BIFMA – Loss of Serviceability Guideline – New Release
BIFMA recently released a new revision of its loss of serviceability guidelines for interpretation on furniture testing. Most BIFMA test methods have an acceptance level for its functional loading and cyclic testing requiring “No Loss of Serviceability” to the unit. The loss of serviceability interpretation is known to be subjective to some extent. To help maintain test results consistency from lab to lab; BIFMA has been working on this guideline since 2012 and has released its first edition in 2014. This new 2016 guideline is more comprehensive and addresses topics such as product visual aspect and hazards resulting from testing. In addition, a detailed section clarifies how tested products should be loaded when subjected to loss of serviceability evaluation. Finally, it gives a list of examples of what might or might not be a loss of serviceability.
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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.