ANSI/BIFMA X5.

4-2020
Public and Lounge Seating

May 14, 2020

American National Standard

For Office and Institutional Furnishings

© Copyright 2020

Suggestions for the improvement of this Standard are welcome. The suggestions
should be sent to email@bifma.org or BIFMA, 678 Front Avenue NW, Suite 150,
Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Suggestions will be reviewed by leaders of the BIFMA
Engineering Committee.
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PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

American National Standard for Office

and Institutional Furnishings

Public and Lounge Seating

Sponsor

BIFMA
678 Front Ave. NW, Suite 150
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Phone: (616) 285-3963

email@bifma.org

Approved May 14, 2020

American National Standards Institute
 PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

Foreword

The material presented in this standard was developed as a result of the efforts of the
members of BIFMA and reviewed by a broad representation of interested parties,
government organizations and commercial testing and procurement and interior design
organizations.

This standard defines specific tests, laboratory equipment, conditions of test, and
recommended minimum levels to be used in the test and evaluation of the performance,
durability, and structural adequacy of public and lounge seating units.

The original work on this standard was completed on September 10, 1980 by the BIFMA
Engineering Committee and particularly by its Subcommittee on Chair Standards. The
Subcommittee conducted reviews of the proposed standard to ensure that the tests
accurately describe the proper means of evaluating the safety, durability, and structural
adequacy of lounge seating units and related products. The reviews produced revisions
and/or additions to the various tests that improve the procedures and provide consistency.
Revisions to this standard were approved by ANSI in 1983, 1990, 1997, 2005, and 2012.

The most recent revision proposals began with the BIFMA Chair Subcommittee on
September 7, 2016. The proposed revisions were then submitted to the ANSI consensus
body on February 18, 2020. After completion of the canvass process and approval by the
Consensus Body, the standard was subsequently submitted to the American National
Standards Institute for approval as an American National Standard. Approval by ANSI was
given on May 14, 2020.

For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest
edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

Suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. The suggestions should be
sent to email@bifma.org or BIFMA, 678 Front Avenue NW, Suite 150, Grand Rapids, MI
49504.
 PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

Contents
Page
1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................... 6
2 Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 8
3 General ................................................................................................................................ 12
4 Classification and Applicable Tests ...................................................................................... 17
5 Backrest Strength Test - Horizontal - Static .......................................................................... 22
6 Backrest Strength Test - Vertical - Static .............................................................................. 24
7 Backrest Durability Test - Horizontal - Cyclic ........................................................................ 28
8 Backrest Durability Test - Vertical - Cyclic ............................................................................ 31
9 Arm Strength Test - Horizontal - Static ................................................................................. 33
10 Arm Strength Test - Vertical - Static ..................................................................................... 37
11 Arm Durability Test for Multiple Seating Units - Horizontal - Cyclic ...................................... 40
12 Arm Durability Test for Multiple Seating Units - Vertical - Cyclic .......................................... 42
13 Arm Durability Test for Single Seat Units - Angular - Cyclic ................................................. 44
14 Seating Durability Tests - Cyclic ........................................................................................... 47
15 Drop Test - Dynamic ............................................................................................................. 50
16 Leg Strength Test - Front and Side ....................................................................................... 52
17 Unit Drop Test - Dynamic ...................................................................................................... 55
18 Caster/Unit Base Durability Test - Cyclic .............................................................................. 58
19 Swivel Test - Cyclic ............................................................................................................... 63
20 Tilt / rocker / glider Mechanism Test - Cyclic ........................................................................ 65
21 Stability Tests......................................... ............................................................................... 68
22 Tablet Arm Load Ease Test - Cyclic ..................................................................................... 80
23 Tablet Arm Load Test - Static ............................................................................................... 82
24 Structural Durability Test – Side-to-Side - Cyclic .................................................................. 84
25 Cycle Test for Recliners – Backrest and/or Legrest Mechanism Durability .......................... 85
26 Legrest Strength Test – Static Load ..................................................................................... 87
27 Footrest Static Load Test for Stools - Vertical ...................................................................... 90
28 Footrest Durability Test for Stools – Vertical - Cyclic ............................................................ 92
Appendix A: Impact Test Bag Construction - Informative ........................................................... 94
Appendix B: Stability Disk - Construction Details ..................................................................... 101
Appendix C: Front Stability Load Locator Fixture - Construction Details - Informative ............. 102
Appendix D: BIFMA Position - Chair Weight Limits / Load Ratings - Informative ..................... 110
Appendix E: Recliner Pinch Point Cautions - Informative ......................................................... 111
3
PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

Appendix F: Example of a Recliner Cycle Test Fixture - Informative ....................................... 112

Appendix G: Recliner Front Stability with Legrest Extended - Informative ............................... 113
Appendix H: Figure of Leg-Base Chair - Informative ................................................................ 114
Appendix I: Template for Rear Stability - Normative ................................................................ 115
Appendix J: Summary of Significant Changes - Informative ..................................................... 116
Appendix K: Guidance for Seating Units with Privacy Screens or Tables - Informative ........... 118
Appendix L: Guidance for Seating Flammability - Informative .................................................. 118
Appendix M: Structural Durability Test – Front-to-Back – Cyclic - Informative ......................... 119
Appendix N: Guide for Seating Positions for Non-linear Multiple Seating Units - Informative . 121

4
 PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

Tables
Page
Table 1 Test Schedule ................................................................................................................ 18
Table 2 Drop Height for Lounge Seating Units .......................................................................... 56

Figures

5a through 5d Backrest Strength Test - Horizontal - Static............ ................................... 20 - 21

6 Backrest Strength Test - Vertical - Static.............. ................................................................. 24
7a through 7d Backrest Durability Test - Horizontal - Static .............................................. 26 - 27
8 Backrest Durability Test - Vertical - Cyclic... .......................................................................... 30
9 Arm Strength Test - Horizontal - Static............. ..................................................................... 32
10a through 10c Arm Strength Test - Vertical - Static.............. ......................................... 35 - 37
11 Arm Durability Test for Multiple Seating Units - Horizontal - Cyclic.... ................................. 39
12a through 12c Arm Durability Test for Multiple Seating Units - Vertical - Cyclic... ................ 41
13a Arm Loading Device - Cyclic................ ............................................................................... 43
13b Arm Durability Test - Angular - Cyclic................ ................................................................. 44
14 Seating Durability Test - Cyclic................ .............................................................................. 46
15a & 15b Drop Test - Dynamic................................ ................................................................. 49
16a & 16b Leg Strength Test - Front and Side ........................................................................... 52
17 Unit Drop Test - Dynamic............................ .......................................................................... 55
18a through 18c Caster/Unit Base Durability Test - Cyclic ......................................................... 57
18d & 18e Caster/Unit Leg Durability Test - Cyclic ..................................................................... 59
19a & 19b Swivel Test - Cyclic ................................................................................................... 62
20 Tilt Rocker/Glider Mechanism Test - Cyclic ........................................................................... 64
21a through 21i Stability Tests ........................................................................ 66, 67, 71 – 75, 77
22 Tablet Arm Load Ease Test - Cyclic ...................................................................................... 79
23 Tablet Arm Load Test - Static ................................................................................................ 81
24 Structural Durability Test – Side-to-Side - Cyclic .................................................................. 83
26 Legrest Strength Test – Static Load ..................................................................................... 87
27 Footrest Static Load Test for Stools - Vertical ...................................................................... 89
28 Footrest Durability Test for Stools – Vertical - Cyclic ............................................................ 92

5
PUBLIC AND LOUNGE SEATING ANSI/BIFMA X5.4-2020

American National Standard

for Office Furnishings

Public and Lounge Seating

1 Scope
This standard is intended to provide manufacturers, specifiers, and users with a common basis
for evaluating the safety, durability, and structural adequacy of business and institutional public
and lounge seating.

Public and lounge seating is normally used in indoor common/shared spaces such as waiting,
reception, visitor seating in patient rooms*, restaurant/dining/cafeteria** settings and other
gathering areas. Public and lounge seating products are generally not adjustable for personal
use. Public and lounge seating includes products with single seat units, units with multiple
seating positions within one unit or ganged seating units, arena folding chairs, and standard
folding chairs. Public and lounge seating may be ganged/connected. Seating units that must
be attached to the building structure for support or stability purposes are not specifically
addressed in this standard. This standard does not address general-purpose or task-oriented
office chairs, which are covered by ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 or ANSI/BIFMA X5.11.

This standard does not address Class II medical devices as defined by the FDA (CFR 820) and
may not apply to seating for persons in medically compromised conditions that are found in
certain health care environments such as physical therapy and weight loss clinics. These
environments may require specific product designs that may not be adequately covered by the
requirements of this standard. Products designed to the requirements in this standard may not
be appropriate for use in high-risk behavioral health facilities, which typically have additional
design requirements/considerations.

Where a product may be covered by more than one ANSI/BIFMA standard, the manufacturer
shall determine which standard provides most appropriate test conditions. Where a product is
intended for use outside of the commercial office and related institutional environments, it is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to determine if it is suitable for use in such
environments.