How safe is your furniture?

Do you sell furniture on the European market? If so, it is your responsibility to ensure that these products do not pose a risk to the health and safety of end users. Notifications from the European information system Safety Gate (formerly RAPEX) show that chairs, bunk beds and tables in particular are common product groups in recalls, or even receive an import ban or trade ban. What goes wrong?

Hazardous products

Safety Gate's reports show a number of common defects that pose significant risks of physical injury or can even be life-threatening.

Chairs - stability, strength and entrapment: Dining chairs and office chairs are often unstable or not strong enough. This creates a risk of the product tipping over and parts deforming or even breaking during use. Deck chairs for outdoor use often exhibit risks traceable to the assembly. Due to defects in the lock mechanism or the adjustment system at the back of the chairs, parts can easily come loose. As a result, fingers can become trapped or serious bodily injury can occur from falls.

Bunk beds - structure and strangulation: Bunk beds are mainly associated with the risk of falling over, this can be life-threatening to the end user. Too large an opening, or too low a side can result in children falling during use. Improperly sized openings between the structure can lead to entrapment of limbs or even strangulation if a child were to put their head through it.

Tables - stability, entrapment and sharp edges: Tables often present risks of injury from entrapment hazards, sharp edges and instability.

Directive 2001/95/EC on General Product Safety (GPSD).

Furniture falls within the scope of Directive 2001/95/EC on General Product Safety (GPSD). This directive requires economic operators to place only safe products on the European market. Safe products do not pose unacceptable risks to consumers under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. In the area of furniture product safety, the following points are essential:

Construction (strength);
Stability;
Durability (long-term use);
Free of sharp edges and entrapment points.

European standards for furniture

In order to prove that your furniture has been manufactured in accordance with the requirements set out in Directive 2001/95/EC on General Product Safety (GPSD), there are several European standards available that describe the requirements and test methods regarding safety aspects for furniture. Some standards for chairs, bunk beds and tables are:

EN 12520 - Furniture - Strength, durability and safety - for household seating
EN 581 - Outdoor furniture - Chairs and tables for camping, household and rental use
EN 747 - Furniture - Bunk beds and bunk beds
EN 12521 - Furniture - Strength, durability and safety - tables for domestic use

A distinction is made between furniture for domestic use, outdoor use and office furniture. All standards can be found at www.nen.nl.

Need support?

Do you sell furniture on the European market and wonder if your product meets safety requirements and what specific standards apply to your product? Précon can support you with: