Furniture EU CE Certification Testing

What are the general testing standards and items for furniture EU CE certification? With the continuous development of trade with Europe, more furniture products are being exported to the EU, such as sofas, coffee tables, shoe cabinets, coat racks, beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, dining tables, dining chairs, washbasins, bathtubs, bookshelves, desks and chairs, etc. Manufacturers or exporters of furniture know that CE certification is required for exporting furniture to the EU, as it falls within the mandatory certification scope of EU CE.

Furniture CE Certification Involves the Following Directives:

1. General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): This directive applies to consumer products that are not subject to specific directives, such as children's care products, bicycles, sports equipment, and lighters. It requires fire resistance standards for upholstered furniture.

- Outdoor Furniture: Chairs and tables used for camping, home use, and rental, including general safety regulations (referencing European Standard EN581).

- Furniture - Folding Beds: Safety regulations and testing, including safety standards (referencing European Standard EN1129-1:1995) and testing methods (referencing European Standard EN1129).

- Furniture - Household Cribs and Bassinets: Involves safety regulations (referencing European Standard EN1130-1:1996) and testing methods (referencing European Standard EN1130).

2. Construction Products Regulation (CPR): This includes regulations on the formaldehyde content in wooden boards used in furniture products.

- CPR Overview: The Construction Products Regulation (305/2011/EU) was issued by the EU on March 9, 2011, and will become mandatory from July 2013, replacing the old Construction Products Directive (CPD 89/106/EEC).

3. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): This directive and its amendments regulate limited substances that may be present in paints and other materials used in furniture.

4. REACH Regulation: This regulation standardizes the chemical elements used in furniture products.

CE Certification: Primarily concerns product safety and quality standards, ensuring that products do not pose direct or indirect harm to humans, animals, or goods. It aims to protect the rights of EU consumers and serves as a market entry mark in Europe.

REACH Certification: Focuses on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals. Its purpose is to protect human health and environmental safety, promoting the safe use and management of chemicals in Europe.

Furniture products must comply with REACH regulations, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) regulations, biocide regulations, restrictions on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and odor testing, among others. EU furniture products are required to comply with all relevant legal requirements, and laboratories must use appropriate methods for chemical testing based on actual conditions.

Different materials used in the production of furniture products have varying chemical compositions, thus necessitating the testing of specific chemicals based on the product materials.

Common Furniture Testing Standards:

- EN 1116-2004: Coordinated dimensions for kitchen furniture and utensils.

- EN 13722-2004: Assessment of surface gloss for furniture.

- EN 14074-2004: Strength and durability of office furniture, tables, and storage furniture, and movable parts.

- EN 14073-2-2004: Safety requirements for office furniture and storage furniture.

- EN 13453-2-2004: Test methods for furniture, non-household bunk beds, and high beds.

- EN 13336-2004: Characteristics of leather and decorative leather; selection guidelines for leather used in furniture.

- EN 13721-2004: Assessment of surface reflectivity of furniture.

- EN 14465-2004: Specifications and test methods for textiles and decorative fabrics for furniture.

- EN 1725-1998: Safety requirements and test methods for furniture, beds, and mattresses.

- EN 1023-1-1997: Office furniture and shield dimensions.

- EN 1130-1-1997: Safety requirements for furniture, household frame-like items, and cradles.

- EN 581-1-1997: General safety requirements for outdoor furniture, camping, home use, and custom-made seating and tables.

- EN 597-1-1995: Flammability assessment for furniture, mattresses, and decorative bedding. Fire source: smoldering cigarettes.

- EN 747-1-1993: Safety requirements for furniture and furniture beds.

- EN 49-1-1992: Wood preservatives. Determination of resistance to wood-boring insects using the egg-laying and larval survival method.

- EN 49-2-1992: Wood preservatives. Determination of resistance to wood-boring insects using the egg-laying and larval survival method.

 CE Certification cost

Furniture CE Certification Testing Items:

- Chemical Testing: Tests for lead content in paints, azo dyes, pentachlorophenol content, biocide content, formaldehyde content, and heavy metals (lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, etc.).

- Other Tests: Strength, five-claw static pressure, stability, tilt mechanism, armrest strength, seat/back fatigue, rotating footrest fatigue, impact, drop, drawer fatigue, horizontal static load, vertical static load, etc.