SGS, the world’s leading
inspection, testing and certification company, has introduced a dedicated
service to help furniture manufacturers demonstrate
the quality and durability of their products through the
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers’ Association (BIFMA’s) new Conformance
Program.
Launched on March 1, 2021, the ‘BIFMA Compliant’ program enables manufacturers to list
those products that conform to the trade association’s safety and durability
standards within BIFMA Compliant a new online product register; and display the
BIFMA Conformance mark on products, packaging and marketing materials.
BIFMA, the not-for-profit trade association for business and
institutional furniture manufacturers in the U.S., developed its conformance
program and mark to enable manufacturers to showcase products that meet its
safety and durability standards. The program is voluntary and open to BIFMA
members and non-members alike.
The new Register and Mark are also designed to support architects,
designers, B2B buyers, and consumers in the easy identification of products
that have met the standards and can be trusted. Indeed, customers buying
furniture can also access the registry to verify its status.
Since 1973, BIFMA has sponsored the development and refinement of
standards, taught their importance and application, and translated their
complexity into formats that are easily understood and implemented.
Kevin Smith, Senior International Sales Executive, SGS: “We
welcome BIFMA’s new compliance program which will help lift standards across
the industry and make it easier for architects, designers, B2B buyers and consumers
to identify furniture products that are safe and reliable.
“As a BIFMA member and an active participant in its technical
committees, we are properly positioned to guide manufacturers through BIFMA’s
testing and compliance process. In the end, we believe it’s only trusted
because it’s tested.”
Through its network of ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing
laboratories, SGS can test performance of furniture products and demonstrate
compliance against the following physical and mechanical standards that focus
on safety and durability:
- Office seating
- Lounge and public seating
- Desk products
- Panel products
- Storage
- Educational seating
- Occasional use seating
- Large occupancy seating
- Small office / home office
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About SGS
services for furniture
SGS assists manufacturers, retailers
and buyers to ensure well-designed, functional, durable and safe products reach
the consumer by checking a product’s compliance against regional, national and
international standards and a company’s own specifications.
Its furniture services cover all aspects of indoor
and outdoor furnishings. When developing or sourcing a new product, employing SGS’s
expertise to test it prior to launch can save financial cost, logistical
difficulty and reputational damage of recalling or fixing defective items.
Accredited to UKAS, HOKLAS, CNAS and VINAS, SGS is
a member of BIFMA, the AHFA (American Home Furnishings Alliance), the KCMC
(Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association) and the BNBA (Bureau de
Normalisation du Bois et de l’Ameublement).
Contact SGS today to enjoy the fruits of a
partnership with the leading testing, certification and verification supplier.
For further information contact:
Kevin A
Smith
Senior International Sales Executive
SGS North America
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection,
verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the
global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees,
SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.