BIFMA Releases New Standard for Occasional-Use Seating

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) has approved a new safety and performance standard, BIFMA X6.4-2018 Occasional Use Seating. Copies are available on the BIFMA website, www.bifma.org.

The BIFMA Board of Directors observed the need for this new standard to align with market expectations for seating products designed for less frequent use. The Board worked closely with the BIFMA Subcommittee for Seating Standards to develop the new standard. Upon draft completion and verification of all tests, the full association approved adoption of this new standard. 

The X6.4-2018 standard defines the specific tests, laboratory equipment, conditions of test, and recommended minimum levels to be used in evaluating the safety, durability, and structural adequacy of Occasional-Use Seating products. Tests are based on the 95thpercentile male, now weighing 275 lbs. Many of the tests align with ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2012 Lounge and Public Seating, while outlining a reduction to the number of durability testing cycles in keeping with the intent of this new standard. 

The BIFMA Seating Subcommittee submitted a Project Initiation Notice (PINS) to ANSI on February 13, 2018, providing intent to make BIFMA X6.4-2018 a future ANSI standard. The Subcommittee also provided a PINS to ANSI to revise ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2012 Lounge and Public Seating.

About BIFMA
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association is the voice for the commercial furniture industry. BIFMA develops safety, performance, and sustainability standards that ensure product performance. BIFMA provides data and analytics that the industry uses to make key manufacturing decisions. The organization advocates for regulatory conditions that enhance value and foster innovation. BIFMA is the go-to resource providing tools commercial furniture manufactures need to ensure that products work.

Featured

  • Epson Receives Seven AV Industry Awards

    Projectors manufacturer Epson recently announced that it received multiple awards across the Higher Ed AV Awards, SCN Stellar Service Awards, and InfoComm 2025, according to a news release. The company was recognized for three projectors from its PowerLite L-Series line, accessories, installation process, and its customer support team.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

  • Case Study Highlights Texas District’s Campus Security Upgrades

    The Taft Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently partnered with Intech Southwest Services to revamp its campus security technology system, according to a news release. Intech has released a case study on its website detailing the process that advanced the district’s technology by more than 20 years in less than three weeks.

  • AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD

    Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) recently announced that it has broken ground on two renovation projects for the Austin Independent School District, according to a news release. The work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.

Digital Edition