Published on : Thursday, December 5, 2013
FIRA International is using the specially designed dummies to test to the newly introduced standard, BS 8474: 2013, for rise and recline chairs and electrically powered recliner chairs.
The dummies are used to test the durability of the rise and recline mechanism for up to 20,000 cycles. Weights are added to the dummies to enable testing to two levels for 17 stone and 25 stone users, reflecting the type of products currently on the market.
Howard James, Operations Manager for Testing at FIRA International Ltd, said: “The test dummies have been designed and manufactured to a strict specification to accurately reflect the size and weight distribution of a typical user. The process enables manufacturers to accurately test how the mechanism will perform over time in a real life situation.
“The safety requirements in this new standard no longer centre around entrapment points, which made the previous version of the standard almost impossible to meet. It now focuses on trying to stop inadvertent operation of the chair mechanism to prevent injury. On behalf of members of the Furniture Industry Research Association, we have been key in influencing this change to the standard.”
The test involves the chair being reclined to its fullest extent and then tilted forward into the rise position with the weight of the dummy simulating a real life user.
The FIRA testing laboratory provides a UKAS accredited service for all types of furniture and related products for the domestic and contract markets. This includes flammability and fibre performance tests on fabrics and foams, performance tests on adhesives and boards, and structural testing on finished products. Highly skilled technicians also develop bespoke testing equipment for use in the UK and other countries.
In addition to FIRA’s UK-based centre of excellence, it has test facilities and accredited testing partners throughout the world.
Tags: dummies, FIRA, FIRA testing laboratory, Howard James, UKAS accredited service
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