{"id":923,"date":"2019-08-08T09:00:10","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=923"},"modified":"2019-08-15T12:13:53","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T11:13:53","slug":"what-does-fira-approved-actually-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.burgessfurniture.com\/blog\/what-does-fira-approved-actually-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT DOES FIRA APPROVED ACTUALLY MEAN?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here at Burgess, we’re committed to providing the highest quality furniture available.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

That is\u00a0<\/span>why our pieces are tested<\/span>\u00a0at FIRA International<\/span>, meaning our products are put through\u00a0<\/span>tests that<\/span>\u00a0simulate not just real-life use<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but foreseeable misuse.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meaning if FIRA approve it, you can rest assured it’s a high quality, durable product. But we don’t stop there. We combine FIRA’s testing with our own in-house tortures to double make sure our products are top-notch.\u00a0W<\/span>e have<\/span>\u00a0even\u00a0<\/span>done the drop test, which involved dropping\u00a0<\/span>a stack of<\/span>\u00a0our<\/span>\u00a0chairs from 450m, (yep, 450!)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not just once\u00a0<\/span>but five times in a row<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Testing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>like this\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>s not a mandatory<\/span>\u00a0industry requirement. B<\/span>ut\u00a0<\/span>it is\u00a0<\/span>something we do to give you peace of mind that our furniture is made to last<\/span>, durable<\/span>\u00a0and safe for customer use<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We test most of our products to\u00a0<\/span>the European Standard BS EN 16139,\u00a0<\/span>Level 2, which are severe usage tests involving ad<\/span>ded strength\u00a0<\/span>and repetition of<\/span>\u00a0cycles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image
Image courtesy of Grand Pera Palace Istanbul – Turkey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What FIRA means for you<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

FIRA<\/span>\u00a0International<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the<\/span>\u00a0service provider to the<\/span>\u00a0Furniture Industry Research Association<\/a> –<\/span>\u00a0puts our furniture through its paces<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>conducting a wide range of tests<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0check safety, durability and flammability, like an army assault course for furniture:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Safety testing<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Checks that our furniture avoids<\/span>\u00a0any risk of injury, including\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0moveable and adjustable parts. No shear and squeeze points created by force applied through normal use of our furniture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stability\u00a0<\/span><\/b>testing:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Our furniture is loaded<\/span>\u00a0and assessed in all directions to ensure end user safety<\/span>, checking stability at the front, sides and rear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction\u00a0<\/span><\/b>testing:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0The s<\/span>tructure is tested by applying a force 10 times<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0at different\u00a0<\/span>points on the seating<\/span>. Burgess furniture products are tested to Level 2 severe strength forces, to ensure our furniture stays in one piece and does not break.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Durability\u00a0<\/span><\/b>testing:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Force<\/span>s are<\/span>\u00a0applied\u00a0<\/span>to the seat and back, as well as pressing down on the arm rests \u2013 stimulating long-term use.\u00a0<\/span>For a piece to\u00a0<\/span>pass,<\/span>\u00a0there must be no fractures or loosening of any components or joints, no structural failure and the chair should still function.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Flammability testing<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Our\u00a0<\/span>foams and fabrics are tested to ensure they meet strict<\/span>\u00a0BS 7176 standards<\/span>\u00a0for medium hazards. Tests include the<\/span>\u00a0application of a<\/span>\u00a0lit cigarette test, match<\/span>\u00a0flame<\/span>\u00a0test and\u00a0<\/span>ignition source 5 (<\/span>Crib 5<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0test.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fabric testing:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Fabric durability and wear and tear is assessed,<\/span>\u00a0including abrasion test<\/span>s which oscillate a piece of\u00a0<\/span>fabric in every direction.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Burgess
Image courtesy of Rennaisance Barcelona Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why FIRA\u00a0<\/span><\/b>testing\u00a0<\/span><\/b>matters<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

By choosing furniture that has\u00a0<\/span>been tested by FIRA<\/span>, you have the reassurance that each piece is capable of withstanding multiple types of situations and end use<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0FIRA<\/span>\u00a0testing also:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n