Contract Furniture Standards
Furniture for offices, restaurants and hotels takes far more use than furniture at home. Here are the standards that describe commercial durability and fire performance, and the questions to ask before specifying a piece for a commercial project.
BIFMA durability standards
BIFMA, the commercial furniture industry’s standards body, publishes ANSI-approved test standards for strength, stability and durability. They are voluntary, but widely required in commercial specs and procurement.
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 | General-purpose office chairs, including guest and stacking chairs |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.11 | Large-occupant office chairs, tested for users up to 400 lb |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.4 | Public and lounge seating for waiting, reception and visitor areas |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 | Desks and tables, including benching and height-adjustable tables |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.6 | Panel systems and screens |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 | Storage units: freestanding, mobile and wall-mounted |
| ANSI/BIFMA X6.5 | Home office desks and storage, including ready-to-assemble pieces |
| ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 | Test method for VOC emissions from furniture |
| ANSI/BIFMA e3 | Furniture sustainability; the basis of the LEVEL certification |
LEVEL is BIFMA’s third-party sustainability certification, awarded at LEVEL 1, 2 or 3 based on materials, energy, health and social responsibility.
Flammability of upholstered furniture
| Standard | What it is | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| California TB 117-2013 | A smoulder test with a lit cigarette on each component. A cover fabric fails if its char runs more than 1.8" (45 mm), if it bursts into flame, or if it’s still smouldering after 45 minutes. | The US federal standard for residential upholstered furniture since June 25, 2021 (16 CFR 1640), with a compliance label required since June 25, 2022. It began as California’s standard, and it’s part of the ACT guidelines. |
| ASTM E1537 | A full-scale open-flame test measuring heat release, smoke and gases. | Public occupancies such as healthcare, detention and some dormitories, where fire codes require it. |
| California TB 133 | The older full-scale open-flame test for public occupancies. | Repealed in California in January 2019, though some fire codes still name it alongside ASTM E1537. |
| NFPA 260 and 261 | Cigarette-ignition tests for components (260) and mock-up assemblies (261). | Referenced by fire codes for certain occupancies. |
Under the International Fire Code and California Fire Code (section 805; check the edition your jurisdiction has adopted), upholstered furniture in some healthcare, detention and dormitory occupancies must pass cigarette-ignition tests, and in unsprinklered spaces must release no more than 80 kW at peak and 25 MJ in the first 10 minutes (ASTM E1537). Most restaurants, offices and hotel public areas fall outside these occupancies, but check the code and occupancy for each project.
In Canada, the federal Textile Flammability Regulations (SOR/2016-194) cover textiles, including upholstery fabrics: in the standard test, flame must take more than 3.5 seconds to spread, or more than 4 seconds for raised-fibre fabrics such as velvet whose base fibres ignite or fuse. There is no federal flammability standard for finished upholstered furniture, so TB 117-2013 (now the US federal standard) and the ACT guidelines are the common benchmarks. As of 2020, Quebec was the only province that still required registration and labelling of upholstered and stuffed articles.
Canadian office furniture standards
The Canadian General Standards Board has withdrawn its office furniture standards for desks and storage (CAN/CGSB-44.227) and panel systems (44.229). In 2022 the Government of Canada said it would keep their requirements in its own furniture purchasing until further notice, so check current tender documents on federal projects.
Residential furniture in commercial spaces
Residential furniture warranties commonly exclude or shorten coverage for commercial use in offices, restaurants, hotels and rentals. If you specify residential pieces for a commercial project, get the manufacturer’s commercial warranty terms in writing.
Questions to ask before you specify
- Has the piece been tested to the relevant BIFMA standard, and can you see the report?
- Does the upholstery meet TB 117-2013, and the ACT high-traffic abrasion guideline for public spaces?
- Does the project’s occupancy call for ASTM E1537 or other fire-code testing?
- What does the warranty cover in commercial use, and for how long?
- What finish system is used, and how is it repaired on site? See our guide to specifying custom solid wood furniture.
- Are replacement parts, fabric and finish touch-up kits available, and for how long?
- Is the piece certified for sustainability or low emissions (LEVEL, FSC wood, or emissions tested to BIFMA M7.1)?
A planning summary, not legal or code advice. Standards are revised regularly; check the current edition and your local requirements.
