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.
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:
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.
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:
Only furniture that holds up to these rigorous standards earns ANSI/BIFMA recognition.
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.
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.
There are many distinct advantages in purchasing BIFMA-compliant products, including:
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.
See how Weber Knapp designs ergonomic products that meet ANSI/BIFMA standards for safety, performance, and sustainability.