BIFMA X5.5

Desk and Table Products

BIFMA X5.5 | Test for Desks Products | Micom LaboratoriesMicom offers BIFMA X5.5 testing as part of its Office Furniture Testing services. ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2014 – Desk/Table Products – Tests – was released in February 2014 and replaces the 2008 standard edition. BIFMA x5.5 covers freestanding furniture articles including but not limited to, single and double pedestal desks, extended desk units, credenzas, and tables. Also included are items that are attached to, placed on or supported by the desk/table unit such as overhead storage units. Accessory items are not included in this standard. On the other hand, flip top tables, monitor arms and benching systems are now covered by this new edition. Storage cabinets should be tested to Bifma X5.9, office seating to Bifma X5.1, lounge seating to Bifma X5.4 and panel systems to Bifma X5.6.

Just in case your product has been tested before 2008; below is a test-by test comparison between the new and the previous version of BIFMA X5.5 to give you a better understanding of what are the impacts of the new standard edition:

Comparison Between BIFMA X5.5 2014 and 2008

# test ANSI/BIFMA X 5.5-2014 -Tests Comparison with ANSI/BIFMA X 5.5-2008 Rationale
4,3 Stability under Vertical load Same No  change
4,4 Horizontal Stability for Desk / Tables With Casters Same Wording added to the effect that screens/modesty panels shall be installed for the testing should they be available
4,5 Force stability for tall desk / table products Testing may be required This test now applies to flip top tables with the work surface held vertically.  Test also applies to light screens attached to the unit’s work surface with a mass more than 10 lbs  (used to be 20 lbs)
5 5.2 – Unit static load tests Same however the test also now covers monitor arms. No significant change except for monitor arms
5.3 –  Unit static load tests
5.4 –  Unit static load tests
5.5 –  Unit static load tests
5,6 5.6 – Transaction Surface Torsional Load  Test Same No  change
5,7 5.7 – Extendible Member Proof Load Test Same No change
5.8 Benching Systems – Distributed Functional Load and Stability Test New test New test
5.9 Benching Systems – Distributed Proof Load Test New test New test
6 Top load ease test Same No change
7 Drop  test Testing may be required Whereas there used to be 2 possible drop heights based on the unit’s  weight, now there are 3 possible drop heights
8 Leg strength  test Same No  change
9 Dislodgment tests for tall desk / table products Testing may be required for light screens attached to work surfaces Test also applies to light screens attached to the unit’s work surface with a mass more than 10 lbs (used to be 20 lbs).  Acceptance level more specific than before.
10,2 Extendible member  cycle test Same No  change
10,3 Cycle Test for Extendible Elements Wider than Deep Same No  change
10,4 Extendible member cycle test – Pencil drawer Same No  change
11 Out  stop test Same No  change
12 Rebound test Same No  change
13 Interlock  test Same No  change
14,2 Lock test extendible  member Same No  change
14,3 Lock test door  locks Same No  change
14,4 Locking mech. cycle test for all locks test Same No  change
15 Worksurface adjustment test, vertical Same No  change
16 Adjustment test Same No  change
17,2 Strength test for vertically hinged doors, Bi-Fold Doors and Vertically Receding Doors Same No  change
17,3 Hinge Override Test for Vertically Hinged Doors Same No  change
17,4 Vertical Receding Doors Strength Test Same No  change
17,5 Horizontal Receding doors Strength Test Same No  change
17,6 Wear and fatigue test for  hinged doors, Horizontally sliding doors and Tambour Doors Same No  change
17,7 Wear and fatigue test for vertical receding door Same No  change
17,8 Wear and fatigue test for horizontal receding doors Same No  change
17,9 Vertical & Horizontal Receding Door Outstop test – Cyclic Impact Same No  change
17.10 Slam closed test for Vertically Hinged and Vertically Receding Doors Same No  change
17,11 Drop cycle test for horizontally hinged doors and horizontally receding doors No re-testing required Number of drops used to be 500; now it is down to 200 drops
17,12 Slam test for doors which free fall open or closed Same No  change
17,13 Slam open and closed test for doors that do not free fall Testing required Method of determining the applied force has changed and # of cycles went from 50 to 10 cycles
17,14 Door latch  test Same No  change
18 Durability test for desks and tables with casters Same No  change
19 Pull  force test Same No  change
20 Tilting Top Table — Cycle Test New test New  cycle test
21 Tilting Top Table – Latch Strength Test New test New Static test
22.1 Monitor Arm Strength test New test New Static test
22.2 Monitor Arm Cycle Test New test New  cycle test
22.3 Monitor Arm Dislodgment test New test New  test

BIFMA X5.5 Test #15

The following video is about BIFMA X5.5 Test #15 which test the functioning of vertical adjustment of modern tables.

BIFMA X5.5 Test #23

The following video is about the BIFMA X5.5 test #23 which evaluates the durability of a monitor arm overt time.

Other Test Methods Related to BIFMA X5.5

For additional related test methods please see;  BIFMA Testing,  Furniture testing or  Material Testing.

Furniture packages should be tested to ISTA 2C for regular shipments or to ISTA 3A when shipping through the small parcel distribution system.  For desk products sold to healthcare environments, Bifma HCF 8.1 – Guideline for cleanability should be considered.