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What is furniture?

Furniture is free-standing or built-in units, with the primary function being:

  • storage of articles,
  • Providing a surface on which the user can lie or sit or be seated to eat, study or work, for example.

Furniture falls within the scope of the European General Product Safety Directive 2001/95. This directive requires economic operators to place only safe products on the European market. Safe products do not pose unacceptable safety risks to consumers under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.

Categories of furniture.

The definition for furniture is comprehensive. Whether a product falls within this definition depends on several factors, such as end users, moments of use and cultural aspects. The Furniture Working Group (CEN/TC 207) of the European Committee for Standardization has classified the different types of furniture into the following categories:

  • Furniture for domestic use
  • Furniture for children
  • Office Furniture
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Furniture for public spaces
  • School furniture
  • Hardware for furniture
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What can we help our clients with?

  • Building product compliance protocol
  • Validation & verification of technical documentation
  • Meet minimum legal requirements
  • Zero measurement & risk analysis
  • Internal audit
  • Handling complaints and recalls
  • Audit support
  • Training
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Security risks

When assessing the safety of furniture, we know of several types of danger:

1. Physical hazards

Physical hazards refer to the design of the product and whether the components of the product pose a safety risk to the user. Examples of physical hazards include injury from sharp edges, loosening, deformation or even breakage of parts during use.

2. Mechanical hazards

Mechanical hazards relate to the operation of the product. Examples of mechanical hazards include entrapment of body parts (such as fingers, arms or legs) or falling from height due to instability.

 

3. Chemical hazards

It is important that the materials from which the product is made do not contain substances that have a harmful effect on health. Examples include substances that can cause an allergic reaction, such as nickel, and azo dyes.

What are your obligations?

Do you import or manufacture furniture? Or do you have furniture designed, manufactured and market it under your brand name? If so, take these steps:

1. Define your product.

Based on the design, primary function and characteristics of your product, determine whether it is intended to be furniture. It is also essential that you determine the type of use and moment of use your furniture is intended for. Classifying a piece of furniture in the wrong category can cause you to draw incorrect conclusions about the product's safety.

2. Conduct a risk assessment.

In risk assessment you identify the potential hazards of the furniture itself and the hazards it may present during use. Here you should consider not only the hazards under normal use, but also the hazards under reasonably foreseeable use. The risk assessment considers the following points:

  • The primary function and properties of the product,
  • the time of use and environment,
  • the intended or foreseeable use of the product,
  • The possible physical, mechanical and chemical hazards,
  • the effect on other products or the environment in which the product is used.
3. Determine the appropriate standard.

For the various product categories, safety requirements are laid down in European or national standards. If a piece of furniture has been produced in accordance with the requirements of the relevant standards, it can be assumed that there is a presumption of conformity with the stated requirements of Directive 2001/95 on General Product Safety.

4. Find out what additional legislation applies.

In view of the materials used, you should check whether and which other European directives or regulations apply to your product. Some examples are:

  • Regulation 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
  • Regulation 1007/2011 on textile fiber names and related labeling and marking of the fiber composition of textile products.
  • Regulation 995/2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market (EUTR).
5. Provide proper instructions, information and warnings.

Furniture should be accompanied by relevant information and instructions so that the end user can safely assemble, use and maintain the product. These instructions must not be used to compensate for product defects ("safe writing"). Mandatory texts, instructions and warnings are partly prescribed in the standards. These information, instructions and warnings must be given in the official language(s) of the countries where the product is sold.

6. Provide a complete technical file.

Make sure you have a complete technical file containing all relevant documentation regarding the conformity of your product. The technical documentation should include at least the following items:

  • description of the item and its intended use,
  • technical specifications (bill of materials, design drawings),
  • risk assessment,
  • test reports,
  • labeling and instructions belonging to the product,
  • documentation related to ensuring conformity in production,
  • declarations of conformity referring to the relevant legislation.

The technical file should be provided to the national authorities upon request.

 

Our approach.

Our consultants have extensive experience in training, advising and supporting companies in identifying and meeting their obligations under the various European directives. Together with you we find the optimal solution for your organization. Précon is happy to help you.

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