BIFMA X5.9

Storage Units

BIFMA X5.9 | Test for Storage | Micom LaboratoriesMicom offers BIFMA X5.9 testing as part of its Office Furniture Testing services.  ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2012 – Storage Units – Tests – was released in July 2012.  This standard provides a level plain field for evaluating the safety, durability and mechanical resistance of storage units used in office environments.  This standard specifies acceptance levels to help ensure reasonable safety and performance of storage units with an estimated product life of ten years based on a single shift usage.

Typical products covered by this standard are:

  • Bookcases
  • Wardrobes
  • Cabinets
  • Wall-Mounted cabinets
  • Freestanding pedestals
  • Mobile pedestals

The types of tests to be employed to test to BIFMA X 5.9 are:

  • Static load loading
  • Dynamic loading
  • Durability testing

Desk products should be tested to Bifma X5.5 whereas panel systems should be tested to Bifma X5.6.  Seating products should be tested to either Bifma X5.1 or Bifma X5.4 depending of the features they offer.

Not all SKUs in your product line need to be tested in order to be able to comply to this standard; only worst-case scenarios need to be considered.  Our experts will be happy to review your product offering and let you know which products ought to be tested and this service is free of charge!

Just in case your product has been tested before 2004; below is a test-by test comparison between the new and the previous version of the standard to give you a better understanding of what are the impacts of the new standard edition:

# test

ANSI/BIFMA X 5.9-2012

Re–Testing Required? (note 1)

Rationale

4

Functional Load Test4.2 & 4.3 – Functional  Load + 4.6.2

Required for units
with extendible elements

4.3.2 requires to perform pull force test without removing load from extendible elements.  Other changes not requiring retesting: loads requirements for unit tops were changed to harmonize with X 5.5-2008. Height ranges also changed.

Proof Load Test 4.4 & 4.5 –  Proof Load

4.6.3

Extendible Element  Static Load Tests – Proof (4.6.3)

No

New section but redundant with 4.2 & 4.3; testing only needs to be performed once.

5

Leg/Glide Assembly  Strength Test (no casters)

No

Same test as before

6

Racking Resistance Test (no casters)

No

Same test as before

7,1

Top Load Ease Cycle Test

No

Number of cycles  lowered to harmonize with BIFMA X 5.5 and X5.6

7,2

Drop test – Dynamic  – for Units with Seat Surfaces

No

Same test as before

7,3

Durability Test for  Units with Seating Surface – Cyclic Impact

Required

Drop test height increased from 1″ to  1.2″ to harmonize with X 5.1-2011. Pull force Requirement added after
test completion in Acceptance Level.

8,1

Separation Test for  Tall Storage Units with Vertically Attached or  Stackable Components

Required

Impact centered at 4  inches from top edge instead of 6″. Repositioning of unit between impacts is not allowed anymore. This test was not applicable to units lighter than 40 lbs; threshold lowered to 20 lbs.
8.1.3.1 Segment added: For unit-mounted privacy screens or screen assemblies whose surface will not accept the full impact (i.e, textile or plastic filler inside of a frame), center the impact bag on the frame as close as possible to the locations given in Figure 8a.
-8.1.3.2 segment added: if the impact location is centered on an open area (e.g. open bookshelf), move the impact to the closest vertical location
on the unit.  – 8.1.4 acceptance level added: Cracked or broken glass is not acceptable.

8,2

Upward Impact Force
Disengagement Test for Storage Units

no

Same test as before

8,3

Upward Force Static
Disengagement Test for Wall Mounted Components

Required

New test; same as test #12 from ANSI/BIFMA X 5.6-2010

9,2

Horizontal Force Stability Test for Tall Storage Products (>42″)

Required for units
with extendible elements

Same test as before but whereas units with extendible elements did not have to be tested to that test, now they do.  Slight addition to the acceptance level for units with doors interfering with tipping upon testing.

9,3

Stability Test for
Type l Units with at least one Extendible Element

No

Same test as before

9,4

Stability Test fot Type I Storage Units with Multiple Ext elements

No

Same test as before.  Clarification: 9.4.2.b segment
added: If the unit has drawers that open in opposite directions that would counterbalance themselves upon opening, open the drawer (or drawers) on one side of the unit only.

9,5

Stability Test for Type II (small) Storage  Units having extendible elements

No

Same test as before

9,6

Vertical Force  Stability Test for Storage Units (for units >42 inches)

Required for units
with extendible elements

Same test as before but whereas units with extendible elements did not have to be tested to that test, now they do.

9,7

Stability Test for  Pedestals/Storage Units with Seat Surfaces

No

Same test as before

10

Storage Unit Drop  Test (no type II, no casters)

No

Same test as before.  Length limitation (max 72″) for test applicability. Test does not apply  anymore to units heavier than 300 lbs

11

Movement Durability
Test for Mobile Storage Units

No

Same test as before

12

Rebound test

No

Same test as before

13

Extendible Element
Retention Impact and Durability (Out Stop) Tests

No

Same test as before.

14,2

Force Test for Extendible Element Locks

No

Same test as before. Wide pull category now only applies to units wider that 12″

14,3

Force Test for Door Locks

Required

Unit now needs to be
tested when it is loaded.  Previously  the unit was empty

14,4

Locking Mechanism Cycle Test for All Locks

No

Same test as before;  editorial changes only

15,2

Cycle Tests for Extendible Elements Deeper  than Wide that Do Not Swivel

No

Same test as before;  editorial changes only

15,3

Cycle Tests for  Extendible Elements Wider than Deep that Do Not Swivel

No

Same test as before,  number of cycles lowered for harmonization purposes with X 5.5 2008. (note  could cause problems with specific requirements of potential customers (i.e.: Army core of Engineers))

15,4

Horizontal Cycle  Test for Television/Video Display Terminal Extendible Elements

No

Same test as before;
editorial changes only

15,5

Cycle Test for Low  Height Drawers

New

New test; harmonized
with BIFMA X 5.5 2008

16

Interlock Strength Test

No

Same test as before

17,2

Strength Test for
Vertically Hinged, Bi-fold, and Vertically Receding Doors

No

Same test as before

17,3

Hinge Override Test for Vertically Hinged  Doors

No

Same test as before

17,4

Vertical Receding Doors Strength Test

No

Same test as before

17,5

Horizontal Receding doors Strength Test

No

Same test as before

17,6

Wear and Fatigue  Tests for Hinged, Horizontally Sliding, and Tambour Doors

Generally: No but
yes for hinged  and tambour doors with
wide pulls

Same test as before  except for hinged  and tambour doors with wide pulls (please  refer to table  #9)

17,7

Wear and fatigue
test for vertical receding door

No

Same test as before

17,8

Wear and fatigue  test for horizontal receding doors

No

Same test as before

17,9

Vertical and  Horizontal Receding Door Out Stop Test – Cyclic Impact & Durability

No

Same test as before

17,10

Slam Closed Test for
Vertically Hinged and Vertically Receding Doors

No

Number of cycles  lowered from 50 to 10 times

17,11

Drop Test for  Horizontally Hinged and Horizontally Receding Doors – Cyclic

No

Number of cycles  lowered from 500 to 200 times

17,12

Slam Test for Doors  which Free Fall Open or Closed

No

Same test as before.
17.12.2 b) has a provision for doors which could free fall at both ends of  the travel (very rare)

17,13

Slam Open and Closed  Test for Doors which Do Not Free Fall

Potentially

Pull force required for the testing is calculated differently. The pull force required in the new test will be higher if the pull force required to open the door is equal or less than 4.4 lbf.  The number  of cycles lowered from 50  to 10 times

17,14

Door latch test

No

Same test as before

18

Clothes Rails Static
Loading Test

No

Same test as before

19

Swivel Cycle Test  for Tel/Video Display Terminal Surf

No

Same test as before

20

Pull force test

No

Same test as before

Note  1: The statements made in this document are made on a general basis strictly to help manufacturers and other interested parties to get an overview of how this new standard’s version could potentially impact product compliance requirements and status.  Re-testing may or may not be required on specific configurations despite the statements made in the above document which only represent Micom Laboratories Inc.’s opinion.  Specific re-testing requirements should be based on a case-by-case analysis and cannot be unilaterally decided strictly based on the statements made above; they should be used strictly as general guidelines. Whether re-testing needs to be performed has to be decided by Manufacturers or their customers.

Other test methods related to BIFMA X5.9:

For additional related test methods please see;  BIFMA TestingFurniture testing, BIFMA HCF8.1, Coating Testing, Polymer Testing.