New ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 Draft Canvas

BIFMA has been updating its BIFMA X5.1 standard and recently released its ANSI Canvass Association Ballot.  Members are to review, vote and if appropriate; comment on this new standard.  This is the last stretch before the standard gets formally adopted.  Of course; things can go haywire at the last minute.  Micom will vote YES to this BIFMA Canvass Ballot.  Please find in the table below a test-by-test comparison between the current standard and the proposed revision as well as statement informing you of whether or not re-testing will likely be required.  Per our previous post on the topic; https://www.micomlab.com/2015/06/bifma-x5-1-2015-draft-association-ballot-review/, the most important change this standard brings is that it is now based on a 274 lbs individual instead of 253 lbs.  This increased load basis obviously leads to higher loads and forces in many of the tests.  However and surprisingly; not all of them.

BIFMA has been very busy the last few years; on the seating front they published BIFMA X5.11 for large occupant (254-400 lbs) in 2015 and they have a draft standard in the mill for healthcare furniture; BIFMA HCF 8.2.  Both standards share some tests from BIFMA X5.1 and BIFMA X5.4 and incorporate new tests as well.  There is still no BIFMA bariatric standard.  However, I would like to point out that HCF 8.2 goes up to 600lbs which is getting pretty close to the bariatric realm.

On the bariatric front, since there is no official standard, we had been requested many years to develop our own version by some customers.  At the time there was only X5.1 and X5.4 both based on a 225 lbs individual (years ago already).  Today with X 5.1, X5.4, X5.11 and now HCF 8.2 you can almost plot, for each test, a graph of the performance levels required as a function of the standard’s target load and generate your own “bariatric” standard.  We did the exercise recently and we will share our reflections on the topic on a future post this fall.

For more information about this test or other services we offer, please don’t hesitate to contact us.