Why Is It a Good Thing to Have Your Product Lines Tested?
More often than not, you will want to prove your product line is compliant with the national standards in order to be able to bid on a government or similar large contract. The essence of the BIFMA standards is to ensure product safety and durability. If you are developing a new product line, testing it prior to its launch may save you the cost and trouble of recalling or fixing defective items. In matters of liability and security in North America, having insured your office furniture product lines are BIFMA compliant will go a long way to demonstrate you are a responsible manufacturer and that you have taken industry-recognized means to ensure the safety and durability of the products you sell.
At Micom we understand your customers’ technical requirements and will help you address them.
What Standards Are Used to Test Office Furniture?
The most common standards used in Canada and the United States are the BIFMA testing standards. BIFMA is the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association. Compliance with these standards is mandatory to obtain a GSA (US Government) schedule and also obtain a Supply Agreement from the Canadian Government. For Canada, the BIFMA testing standards will be called up in the applicable CAN/CGSB standard or Government Purchase description (GPD).
You will find below the list of BIFMA standards we can test to depending on what furniture product you offer:
What Is the Process for Having Your Product Lines Tested?
Because of our deep understanding of the Government procurement requirements, we can simplify things and help you through the testing process. The best way to proceed is to send us your price list for the product line you want to qualify for. Why your price list? Because it contains your product offering, the product codes and basically all we need to prepare an optimized test plan for your product offering. Upon our initial review of your price list, we will discuss with you what units are to be qualified. For example, you might want your desks to be tested, but not your conference tables, or vice-versa. We will then ask you a few questions on how your units are built. A test plan is then prepared and submitted. Most of the time this process can be completed within a day. As an accredited BIFMA testing lab, we make it our business to keep things simple and easy to manage for you.
Once testing has begun, on large projects, you will receive a weekly update. If any failure occurs, you will be notified by phone and/or email on the same day. Pictures of the failures, when appropriate, will be sent at no extra charge. Resolution of the failure can then proceed.
Once testing has been completed, test reports are generated electronically in PDF format. You will then have the choice of recuperating your test samples or having us dispose of them.
This completes our test project with you. However, this is not where the “bus stops” for Micom; should any of your customers reviewing the test reports we prepared for you have any questions; we will be happy to answer them on your behalf to help you resolve any outstanding issue and this at no extra charge.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our BIFMA testing services.
