ISO 21015:2007

Office furniture - Office work chairs - Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability

ISO 21015:2007 specifies test methods for determining the stability, strength and durability of office work chairs. Guidance is given on the choice of forces, cycles, etc., for these tests. The tests are designed to be applied to an article of furniture that is fully assembled and ready for use. The dimensions in the tests are applicable to office work chairs intended for adult persons. The tests consist of the application, to various parts of the item, of forces simulating normal functional use, as well as misuse that can reasonably be expected to occur. The tests are designed to evaluate properties without regard to materials, design/construction or manufacturing processes. The test results are valid only for the article tested. When the test results are intended to be applied to other similar articles, it is important that the test specimen be representative of the production model. Tests carried out according to ISO 21015:2007 are intended to demonstrate the ability of the item to give satisfactory service in its intended environment. The tests have been developed for units/components that have not been in use. However, when properly justified, they can be used for fault investigation. Data are given for the design of seat loading pads and for the design of stability loading pad. ISO 21015:2007 does not give any product requirements. These can be specified in a requirements document. If this is not available, possible forces and cycles are suggested. These forces and cycles can be used for adults regardless of their weight and number of working hours. ISO 21015:2007 does not specify type approval tests for chair components. Assessment of ageing and degradation is not included. The tests are not intended to assess the durability of upholstery, i.e. filling materials and covers.

Mobilier de bureau — Sièges de travail de bureau — Méthodes d'essai pour la détermination de la stabilité, de la résistance et de la durabilité

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Jun-2007
• ICS: 97.140 - Furniture
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 136 - Furniture
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 136 - Furniture
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 21-Sep-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 4254-1:2013 - Agricultural machinery - Safety - Part 1: General requirements
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO 21015:2007 - "Office furniture - Office work chairs - Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability" defines standardized test methods to evaluate the mechanical performance of fully assembled office work chairs. The standard specifies how to apply forces that simulate normal use and foreseeable misuse, how to prepare specimens, what test apparatus and loading pads to use, and how to report results. Tests target chairs intended for adult users and are designed to be independent of materials, design or manufacturing process.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose
  • Tests are applied to fully assembled chairs and are valid only for the tested article (representative production models recommended).
  • Intended to demonstrate serviceability in the expected environment; useful for fault investigation when justified.
• Test categories
  • Stability tests (front, rear, sideways overturning)
  • Static-load tests (seat front-edge, combined seat/back, arm-rest loads, foot-rest)
  • Durability tests (cyclic loading to simulate repeated use)
• General test conditions
  • Preliminary preparation, ambient conditions (15–25 °C recommended), sequence of testing, inspection and assessment of results.
  • Tolerances for forces, masses, dimensions and angles are specified.
  • Forces can be applied by masses; force durations differ for static (10–15 s) and durability tests (~2 ± 1 s per cycle).
• Test apparatus & loading points
  • Detailed guidance on seat-loading pads, local loading pads, back-loading pads, stability-loading devices, castor durability surfaces, stops and straps.
  • Defined loading points (A–J) to locate applied forces.
  • Annex B and C provide normative data for seat-loading pad and stability-loading device design.
• Limitations
  • ISO 21015:2007 does not specify product performance limits, component type-approval, ageing/degradation assessment, or upholstery durability testing.
  • Forces/cycles suggested in Annex A are guidance only and not normative product requirements.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses it
  • Furniture manufacturers, test laboratories, quality assurance teams, ergonomic designers, procurement/specification authors and safety/compliance engineers.
• Why use it
  • Validate chair stability, strength and mechanical durability during product development and pre-production testing.
  • Provide objective test methods for QC, comparative testing and fault investigation.
  • Support procurement specifications by referencing standardized test procedures (while setting product-specific pass/fail criteria in separate requirements documents).

Related standards

• ISO 22880:2004 (castors and wheels requirements for swivel chairs) is a normative reference used by ISO 21015 for castor definitions and requirements.

Keywords: ISO 21015, office work chairs, chair testing, stability strength durability, seat-loading pad, durability tests, office furniture standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21015
First edition
2007-06-15
Office furniture — Office work chairs —
Test methods for the determination of
stability, strength and durability
Mobilier de bureau — Sièges de travail de bureau — Méthodes d'essai
pour la détermination de la stabilité, de la résistance et de la durabilité

Reference number
©
ISO 2007
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2007
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 2
4 General test conditions. 2
4.1 Preliminary preparation . 2
4.2 Test equipment . 3
4.3 Application of forces . 3
4.4 Tolerances . 3
4.5 Sequence of testing. 3
4.6 Inspection and assessment of results. 3
5 Test apparatus . 5
5.1 Test surface. 5
5.2 Stops . 5
5.3 Seat-loading pad. 5
5.4 Smaller seat-loading pad . 6
5.5 Local loading pad . 6
5.6 Back-loading pad. 6
5.7 Arm-rest durability test apparatus . 7
5.8 Strap. 8
5.9 Stability-loading device. 9
5.10 Loading discs. 9
5.11 Test surface for castor durability. 9
6 Loading points . 9
6.1 Loading point A. 9
6.2 Loading point B. 9
6.3 Loading point C. 9
6.4 Loading point D. 10
6.5 Loading point E. 10
6.6 Loading point F. 10
6.7 Loading point G . 10
6.8 Loading point H. 10
6.9 Loading point J . 10
7 Test methods. 11
7.1 Stability . 11
7.2 Static-load tests . 15
7.3 Durability tests . 17
8 Test report . 19
Annex A (informative) Guidance for the choice of forces, cycles, etc., for stability, strength and
durability tests — General principles . 20
Annex B (normative) Seat-loading pad data. 23
Annex C (normative) Stability-loading device data . 26

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 21015 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 136, Furniture.

iv © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 21015:2007(E)

Office furniture — Office work chairs — Test methods for the
determination of stability, strength and durability
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies test methods for determining the stability, strength and durability of office
work chairs. Guidance is given on the choice of forces, cycles, etc., for these tests.
The tests are designed to be applied to an article of furniture that is fully assembled and ready for use.
The dimensions in the tests are applicable to office work chairs intended for adult persons.
The tests consist of the application, to various parts of the item, of forces simulating normal functional use, as
well as misuse that can reasonably be expected to occur.
The tests are designed to evaluate properties without regard to materials, design/construction or
manufacturing processes.
The test results are valid only for the article tested. When the test results are intended to be applied to other
similar articles, it is important that the test specimen be representative of the production model.
Tests carried out according to this International Standard are intended to demonstrate the ability of the item to
give satisfactory service in its intended environment. The tests have been developed for units/components
that have not been in use. However, when properly justified, they can be used for fault investigation.
Data are given for the design of seat-loading pads (Annex B) and for the design of stability-loading pad
(Annex C).
This International Standard does not give any product requirements. These can be specified in a requirements
document. If this is not available, possible forces and cycles are suggested in Annex A (informative). These
forces and cycles can be used for adults regardless of their weight and number of working hours.
This International Standard does not specify type approval tests for chair components.
Assessment of ageing and degradation is not included. The tests are not intended to assess the durability of
upholstery, i.e. filling materials and covers.
2 Normative references
The following referenced document is indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references,
only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
ISO 22880:2004, Castors and wheels — Requirements for castors for swivel chairs
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
office work chair
piece of seating furniture for one person, with a back rest, with or without arm rests, whose upper part, which
includes the seat, can rotate in the horizontal plane and can be adjusted in height
NOTE Other adjustments may be included.
3.2
column
〈office work chair〉 component that connects the base and the seat structure
NOTE A column normally incorporates a seat-height adjustment and swivel mechanism.
3.3
locking device
device that inhibits the movement of the seat action and/or the back rest
3.4
arm-rest length
distance between vertical lines through its front and rear edges
NOTE In the case of an arm rest that is not horizontal or that is curved, the length is measured in a horizontal plane
20 mm below the highest point of the arm rest.
3.5
supporting point
castor or glide
NOTE There are two castor types as defined in ISO 22880:2004.
a) Type H: Castors with plain wheels defined as type H, hard tread. The wheel is one colour over the entire surface.
These castors are suitable for carpeted floors.
b) Type W: Castors with resilient tyred wheels defined as type W, soft tread. This is of clearly different colour to the
wheel centre. These castors are suitable for hard stone, wooden or tiled floors or those featuring non-
textiled covering.
4 General test conditions
4.1 Preliminary preparation
The unit shall be assembled and/or configured according to the instructions supplied with it. The most adverse
configuration shall be used for each test (see Table 1). For testing a range of related chair models, it is
necessary to test only the worst case(s). If mounting or assembly instructions are not supplied, the mounting
or assembly method shall be recorded in the test report. Fittings shall not be re-tightened unless specifically
required by the manufacturer. If it is necessary to change the configuration to produce the worst case
conditions, any re-tightening of the fittings shall be recorded in the test report.
Unless otherwise stated, all tests shall be carried out on the same sample.
The tests shall be carried out in indoor ambient conditions. If during a test the temperature is outside of the range
of 15 °C to 25 °C, the maximum and/or minimum temperature shall be recorded in the test report.
In the case of designs not addressed in the test procedures, the test shall be carried out as far as possible as
described, and deviations from the test procedure recorded in the test report.
2 © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

Before beginning the testing, visually inspect the unit thoroughly. Record any defects so that they are not
assumed to have been caused by the tests. Carry out measurements if specified.
4.2 Test equipment
Unless otherwise specified, the tests may be applied by any suitable device because results are dependent
only upon correctly applied forces and not on the apparatus.
The equipment shall not inhibit deformation nor cause unnatural deformation of the unit/component, i.e. it shall
be able to move so that it can follow the deformation of the unit/component during testing.
All loading pads shall be capable of pivoting in relation to the direction of the applied force. The pivot point
shall be as close as practically possible to the load surface.
4.3 Application of forces
The forces in the static-load tests shall be applied sufficiently slowly to ensure that negligible dynamic force is
applied. Each force shall be maintained for not less than 10 s and not more than 15 s.
The forces in durability tests shall be applied at a rate to ensure that excessive heating does not occur. Each
force shall be maintained for (2 ± 1) s.
The forces may be applied using masses.
4.4 Tolerances
Unless otherwise stated, the following tolerances are applicable:
a) Forces: ± 5 % of the nominal force;
b) Masses: ± 1 % of the nominal mass;
c) Dimensions: ± 5 mm of the nominal dimension on soft surfaces;
± 1 mm of the nominal dimension on all other surfaces;
d) Angles: ± 2° of the nominal angle.
The accuracy for the positioning of loading pads shall be ± 5 mm.
4.5 Sequence of testing
All applicable tests shall be carried out on the same sample and in the sequence that the clauses are
numbered in this International Standard.
4.6 Inspection and assessment of results
After completion of each test, inspect the unit again. Record any changes including the following:
a) fracture of any component or joint;
b) loosening, which can be demonstrated by hand pressure, of any joint intended to be rigid;
c) deformation or wear of any part or component such that its function is impaired;
d) loosening of any means of fixing components to the unit;
e) changes that can affect stability.
Table 1 — Positioning of chair components
Tilt
Seat Back rest Back rest Castors
Clause Test Seat Arm rest Foot rest
stiffness
height in height in depth and base
adjustment
7.1.1 Front edge highest foremost highest foremost maximum most likely most likely —
overturning position position position position tension to cause to cause
overturning overturning
7.1.2 Forwards overturning highest foremost highest foremost maximum most likely most likely —
position position position position tension to cause to cause
overturning overturning
7.1.3 Forwards overturning highest foremost lowest foremost maximum most likely most likely most likely
for chairs with foot position position position position tension to cause to cause to cause
rest overturning overturning overturning
7.1.4 Sideways overturning highest foremost highest foremost maximum most likely — —
for chairs without arm position position position position tension to cause
rests overturning
7.1.5 Sideways overturning highest foremost highest foremost maximum most likely most likely —
for chairs with arm position position position position tension to cause to cause
rests overturning overturning
7.1.6 Rearwards highest rearmost highest rearmost minimum most likely most likely —
overturning of chairs position position position position tension to cause to cause
without back-rest overturning overturning
inclination
7.1.7 Rearwards highest rearmost highest rearmost minimum most likely most likely —
overturning of chairs position position position position tension to cause to cause
with back-rest overturning overturning
inclination
7.2.1 Seat front-edge highest foremost — — — — — —
static-load test position position
7.2.2 Combined seat and highest most highest rearmost mid range least likely — —
back static-load test position adverse position position to cause
position overturning
7.2.3 Arm-rest downward lowest horizontal — — — — most likely —
static-load test – position to cause
central failure
7.2.4 Arm-rest downward lowest horizontal — — — — highest, —
static-load test – front position foremost
position
7.2.5 Arm-rest sideways lowest horizontal — — — — highest, —
static-load test position widest
position
7.2.6 — — — — — —
Foot-rest static-load least likely highest
test to cause position
overturning
7.3.1 Seat and back highest horizontal highest most likely mid range 90° to the — —
durability position and position to cause base arm
foremost failure
7.3.2 Arm-rest durability lowest horizontal — — maximum — highest, —
position tension widest
position
7.3.3 Swivel test highest horizontal, highest rearmost — — — —
position foremost position position
position
7.3.4 Foot-rest durability — — — — — least likely — lowest
to cause position
overturning
7.3.5 Castor and chair-base lowest horizontal — — — — — —
durability position
4 © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

5 Test apparatus
5.1 Test surface
The test surface shall be rigid, horizontal and flat.
5.2 Stops
Stops are devices to prevent the chair from sliding or rolling but not overturning, They shall be 3 mm high for
stability tests and 12 mm high for all other tests, except in cases where the design of the chair or the test
method necessitates the use of higher stops, in which case the lowest that prevents the chair from sliding or
rolling shall be used.
5.3 Seat-loading pad
The seat-loading pad is a naturalistically shaped rigid indenter with a hard, smooth surface (see Figure 1). In
principle, this loading pad is for use in loading points A (6.1) and C (6.3). See Figure 7. For details of the
design, see Annex B.
a
Loading point.
Figure 1 — Seat-loading pad
5.4 Smaller seat-loading pad
The smaller seat-loading pad is a rigid, circular object 200 mm in diameter, the face of which has a convex
spherical curvature of 300 mm radius with a 12 mm blend radius between the face and the side. (See
Figure 2). In principle, this loading pad shall be used in loading points D (6.4), G (6.7), F (6.6) and J (6.9). See
Figure 7.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 2 — Smaller seat-loading pad

5.5 Local loading pad
The local loading pad is a rigid, circular object 100 mm in diameter, with a flat face and a 12 mm blend radius
between the face and the side.
5.6 Back-loading pad
The back-loading pad is a rigid rectangular object 200 mm high and 250 mm wide, the face of which is curved
across the width of the pad with a convex cylindrical curvature of 450 mm radius and with a 12 mm blend
radius between the face and the sides. (See Figure 3).

6 © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 3 — Back-loading pad
5.7 Arm-rest durability test apparatus
An apparatus capable of applying a cyclic force simultaneously to both arm rests. The forces shall be applied
through an arm-rest loading device, which functions in principle as shown in Figure 4.
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
F loading point
Figure 4 — Arm-rest test principle
The apparatus shall be capable of applying the forces at varying angles to the vertical. It shall be adjustable
both vertically and horizontally and set as specified in 7.3.2. The apparatus shall be capable of freely following
the deformation of the arm rests during testing (see Figure 5). The length of the loading pad shall be 100 mm
with the force acting through the centre of its length.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 5 — Example of arm-rest loading pad

5.8 Strap
A 50 mm wide strap capable of bearing a mass as specified in 7.1.1 and Annex A.
8 © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved
...