Office Furniture Certification - What is it and how does it benefit the consumer?

Office Furniture Certification - What is it and how does it benefit the consumer?

Who would test office furniture?

What are they testing?

Why would they test?

Can a consumer ensure that they are buying a product that is fit for purpose?

Unlike other industries, like transport, not meeting the Australian Standards for office furniture does not mean products cannot be sold in Australia. However, there are ways in which the consumer can make an informed purchasing decision.

There are industry bodies like AFRDI and BIFMA whose role it is to test, rate and certify office furniture products. There are Australian Standards that dictate sizes, weight carrying ability, materials to be used and the like as a guide for manufacturers to follow – not all do, especially those products from overseas. This is not all bad though, we have written this article to help navigate the murky waters and give you the tools to separate the ones you should short list and the ones you shouldn’t.

Let’s have a look at AFRDI and what they are all about:

AFRDI stands for the Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute. It is an independent, non-profit organization based in Australia that provides research, testing, and certification services to the furniture industry. AFRDI's services are aimed at ensuring that furniture products sold in Australia and New Zealand meet specified quality and safety standards. They provide testing and certification for a range of products including chairs, desks, tables, and cabinets.

AFRDI benefits consumers in several ways:

Safety: AFRDI tests and certifies furniture products to ensure they meet safety standards. This helps consumers avoid purchasing furniture that may be unsafe or pose a risk of injury.

Quality: AFRDI's testing and certification services also ensure that furniture products meet specified quality standards. This helps consumers purchase furniture that is durable and will last for a long time.

Trust: AFRDI's certification label on furniture products provides consumers with a level of trust and assurance that the product has been independently tested and certified by a reputable organization.

Environmentally friendly: AFRDI also has a program called "GreenTag," which assesses the environmental impact of furniture products. This helps consumers make environmentally conscious choices when purchasing furniture.

Overall, AFRDI's services benefit consumers by providing them with safer, higher-quality, and environmentally friendly furniture options while also providing a level of trust and assurance in their purchases.

 

Now let’s look at BIFMA:

BIFMA stands for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. It is a non-profit organization based in the United States that represents the interests of the commercial furniture industry. BIFMA develops and publishes voluntary standards for furniture products used in commercial and institutional settings, including offices, schools, and healthcare facilities. The standards cover various aspects of furniture design, performance, and safety. BIFMA also conducts research, provides education and training, and advocates for the interests of its members in the furniture industry.

BIFMA benefits consumers in several ways:

Safety: BIFMA develops and publishes voluntary safety standards for commercial furniture products. These standards ensure that furniture products used in commercial and institutional settings are safe for consumers to use.

Quality: BIFMA's standards cover various aspects of furniture design and performance, including durability and functionality. This helps consumers purchase high-quality furniture that will last for a long time and meet their needs.

Innovation: BIFMA promotes innovation in the furniture industry by encouraging manufacturers to develop new and innovative products that meet the needs of consumers.

Sustainability: BIFMA has a program called "Level" that assesses the environmental impact of furniture products. This helps consumers make environmentally conscious choices when purchasing furniture.

Overall, BIFMA's services benefit consumers by ensuring that commercial furniture products are safe, high-quality, innovative, and environmentally friendly. Consumers can trust that furniture products that meet BIFMA's standards are designed and manufactured to meet their needs while also being safe and environmentally responsible.

 

What if we want to rate products on their environmental credentials?

What is Good Environmental Choice Australia?

GECA, which stands for Good Environmental Choice Australia, is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies products and services that meet specific environmental and sustainability criteria. While GECA does not specifically focus on office furniture, their certification can impact office furniture in the following ways:

Environmentally friendly materials: GECA certification requires that products meet certain criteria for environmentally friendly materials, such as using renewable or recycled materials, reducing waste, and minimizing harmful chemicals. This can encourage manufacturers of office furniture to use sustainable materials and production processes.

Health and safety: GECA certification also requires that products meet certain health and safety standards, including limiting exposure to harmful chemicals and ensuring that products are safe for use. This can ensure that office furniture is safe and healthy for employees to use.

Trust: The GECA label on office furniture products provides consumers with a level of trust and assurance that the product has been independently certified by a reputable organization, which can increase consumer confidence in the product.

Overall, GECA certification can encourage the use of environmentally friendly and safe materials in office furniture and provide a level of trust and assurance for consumers.

 

Our staff at Inside Office can explain and help put all of this into perspective. We carry products that are certified to the highest level possible right through to those that don’t, all have their features and benefits. There are many points to consider when choosing any product but especially so when it comes to office furniture. Let our team guide you through the thousands of products we carry to help you understand the features you should be prioritising in your decision making process. There are AFRDI certified chairs starting from a couple of hundred dollars!