Office Chair EU Certification
Office chairs exported to the EU must pass EN1335 testing to obtain CE certification, which is a mandatory safety standard set by the EU for office chairs. The specific requirements are as follows:
I. Composition and Testing Content of the EN1335 Standard The EN1335 standard is divided into three parts, all of which must pass testing:
EN1335-1: Dimensional and Structural Requirements This standard specifies the external dimensions of finished chairs, including basic parameters such as seat height, backrest height, and seat depth. Recent revisions have added specific numerical requirements for the adjustability of lumbar support height to ensure that chairs comply with ergonomic design principles and avoid usage risks caused by structural defects.
EN1335-2: Stability Testing Methods This standard covers more than ten testing methods, including forward stability testing (including chairs with footrests), lateral stability testing, chair wheel resistance testing, and durability cycle testing of seats and backrests. Updated in 2018 to EN 1335-2:2018, replacing the previous version, its strength and durability testing methods adopt EN 1728:2012, simulating typical wear scenarios over a ten-year service life to ensure that chairs remain stable during long-term use.
EN1335-3: Strength and Durability Testing Methods This standard includes drop impact testing (a 25-kilogram metal block is freely dropped from a height of 200 millimeters onto the seat surface, repeated 100 times to check for cracks or deformation in the chair frame), durability testing (the seat surface undergoes 120,000 forward and backward rocking tests, and the backrest undergoes 100,000 recline tests), among others. Additionally, measuring instruments are used to record the deformation of the chair under specific loads to assess whether its dynamic comfort meets general expectations.
II. Certification Process and Requirements Enterprises need to send their products to laboratories with ISO17025 accreditation for EN1335 testing. After obtaining the test report, they must prepare a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) in accordance with the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC or other applicable directives and affix the CE mark before customs clearance. It should be noted that EN1335 testing does not include flame retardancy testing. However, EU countries such as the UK and Germany require office chairs to also meet EN1021-1/2 (cigarette and match flame retardancy tests). Exporting enterprises need to supplement testing items according to the requirements of the target country.
