Furniture Testing

Furniture testing services offered at Micom Laboratories.  Whether it is for office furniture or domestic furniture our experts can help you establish compliance to standards such as ANSI/BIFMA, CGSB, GSA, ASTM, CAL TB 133 and SEFA.  Our services are also used for establishing regulatory compliance for CPSC and Health Canada.

Beyond regulatory and compliance aspects, Micom also offers material testing and packaging testing to help you validate your design work or address field failures.

Furniture and Material Testing Services Offered at Micom

The furniture testing services offered at Micom are as follows:

• BIFMA Testing
• Office Furniture Testing
• Domestic Furniture Testing
• SEFA Testing
• Packaging Testing

For material testing services the following links will be of interest to you:

• ASTM Testing
• Plastics Testing
• Coating Testing
• UV Testing
• Corrosion Testing
• Heat Aging Testing
• Climatic Chamber Testing

The testing for the furniture industry we offer encompasses all of the ANSI/BIFMA, CGSB, GSA, ASTM standards related to furniture testing as well as mechanical testing of furniture components.  Micom is heavily involved with the North American Office Furniture Industry. We are a BIFMA member and make it a point of contributing to the development of the industry standards. Furthermore, we sit on all the CGSB committees related to office furniture.  Not only do we know the standards; we sit on the committees that write them.

Accredited by A2LA we have a lot to offer to our customers namely:

• Over eighty years of cumulative experience   in Office furniture testing
• Participation on all BIFMA & CGSB standard writing committees.
• CAL TB 133 testing
• 15 000 sq. ft. dedicated to furniture testing.
• ISO 17025 Accredited.
• Prototypes, components and custom testing.
• Comprehensive test plans
• Problem-solving
• Test reports recognized anywhere in North America

Take the Guess Out of the Equation

At Micom we understand your technical and certification challenges. We can support you in preparing test plans and test protocols that will get you the end result you need to deliver.

More often than not, you will want to have your office furniture tested in order to be able to bid on a government or similar large contract or to comply with Government regulations. If you are developing a new product, 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, testing your furniture according to a widely recognized, albeit voluntary, standard can help mitigate the case by demonstrating that measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the unit.

The office furniture standards we are accredited to test to are the following:

At Micom, we do our best to simplify the furniture testing process. The best way to proceed is to send us your detailed price list (or any similar document which contains all units and unit sizes). We will then discuss with you what units are to be qualified, or which sections should be omitted. 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 about the construction of your units. A quote is then prepared and submitted. Once an agreement has been reached, you will receive the bill of material and test plan.

Once testing has begun, on large projects, you will receive a weekly update. If any failures occur, you will be advised by phone and/or email on the same day. Pictures of the failures, when appropriate, are sent, at no extra charge. The resolution of the failure can then proceed. We also have video capabilities. With our webcam, you can ask to witness a critical test or receive more information on a failure from the comfort of your office with the ease of using your web browser.

Once testing has been completed, test reports will be issued and sent by mail.

Micom can help you assess the durability of a wide range of office furniture. From chairs, desks, panel systems,  theatre seats to storage units and folding tables, our over 80 years of expertise in the field of furniture and material testing makes us a choice partner in the evaluation of your products.

Micom offers responsive service, accurate test results, and a high level of expertise at competitive prices.

If you would like to sell your office furniture in Canada or the US, your products need to meet specific standards. This infographic and decision tree will help you determine the most appropriate test to choose.

Office Furniture Testing Infographic

Examples of Our Furniture Testing Services