BIFMA X6.1

ANSI/BIFMA X6.1 Educational Seating was released in April 2018 and replaces the original version, which was released in 2012. Micom offers BIFMA X6.1 testing as part of its Office Furniture Testing services.  This standard covers seating products used in educational institutions from pre-school all the way to college and university. It does not address office chairs (BIFMA X5.1 or BIFMA X5.11) or seating used in high-use public areas (BIFMA X5.4). It covers users in 3 categories or “sizes”:

Size A* Size B* Size C*
Seat Height <352mm (13.9 in) ≥352mm (13.9 in) and <425mm (16.7 in) ≥425mm (16.7 in)
User Weight 34 kg (74 lbs) (95% Female, 6 years) 91 kg (200 lbs) (95% Female, 12 years) 125 kg (275 lbs) (95% Male, adult)

*Height adjustable chairs shall be measured in the highest position for classification purposes. BIFMA X6.1 has 20 tests and covers three types of educational seating units:

  • Fixed Seat Angle, Fixed Backrest Chair
  • Chair Desk
  • Convertible Bench Table

Not all tests need to be done on all units. The table below shows which tests need to be done on which chair type as long as the feature tested is available and the test applicable:

Section Number Description Chair Chair Desk Conv. Bench/Table
5 Stability Tests X X X
6 Backrest Strength Test – Static X X X
7 Backrest Durability Test – Cyclic X X X
8 Drop Test – Dynamic X X X
9 Seat Static Loading Test (only if unable to perform Drop Test due to insufficient clearance) X X
10 Seating Durability Tests – Cyclic X X X
11 Arm Strength Test – Vertical – Static X
12 Arm Strength Test – Horizontal – Static X
13 Arm Durability Test – Angular – Static X
14 Caster/Chair Base Durability Test – Cyclic X X
15 Durability Test for Convertible Bench Tables with Casters X
16 Leg Strength Test – Front and Side Application X X X
17 Structural Member Strength Test X X X
18 Swivel Test X
19 Tablet Arm Test – Front Stability X
20 Tablet Arm Test – Static X
21 Tablet Arm Load Ease Test – Cyclic X
22 Chair Desk and Table Top Horizontal Surface Vertical Load Tests X X
23 Chair Desk and Convertible Bench Table Top Load Ease Test – Cyclic X X
24 Static Loading of Storage (Backpack) Hooks & Unit Stability X

BIFMA X6.1 is similar to both BIFMA X5.1 and BIFMA X5.4. The table below compares the current versions of all three standards.

BIFMA X6.1 vs BIFMA X5.1 and BIFMA X5.5 comparison

ANSI/BIFMA X6.1-2018 ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2017 ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2012 Comparison Conclusion
1. Scope: Tests developed with an estimated 10 years product life based on 6.5 to 8 hours/day use and 170-180 days/year. 1. Scope: Tests developed with an estimated 10 years product life based on a single shift use with a 275 lb individual 1. Scope: Tests developed with an estimated 10 years product life based on a single shift use with a 253 lb individual Size C of X6.1 is identical to the user in X5.1. Current version of X5.4 is using the older 253 lb user weight.
Size A Size B Size C
Individual weight 74 lbs 200 lbs 275 lbs
Seat Height < 13.9″ > 13.9″ & < 16.7″ > 16.7″
N/A 5. Back strength test (Type I & II) 5. Backrest Strength Test Horizontal No such tests in X6.1
6. Back Strength Test Multiple seaters shall be tested simultaneously 6. Back strength test (Type III) Functional Load: 150 lbf, 1 minute Proof Load: 225 lbf, 1 minute 5. Backrest Strength Test Horizontal Functional Load: 150 lbf, 1 minute Proof Load: 225 lbf, 1 minute Loads are the same for X5.1 Type III, X5.4 and X6.1 Size C chairs. However, the Proof Load is maintained for 10 seconds in X6.1 whereas it is maintained 60 seconds in X5.1 and X5.4. X5.1 & X5.4 cover X6.1 for single seater chairs
Size A Size B Size C
Functional Load 75 lbf, 1 minute 120 lbf, 1 minute 150 lbf, 1 minute
Proof Load 113 lbf, 10 seconds 181 lbf, 10 seconds 225 lbf, 10 seconds
8. Drop test Drop Height: 6″ 7. Drop test Bag: 16″ diameter Drop Height: 6″ Functional Load: 225 lbs Proof Load: 300 lbs 15. Drop Test – Dynamic Bag: 16″ diameter Drop height: 6″ Functional Load: 225 lbs Proof Load: 300 lbs Same test for X5.1, X5.4 and X6.1 Size C chairs X5.1 & X5.4 cover X6.1
Size A Size B Size C
Bag Diameter 12 in. 12 in. 16 in.
Functional Load 113 lbs 169 lbs 225 lbs
Proof Load 150 lbs 225 lbs 300 lbs
18. Swivel cycling test # of cycles: 120,000 cycles 8. Swivel cycling test Load on the Seat: 270 lbs # of cycles: 120,000 19. Swivel Test – Cyclic Load on the Seat: 250 lbs # of cycles: 120,000 Same test for X5.1 and X6.1 Size C chairs. Slightly lower weight in BIFMA X5.4. X5.1 covers X5.4 & X6.1
Size A Size B Size C
Load on the seat 75 lbs 200 lbs 270 lbs
N/A 9. Tilt mechanism test 20. Tilt mechanism test – Cyclic No such test in X6.1