foam used as seat cushioning at durability level 3 shall have a minimum density of 35 kg/m3 and at durability levels 4, 5 and 6 (see Table 1) shall have a minimum density of 38 kg/m3. (c) Polyurethane foam used as back support cushioning at durability level 3 shall have a minimum density of 30 kg/m3 and at durability levels 4, 5 and 6 shall have a minimum density of 32 kg/m3. (d) Density of the polyurethane foam used in cushioning shall be determined according to AS 2282.3. For moulded foam the density shall be tested on core samples without skin. NOTE: It is recommended that polyurethane foam seat and back cushion hardness and minimum thickness selection should be in accordance with the guidelines set out in AS 2281 Table 1A. It is considered to be essential that they do not bottom out. Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 6 COPYRIGHT (e) For multiple layer cushion design all major layers of components shall meet the minimum density requirements of this Standard. 5.5 Care Upholstered chairs and stools shall be labelled according to the care labelling requirements as set out in AS/NZS 1957. NOTE: Attention is drawn to relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory labelling regulations to ensure compliance with the requirements of any regulations which may differ, or have additional requirements to those specified in this Standard. 5.6 Surface finish Surface finishes used on timber frames, infill panels, formed plywood shells and the like shall meet the requirements of AFRDI Industry Standard 108. Furniture intended for use in areas of high humidity and temperature conditions varying from those in which it was manufactured shall comply with the requirements of AFRDI Industry Standard 104. 6 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 6.1 Postural support The following applies: (a) The seat surfaces and backrest shall be formed and related to each other in such a manner that a safe and versatile sitting posture is achieved. (b) Lockable inclinable backrests, if fitted, and seat designs shall provide an anatomical support for the lower lumbar spinal area at all angles of the backrest. The construction of lockable, inclinable backrests shall ensure that they do not spring forward or backward with undue force when the restraining device has been released. NOTE: If an adjustable backrest is fitted, refer to AS/NZS 4438 for requirements. (c) Chairs should provide support to the lumbar region with sufficient height and depth to provide users according to their height with a sitting position suited to their activity. NOTE: For a guide to human-interface refer to Appendix A. 6.2 Corners and edges The following applies: (a) There shall be no sharp projections or other features that constitute a risk to users or other persons moving in the vicinity of the chair. (b) There shall be no sharp edges, rough surfaces or features that could trap clothing or cause injury. (c) Edges normally accessible to users should be rounded with a minimum radius of 2 mm. When material thickness does not permit this, the edges shall be smooth and free from burrs. (d) The ends and feet of tubular metal components shall be capped or otherwise closed and finished smoothly. 6.3 Adjusting devices Movable and adjustable parts shall be so made that injuries are avoided, and inadvertent separation of parts is impossible. Adjustment controls shall be easily adjusted by the occupant from the seated position. It should not be necessary to need undue force to operate the controls. Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 7 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 COPYRIGHT 6.4 Connections It shall not be possible for any part of the chair or stool to be accidentally detached. All joints and connections shall be constructed in such a manner to provide maximum strength and stability. If used, glues and adhesives shall be of a type and durability suitable for the climatic conditions in which the chair is to be used. 6.5 Soiling All lubricated parts shall be protected from contact by users during normal use. 6.6 Upholstery and covering The designer and manufacturer of the chair or stool shall ensure that: (a) Upholstery and covering shall have adequate air and water vapour permeability except where nonpermeability is required for hygiene, or ease of cleaning. (b) The upholstery filling in the seat shall be structured to prevent bottoming (also see Clause 5.4). (c) Materials shall meet the appropriate burning behaviour and care criteria as specified in Clauses 5.3 and 5.5 respectively. 7 TEST LEVELS 7.1 General Chairs shall meet the requirements for the test level as specified in Table 1. NOTE: The test levels need to be determined prior to continuing with testing in order to know the correct level for strength, durability and stability testing. The tests are detailed in AS 4688, Parts 2 to 4. TABLE 1 RELATIONSHIP OF TEST LEVELS TO USE OF FURNITURE Test level Application Level 3* Chairs and stools for general domestic use Level 4 Chairs and stools for heavy domestic use, general office, contract hospitality and executive use Level 5 Chairs and stools, for heavy duty office, hospitality, industrial and similar applications Level 6 Chairs and stools, for extremely heavy conditions * Levels 1 and 2 are not considered to be essential for Australian/New Zealand use, though the requirements still appear in the Summary of Test levels Table in Part 2 of this Standard. 8 DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS 8.1 General Chairs and stools shall comply with the dimensions in Table 2. Definitions of chair dimensional indicators are in AS/NZS 4438, however, Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate the location of the indicators on a chair. For fixed height chairs which have the facility of rotation about a vertical axis and are mounted on star type bases the dimensional requirements for and 't' are as detailed in Clauses 8.2 and 8.3. Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 8 COPYRIGHT 8.2 Maximum offset of chair underframe The maximum off-set of the chair underframe is the maximum distance between the outermost point of the underframe including castors or glides if they are fitted and the axis of rotation (see Figure 2(a) and 2(b). 8.3 Stability dimension t The stability dimension t is the minimum distance between the lines connecting two adjacent supporting points and the axis of rotation of the chair. Supporting points are points attached to moving or rigid parts of the chair which are used, the most unfavourable castor position shall be used for measurement (see Figure 2(b) and 3). 9 TOLERANCES Unless otherwise stated, all forces and masses used in testing to any part of this Standard shall be measured to an accuracy of ±5%, all dimensions to an accuracy of ±1.0 mm and all angles to an accuracy of +0°, 2°. In static load tests the load shall be applied for longer than 10 seconds per application. In cyclic and fatigue loadings, the rate of loading shall not exceed 20 cycles per minute. d a p c A f e S A ro i 2 3 b n b NOTE: See Table 2 for criteria and dimensional range, and AS/NZS 4438 for definitions of the above dimension indicators. FIGURE 1 KEY TO FUNCTIONAL DIMENSIONS Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 9 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 COPYRIGHT Front Front Tipping edge t (a) (b) FIGURE 2 ASSESSMENT OF BASE DIMENSION , t Front t Tipping edge FIGURE 3 ASSESSMENT OF BASE STABILITY DIMENSION t Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 10 COPYRIGHT TABLE 2 DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS Indicators (see Figure 1) Criteria Dimensional range (see Note 1) Indicators (see Figure 1, 2 and 3) SEAT a Height (compressed) 410 to 450* a b Effective depth 380 to 440 b c Depth of seat surface 380 c d Width of seat 400 d e Inclination (tilt) of surfacebackward 2° to 7° e BACKREST f Height of point S above point A* 170 to 220 f i Width 360 i k Horizontal radiusconcave 400 k l Vertical radius in lumber regionconvex 150-250 l z Backrest angle to the vertical z 10° to 15° z ARMREST n Length measured from backrest 200 n o Width 40 o p Height above seat 200 to 250 p r Clear width between the armrests 460 to 510 R OTHER Anti-tripping dimension§ 365 t Stability dimension 195 t * A seat height range of 410 to 520 mm is desirable. A maximum effective depth of 440 mm is preferred. Although this dimension aligns with CEN, both New Zealand and Australian practice is for seat width to be 430 mm. * Point A is the 2/3 of dimension b from the front edge of the chair. § If castors are fitted they may project from the arm of the base by 50 mm and dimension may increase by 50 mm. NOTES: 1 All dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise shown. 2 For tolerance requirements see Clause 9. 3 There is no dimension labeled j. 4 There are no dimensions labelled g, h, j, m or q, as they relate to height adjustable chairs. Refer to AS/NZS 4438 for definitions of the above dimension indicators. 5 Seat height at the centre point A, and height of the backrest point S above A, should be measured using a dummy buttocks on the seat, as described in AS/NZS 4438. 6 If pedestal bases are fitted, refer to AS/NZS 4438 for stability dimensions. Accessed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA on 14 Feb 2008 11 AS/NZS 4688.1:2007 COPYRIGHT APPENDIX A GUIDE TO HUMAN-INTERFACE FOR FIXED HEIGHT CHAIRS (Informative) Ideally, all chairs should be adjustable to cater for the range of dimensions in the user population. However, when chairs are used for relatively short periods of time, fixed dimensions can be tolerated. The design and dimensions should still provide the best compromise in order to be comfortable for as many people as possible. Some basic considerations are as follows: (a) Seat height should be selected to minimize pressure under the thighs for most people. (b) Seat depth should allow users to get benefit from the backrest without slouching. (c) The front edge of the se