CAN/CGSB 44.229
Interconnecting panel systems and supported components
Micom Laboratories Inc. is accredited by A2LA for CAN/CGSB 44.229 testing. This standard is for Interconnecting Panel Systems and Supported Components. Our experts sit on the technical committee who writes and maintains this standard.
This standard is essentially composed of three major types of tests. It calls up ANSI/BIFMA X5.6 and ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 for safety and durability testing. It specifies some ergonomic dimensional criterion that your product line must comply to. Finally, CAN/CGSB 44.229 has some general requirements and it also has the following finish requirement:
Performance Requirements for Finishes1
| Type of finish | Gloss
Max. |
Finish Hardness
Min. |
Abrasion Resistance
Max. |
Color Stability
Max. |
Paint Adhesion
Min. |
Impact Resistance |
| Par 5.1 | Par 5.2 | Par 5.3 | Par 5.4 | Par 5.5 | Par 5.6 | |
| Horizontal Work Surfaces | ||||||
| High pressure laminate | 45 | NA | 0.02g at 500 cycles, 1000 load | Grey Scale 4 | NA | No cracking at 762mm (30 in) |
| Low pressure laminate | 45 | NA | 0.04g at 500 cycles, 1000g load | Grey Scale 4 | NA | No cracking at 254mm (10 in) |
| Wood veneer | 45 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Painted wood | 45 | 2H | 0.04g at 500 cycles, 1000 g load | Grey Scale 4 | NA | No cracking at 254mm (10 in) |
| Other finishes2 | 45 | NA | NA | Grey Scale 4 | NA | No cracking at 254mm (10 in) |
| Other Surfaces (excluding fabrics and trim finishes) | ||||||
| Laminates | 45 | NA | 0.04g at 500 cycles, 1000 g load | Grey Scale 4 | NA | NA |
| Wood veneer | 45 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Painted wood | 45 | H | 0.04g at 500 cycles, 1000 g load | Grey Scale 4 | NA | NA |
| Painted (non-wood) | 45 | H | 0.04g at 500 cycles, 1000 g load | Grey Scale 4 | 4B | NA |
Typical Experimental Parameters for Surface Finish Testing for CAN/CGSB 44.229
| Test parameter | Test method | Qty & Sample size (in.) |
| Gloss (5.1) | ASTM D-523 | 1 sample 3″ X 6″ |
| Finish Hardness (5.2) | ASTM D-3363 | 1 sample 3″ X 6″ |
| Abrasion resistance(5.3) | ASTM D-4060 | 3 samples (1/4″ X 4″ X 4″) |
| Colour stability (5.4) | ANSI/NEMA LD-3 | 1 sample 3″ X 6″ |
| Paint Adhesion (5.5) | ASTM D-3359 | 1 sample 3″ X 6″ |
| Impact resistance (5.6) | ANSI/NEMA LD-3 | 1 sample 12″ X 12″ |
| Conditioning and testing Temperature | 23 +/- 2 oC | |
| Conditioning and testing relative humidity | 50 +/- 5% | |
Other Related Test Methods
For additional test methods related to CAN/CGSB 44.229 please see Office Furniture Testing, BIFMA Testing, Coating Testing.