ASTM F1561-96

Standard Performance Requirements for Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use

SCOPE
1.1 These requirements establish nationally recognized performance requirements for Class A (residential) and Class B (nonresidential) plastic chairs intended for outdoor use.
1.2 These requirements do not address conditions that affect the performance of the chair beyond the manufacturing site.
1.3 These requirements are not applicable to chaises, multipositional chairs, upholstered chairs, or other types of furniture.
1.4 These requirements cover the physical performance of product regarding the aspects of impact, static load, and rear leg testing.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1995
• ICS: 97.140 - Furniture
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.33 - Outdoor Plastic Lawn Furniture

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1561-03 - Standard Performance Requirements for Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F2613-22 - Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Children's Chairs and Stools
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1561 – 96
Standard Performance Requirements for
1
Plastic Chairs for Outdoor Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1561; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These requirements establish nationally recognized per-
formance requirements for Class A (residential) and Class B
(nonresidential) plastic chairs intended for outdoor use.
1.2 These requirements do not address conditions that affect
the performance of the chair beyond the manufacturing site.
1.3 These requirements are not applicable to chaises, mul-
tipositional chairs, upholstered chairs, or other types of furni-
ture.
1.4 These requirements cover the physical performance of
product regarding the aspects of impact, static load, and rear
leg testing.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
information only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—a 5 seat height, chair with or without arms; b 5 seat width,
2. Terminology
chair with arms; c 5 seat width, chair without arms; and, d 5 leg stance,
2.1 Definition:
measured from back of front leg to back of rear leg.
2.1.1 plastic chair, n—for the purposes of these require-
FIG. 1 Measurements of a Chair
ments, a molded, upright piece of furniture with or without
usability and stability of chairs in an environment simulating
arms, having a back in a fixed position with no moving parts,
the conditions of use.
intended for seating one person, and having a seat height not
3.2 Tests simulate two types of surfaces:
less than 15 in. (381 mm) and not greater than 19 in. (483 mm);
3.2.1 Smooth surfaces such as linoleum, wet pool decks,
for a chair with arms, having a seat width not less than 16 in.
etc. The glass testing base (Fig. 2) is used to simulate this
(406 mm) and not greater than 30 in. (762 mm); and for a chair
surface.
without arms, having a seat width not less than 14 in. (356 mm)
3.2.2 Rough surfaces such as wooden decks, outdoor
and not greater than 30 in. (as shown in Fig. 1).
grassed areas, etc. The plywood testing base (Fig. 3) is used to
2.1.1.1 Discussion—Class A (residential) plastic chairs are
simulate this surface.
intended for use by the customer in and around the home.
2.1.1.2 Discussion—Class B (nonresidential) plastic chairs
4. Apparatus
are intended for use by the customer in all other areas,
4.1 Plastic Chairs, which have been inspected and met a
including those defined as Class A.
manufacturer’s internal quality standards.
3. Significance and Use 4.2 One Heavy-Weight Canvas or Leather Bag,16 6 0.2 in.
(406 6 4 mm) in diameter, which shall be measured prior to
3.1 Tests and criteria as outlined determine the overall
testing to determine stretching, having a total measurement not
to exceed 17.5 in. (445 mm) and filled with steel or lead shot
1
These performance requirements are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Commit-
(0.09 to 0.12 in. (2.3 to 3.0 mm) in diameter) to a total weight
tee F-15 on Consumer Products and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
of 1506 1.5 lb (68 6 0.7 kg). The bag shall be fitted with a
F15.33 on Outdoor Plastic Lawn Furniture.
safety cable to prevent it from hitting the glass testing base but
Current edition approved June 10, 1996. Published August 1996. Originally
published as F 1561 – 94. Last previous edition F 1561 – 94. should not interfere with the test.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 1561
75°F (18 to 24°C) and a relative humidity of 50 6 5 % and test
subsequently under the same conditions.
6. Test Procedure—Class A (Residential)
6.1 Initial Inspection—Inspect each chair thoroughly for
breaks, fractures, cracks, or other structural damage prior to
testing. Any chairs exhibiting structural damage shall not be
tested.
6.2 Test each chair in the sequence listed in 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5
and is to comply with 9.1 and 9.2.
6.3 Static Load Test:
6.3.1 Position the chair on the glass testing base (Fig. 2) as
near as possible to the center of the glass.
NOTE 1—A 5 poly(methyl methacr
...