What Are ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Standards, & Why Do They Matter?

Distributors and dealers of ergonomic products and office furniture often look for proof that their investments are durable, safe, and built to last. ANSI/BIFMA furniture standards are one of the trusted benchmarks for office furniture quality, ensuring that the products hold up under real-world use along with keeping employees safe, comfortable, and productive. 

They want their own customers to have that level of trust, too. One of the ways they receive that assurance is BIFMA compliance. Buying compliant furniture means getting a product that stands up to workplace conditions while helping employees do their jobs more effectively.

What goes into ANSI/BIFMA standards? More than you probably realize.

Defining ANSI/BIFMA-Compliant Furniture

BIFMA is the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to create voluntary standards that promote safe working environments. Since its inception, BIFMA has become the industry leader in developing standards that ensure product performance and buyer confidence. Products with BIFMA recognition have clout because they tend to offer outstanding:

• Durability
• Safety
• Sustainability

Where does the “ANSI” part come in? BIFMA operates under the auspices of ANSI, the American National Standards Institute. This organization develops standards that enhance the quality of American life and foster competition among American manufacturers. There are over 1,200 ANSI standards in place to protect consumers, employees, and business owners. The highest-quality office furniture products are tested by independent laboratories around the world - all to ANSI/BIFMA performance standards.

What Does the ANSI/BIFMA Compliance Process Look Like?

To determine if office furniture meets the combined standards of ANSI and BIFMA, it’s put through a series of tests to determine how safe, functional and sustainable it may or may not be. These tests seem pretty mundane, but when you consider the thousands of daily uses and the need for strict office furniture safety standards, they become essential.

An ergonomic office chair, for example, will be evaluated on:

• Base stability
• Back pull
• Seat drop
• Swivel cycling
• Tilt mechanism performance
• Arm and back durability
• Casters: durability, swivel, and rolling

Only furniture that holds up to these rigorous standards earns ANSI/BIFMA recognition.

What Do BIFMA Standards Mean to the End Customer?

Note there is no BIFMA certification - the organization doesn't "certify" products; the products simply comply with their standards.

Some office furniture may be labeled as “meeting BIFMA requirements.” A nice thought, but this is not the same as official recognition of compliance.

Those who value quality and safety know it’s important to stick with officially compliant office furniture.

What Are ANSI/BIFMA Standards, & Why Don't They 'Certify'?

Some companies, even resellers, use phrases like "BIFMA certified" or "ANSI BIFMA certified," but this is technically incorrect. BIFMA publishes performance standards that manufacturers voluntarily follow.

Furniture labeled as compliant with ANSI/BIFMA standards has most likely been tested to ensure quality, durability and safety, ultimately giving buyers peace of mind.

Top 5 Reasons to Order BIFMA-Compliant Products

There are many distinct advantages in purchasing BIFMA-compliant products, including:

1. Peace of mind in knowing the furniture has met rigorous safety standards
2. Promoting a work environment that is both functional and comfortable
3. Employees who work in safety-conscious environments are usually more productive
4. Fewer work-related injuries and workers’ comp claims
5. Getting a durable product with a warranty 5 years or longer
   
   

The Risks Of Going Rogue

While it’s not a mandate to have ANSI/BIFMA compliance it certainly provides a high level of confidence to any prospective customers. Especially when it comes to purchasing ergonomic office chairs, companies that ignore these standards could be wasting money.

By purchasing inferior, cheaper products, you’re only saving money up-front. Consider that you’ll probably have to replace inferior equipment in 2-3 years versus 7-15 years with ANSI/BIFMA-compliant products. Then consider the decreased ROI and more frequent comp claims. Seems like cheaper isn’t better in this case, right?

Any good-hearted employer wants to create a safe working environment, but it's also natural that they want their purchase to last as long as possible and keep employees off the injured list. With compliant office equipment, you get both.

ANSI/BIFMA performance standards give manufacturers and buyers confidence in the office, university, or other workplace - making compliant equipment a smart investment.

Explore Our ANSI/BIFMA-Compliant Solutions

See how Weber Knapp designs ergonomic products that meet ANSI/BIFMA standards for safety, performance, and sustainability.