CAN/CGSB 44.232 Ballot
CGSB has been reviewing its CAN/CGSB 44.232 – Canadian General Standards Board – Chairs for Office Environments. The ballot officially closes today! We, Micom laboratories are voting YES to this standard’s revision. The proposed standard now allows for self-counter balancing mechanisms that could qualify to the previous standard’s version. From a mechanical testing standpoint CAN/CGSB 44.232 still calls up BIFMA X 5.1 whereas for measurements it still calls up BIFMA cmd-1
In as much as we were adamant about not allowing the previous draft version to be voted in because we thought it was significantly flawed, we think the current version is good despite the fact that it brings its lot of surprises. Indeed, side chairs, for example, were historically left out of the standard. Public Works was, and is still, using its “Product Description #6” (PD-6) for side chairs. Side chairs are now imbedded in the 44.232 standard and this brings a complete array of new dimensional criteria, using the chair measuring device for measuring them. Will this be a Pandora box? Time will tell, we believe this might very well be the case.
There are also changes impacting the more traditional types of chairs that used to be covered by CAN/CGSB 44.232; this category now falls under either “Computer Use Chairs” and “Conference Room Chairs”. The first one that comes to mind is the seat height range for regular seat height. Historically the mandatory range for regular seat height was 419 mm to 510 mm. It has now been expanded to 417 mm to 512 mm. This may seem like a very minor change, however we have seen many manufacturers struggling with this requirement. The extra 4 mm will be a tough one for many.
For more information about this revised standard and our furniture testing services, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Micom is a third party industrial laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, CGSB, ISTA and many other organizations.
COMPARAISON BETWEEN CGSB-44.232 Ballot Aug. 2017 AND CGSB-44.232.2008
Note: only sections where there are technical changes are inluded in this comparison
My career has been focused on simulating real life in the lab under controlled yet accelerated conditions. My passion for lab testing lead me to start Micom Laboratories Inc. 16 years ago. Through time I made sure Micom has the necessary equipment to simulate various environmental parameters such as the sun, vibrations, heat, cold, thermal shocks and humidity. I wanted to be able to move things back and forth, apply stresses to the products and materials we test and see how they react to the various stimuli. To do so we test products and materials against known standards and specifications (certification) and in many cases by creating my own test protocols and specifications (this is the cherry on top of the sundae…). This is what led me to participate in many standards writing committees and to become chairman of some of these committees.