An important part of interior design is the selection of appropriate products. The relevant standards provide guidance. They describe the qualities that furniture and other furnishings must have in order to be safe and ergonomic. The most important standards are listed below.
The standards listed below are designed to protect occupational health and safety, product safety or both.
At present, all standards relating to the design of office workplaces fall into the category of non-harmonised standards. This means that compliance with them is not mandatory. Other implementations of the legal requirements for workplace design are also permitted. Nevertheless, they play an important role in documenting the state of the art in technology and occupational medicine. This applies in particular to the standards named by the Committee for Product Safety (AfPS) in connection with the Product Safety Act (ProdSG) and to the occupational health and safety standards identified by the Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardisation (KAN).
Explanations regarding the origin of the standards can be found in the DIN – EN – ISO chapter.
Seating
DIN EN 1335–1:2023–07: Office furniture – Office work chair – Part 1: Dimensions – Determination of dimensions; German version EN 1335–1:2020+A1:2022
The standard contains specifications for four different types of office chairs. Types A, B and C, which represent different levels of requirements, have been supplemented by type Ax in the 2020 revision. This type contains dimensions that are particularly suitable for working in a higher sitting position, as is common in Scandinavian countries, for example. The dimensions are determined by means of the seat mock-up (CMD) in accordance with ISO 24496.
DIN EN 1335–2:2019–04: Office furniture – Office work chair – Part 2: Safety requirements; German version EN 1335–2:2018
The standard contains safety requirements for office work chairs with regard to stability, strength and durability. Tests are carried out on the basis of DIN EN 1728.
DIN EN 16139:2014–03: Furniture – Strength, durability and safety – Requirements for non-domestic seating; German version EN 16139:2013 + AC:2013
The standard specifies safety requirements for visitor and contract chairs. It includes requirements for stability, strength and durability. The standard also contains specifications for the dimensions of visitor chairs.
Note: A draft for the revision of the standard was published in 2022. Among other things, it is planned to include requirements for seating furniture with a single supporting column.
German standard DIN 68877–1:2020–11: Industry work chair – Part 1: Dimensions, Determination of dimensions
The standard specifies dimensions and test procedures for determining the dimensions of height-adjustable, industry work chairs. The structure and scope of the standard are based on DIN EN 1335–1.
German standard DIN 68877–2:2016–05: Industry work chair – Part 2: Safety requirements and test methods
This standard specifies safety requirements and test procedures for height-adjustable, industry work chairs. The structure and tests are based on DIN EN 1335–2. The test basis is DIN EN 1728; specific tests are supplemented in DIN 68877–2.
German standard DIN 4573:2021–03: Seatings for persons with a higher user weight – Safety requirements and test methods
The above standards with safety requirements for seating apply to products intended for use by people with a body weight of up to 110 kg. The German standard DIN 4573 extends these requirements to products intended for use by persons with a higher body weight.
A correction was made in August 2022.
Recommendation: Products that meet the requirements of the relevant standards can be found in the showrooms of the IBA Forum and at www.quality-office.org.
Tables and Desks
DIN EN 527–1:2011–08: Office furniture – Work tables and desks – Part 1: Dimensions; German version EN 527–1:2011
The standard specifies dimensions for office desks (size and height of the work surface, dimensions of the legroom) and for measuring these dimensions.
DIN EN 527–2:2019–07: Office furniture – Work tables – Part 2: Safety, strength and durability requirements; German version EN 527–2:2016+A1:2019
This document specifies requirements for the safety, strength and durability of desks and work tables for office work in a seated, standing or standing position. Test in accordance with DIN EN 1730.
German document DGUV Grundsatz 315–410: Sicherheitsanforderungen an Büro-Arbeitstische, Büroschränke und aufrüstbare Raumgliederungselemente in Deutschland [Safety requirements for office desks, office cabinets and upgradeable room partitioning elements in Germany], Status 2021-09
Although DGUV documents are not standards, the listing of DGUV Principle 315–410 is justified here. It replaces DIN Technical Report 147, which was valid for many years but had to be withdrawn for formal reasons. DGUV Principle 315–410 contains requirements for stability and vibration-free operation, as well as requirements for materials, construction, workmanship and function of ready-to-use office furniture.
DIN EN 15372:2024–03: Furniture – Strength, durability and safety – Requirements for non-domestic tables; German version EN 15372:2023
The standard specifies requirements for the safety, strength and durability of all types of tables in non-residential areas. The requirements also apply to tables in meeting areas.
Storage furnitures / Screens
DIN EN 16121:2024–04: Non-domestic storage furniture – Requirements for safety, strength, durability and stability; German version EN 16121:2023
The standard defines requirements for the safety, strength, durability and stability of cabinets, containers and other storage furniture for non-residential use. The requirements also apply to storage furniture for use in offices. Test in accordance with DIN EN 16122.
DIN EN 1023–1:1996–05: Office furniture – Screens – Part 1: Dimensions; German version EN 1023–1:1996
The standard specifies the dimensions of partitions.
DIN EN 1023–2:2001–01: Office furniture – Screens – Part 2: Mechanical safety requirements; German version EN 1023–2:2000
The standard provides mechanical safety requirements for partitions in terms of construction and stability, as well as information on conformity after testing according to DIN EN 1023–3.
Other furnishings
German standard DIN 4556:2017–10: Office furniture – Footrests for working position – Requirements and test methods
The standard provides requirements for the design of footrests and specifies relevant dimensions.
DIN 5035–8:2007–07: Artificial lighting – Part 8: Workplace luminaries – Requirements, recommendations and proofing
The standard specifies product characteristics and includes requirements for testing and documentation to ensure optimum use for the intended purpose.
Components
DIN EN 14703:2007–07: Furniture – Links for non-domestic seating linked together in a row – Strength requirements and test methods; German version EN 14703:2007
The standard defines terms, test requirements and procedures for row linkings of framed chairs.
DIN EN 12526: 1999-05: Castors and wheels – Vocabulary, recommended symbols and multilingual dictionary; German version EN 12526:1998
The standard defines the main terms used to describe castors and wheels for use on furniture.
DIN EN 12528:1999–05: Castors and wheels – Castors for furniture – Requirements; German version EN 12528:1998
The standard defines requirements for furniture castors for use on mobile tables or storage furniture.
DIN EN 12529: 1999-05: Castors and wheels – Castors for furniture – Requirements; German version EN 12528:1998
The standard specifies the technical requirements, suitable dimensions and testing requirements. It applies to castors with and without brakes that are typically used in swivel chairs.
DIN EN 12529: Corrigenda 1:2007–06
DIN EN 16955:2017–08: Hardware for furniture – Tapered pressure tubes for self-supporting gas springs for the height adjustment of seating – Test methods and requirements for strength and durability; German version EN 16955:2017
This standard specifies test methods and requirements for the strength and durability of conical pressure tubes for self-supporting gas springs used for height adjustment of seating furniture.
DIN EN 17850:2024–02: Hardware for furniture – Star bases for seating – Requirements and test methods; German version EN 17850:2023
The standard specifies requirements and test methods for determining the strength, durability and rigidity of base frames for use in seating furniture with three or more legs.
Test Standards
DIN EN 1022:2024–04: Furniture – Seating – Determination of stability; German version EN 1022:2023
The standard specifies requirements and test methods for determining the stability of all types of seating furniture for adults weighing up to 110 kg, regardless of use, materials, design/construction or manufacturing process.
DIN EN 1728:2014–02: Furniture – Seating – Test methods for the determination of strength and durability; German version EN 1728:2012 + AC:2013
The standard covers test procedures for all types of seating furniture.
DIN EN 1730:2013–01: Furniture – Tables – Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability; German version EN 1730:2012
The standard covers test procedures for all types of seating furniture.
DIN EN 1023–3:2001–01: Office furniture – Screens – Part 3: Test methods; German version EN 1023–3:2000
The standard contains specifications for testing upgradeable and non-upgradeable room partitioning elements with regard to stability and construction. The standard contains specifications for test conditions, test equipment, test procedures and test reports.
Castors and wheels – Test methods and apparatus; German version EN 12527:1998
The standard specifies test methods and equipment for testing the function of wheels and castors.
DIN EN 16122:2012–10: Domestic and non-domestic storage furniture – Test methods for the determination of strength, durability and stability; German version EN 16122:2012
This standard specifies test methods for determining the strength, durability and stability of all types of container furniture for residential and non-residential use. Contrary to what the introductory text of the current version of the standard suggests, it is also used to test storage furniture in offices.
