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 lounge seating.

This standard describes the means of evaluating lounge seating, independent of construction materials, manufacturing processes, mechanical designs or aesthetic designs. This standard does not address general-purpose office chairs or seating used for stadiums, auditoriums, lecture rooms and similar high-density public seating areas. This standard does not address flammability, surface material durability, cushioning materials, product emissions, or ergonomic considerations.

The standard defines specific tests, the laboratory equipment that may be used, the conditions of tests, and the minimum acceptance levels to be used in evaluating lounge seating. The acceptance levels given in this standard are based on the actual field use and test experience of BIFMA International members.

The tests in this standard are intended to assess the performance of new products only. They are not intended to assess a product that has been in use.