Furniture Testing

Micom Laboratories offers furniture testing services. Whether it is for office or domestic furniture, our experts can help you establish compliance with standards such as ANSI/BIFMA, CGSB, GSA, ASTM, and SEFA.  Our services are also used to establish regulatory compliance with CPSC and Health Canada.

Beyond regulatory and compliance requirements, Micom also offers material and packaging testing to help you validate your design or address field failures.

Furniture and Material Testing Services Offered at Micom

The furniture testing services offered at Micom are as follows:

• BIFMA Testing
• Office Furniture Testing
• Domestic Furniture Testing
• SEFA Testing
• Packaging Testing

For material testing services, the following links will be of interest to you:

• ASTM Testing
• Plastics Testing
• Coating Testing
• UV Testing
• Corrosion Testing
• Heat Aging Testing
• Climatic Chamber Testing

The testing for the furniture industry we offer encompasses all ANSI/BIFMA, CGSB, GSA, and ASTM standards related to furniture testing, as well as mechanical testing of furniture components.  Micom is heavily involved with the North American Office Furniture Industry. As a BIFMA member, we make a point of contributing to the development of industry standards. Furthermore, we sit on all the CGSB committees related to office furniture.  Not only do we know the standards, we sit on the committees that write them.

Accredited by A2LA, we have a lot to offer to our customers, namely:

• Over eighty years of cumulative experience   in Office furniture testing
• Participation in all BIFMA & CGSB standard writing committees.
• 15 000 sq. ft. dedicated to furniture testing.
• ISO 17025 Accredited.
• Prototypes, components and custom testing.
• Comprehensive test plans
• Problem-solving
• Test reports recognized anywhere in North America

Take the Guesswork Out of the Equation

At Micom, we understand your technical and certification challenges. We can support you in preparing test plans and protocols to deliver the results you need.

More often than not, you will want to have your office furniture tested in order to be able to bid on a government or similar large contract or to comply with Government regulations. If you are developing a new product, testing it before launch may save you the cost and trouble of recalls or repairs for defective items. In matters of liability and security, testing your furniture against a widely recognized, albeit voluntary, standard can help mitigate liability by demonstrating that measures have been taken to ensure the unit’s safety.

The office furniture standards we are accredited to test are the following:

At Micom, we do our best to simplify the furniture testing process. The best way to proceed is to send us your detailed price list (or a similar document that includes all units and their sizes). We will then discuss with you which units are to be qualified or which sections should be omitted. For example, you might want your desks tested but not your conference tables, or vice versa. We will then ask you a few questions about the construction of your units. A quote is then prepared and submitted. Once an agreement has been reached, you will receive the bill of materials and test plan.

Once testing has begun, on large projects, you will receive a weekly update. If any failures occur, you will be advised by phone and/or email on the same day. Pictures of the failures, when appropriate, are sent, at no extra charge. The resolution of the failure can then proceed. We also have video capabilities. With our webcam, you can request to witness a critical test or receive more information about a failure from the comfort of your office, all with the ease of using your web browser.

Once testing is complete, test reports will be issued and mailed.

Micom can help you assess the durability of a wide range of office furniture. From chairs, desks, panel systems, and theatre seats to storage units and folding tables, our over 25+ years of expertise in furniture and material testing makes us a trusted partner in evaluating your products.

Micom offers responsive service, accurate test results, and a high level of expertise at competitive prices.

If you would like to sell your office furniture in Canada or the US, your products need to meet specific standards. This infographic and decision tree will help you determine the most appropriate test.

Office Furniture Testing Infographic

Examples of Our Furniture Testing Services