Bsi bs en 00581 2 2015 (2016)

BS EN 581-2:2015
Incorporating corrigendum July 2016

BSI Standards Publication

Outdoor furniture — Seating
and tables for camping,
domestic and contract use
Part 2: Mechanical safety requirements and
test methods for seating


BS EN 581-2:2015

BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 581-2:2015,
incorporating corrigendum July 2016. It supersedes BS EN 581-2:2009
which is withdrawn.
The start and finish of text introduced or altered by corrigendum is
indicated in the text by tags. Text altered by CEN corrigendum July
2016 is indicated in the text by ˆ‰.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical
Committee FW/0, Furniture, to Subcommittee FW/0/2, Domestic and
Contract Furniture.
A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.

© The British Standards Institution 2016.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2016
ISBN 978 0 580 95272 2
ICS 97.140; 97.200.30
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 November 2015.
Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication
Date

Text affected

31 August 2016 Implementation of CEN corrigendum July 2016


EN 581-2

EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

November 2015

ICS 97.140; 97.200.30

Supersedes EN 581-2:2009
Incorporating corrigendum July 2016

English Version

Outdoor furniture - Seating and tables for camping,
domestic and contract use - Part 2: Mechanical safety
requirements and test methods for seating
Mobilier d'extérieur - Sièges et tables à usages
domestique, collectif et de camping - Partie 2:
Exigences de sécurité, de résistance et de durabilité
pour les sièges

Aenmưbel - Sitzmưbel und Tische für den Camping-,
Wohn- und Objektbereich - Teil 2: Mechanische
Sicherheitsanforderungen und Prüfverfahren für
Sitzmöbel

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 12 September 2015.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CEN

All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Ref. No. EN 581-2:2015 E


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Contents

Page

European foreword....................................................................................................................................................... 3
1

Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 4

2

Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 4

3

Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 4

4

Testing................................................................................................................................................................. 5

5

Test equipment ................................................................................................................................................ 5

6
6.1
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2

Safety, strength and durability requirements for loungers............................................................. 5
General ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Stability, strength and durability .............................................................................................................. 5
Test sequence and parameters .................................................................................................................. 5
Requirements ................................................................................................................................................... 6

7
7.1
7.2
7.2.1
7.2.2

Safety, strength and durability requirements for other seating .................................................... 7
General ................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Stability, strength and durability .............................................................................................................. 7
Test sequence and parameters .................................................................................................................. 7

Requirements ................................................................................................................................................... 8

8
8.1
8.2

Information for use ........................................................................................................................................ 8
General ................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Marking for loungers ..................................................................................................................................... 8

9

Test report ......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Annex A (normative) Forward and sideways stability tests for loungers ............................................ 10
A.1

Test procedure .............................................................................................................................................. 10

Annex B (informative) Purchase information (guidelines) ....................................................................... 12

2


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

European foreword
This document (EN 581-2:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 207 “Furniture”,
the secretariat of which is held by UNI.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2016, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by May 2016.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
This document supersedes EN 581-2:2009.

Compared to the current version, the main modifications are:

— new requirements for tests, and loungers are no longer in an annex but in the standard, which is a
simplification of the standard (requirements and clauses harmonized with the Clause 7 of the
standard);
— a simplification of chapters has been made: test equipment;

— a modification of reference (EN 1728:2012) has been made.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

3


BS EN 581-2:2015

EN 581-2:2015 (E)

1 Scope
This European Standard specifies the minimum requirements for the safety, strength and durability of
all types of outdoor seating for adults, without regard to materials, design/construction or
manufacturing processes.
It does not apply to street furniture.

It does not apply to removable upholstery and covering.

It does not include requirements for the durability of castors/wheels and height adjustment
mechanisms.
It does not include requirements for electrical safety.

It does not include requirements for the resistance to ageing and degradation caused by light,
temperature and moisture.

The test requirements contained within this standard are based on use by persons weighing up to 110
kg.

2 Normative references

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

EN 581-1, Outdoor furniture — Seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use — Part 1:
General safety requirements
EN 1022:2005, Domestic furniture — Seating — Determination of stability

EN 1728:2012, Furniture — Seating — Test methods for the determination of strength and durability

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
outdoor seating for contract use
outdoor seating intended for non-private use in places with public access

3.2
outdoor seating for domestic use
outdoor seating intended for private use in places use without public access

3.3
outdoor seating for camping use
outdoor seating foldable or knock-down and light-weight, intended for use in connection with camping
and travelling
3.4
lounger
seating intended for reclined posture with at least one backrest position with an “teta angle” between 0°
and 45° and a leg rest which is integral part of the product and which is intended to support the full
body weight of a user
Note 1 to entry:

4

Figure 1 shows teta angle in lounger.


BS EN 581-2:2015

EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Key
θ

teta anfla

Figure 1 — Teta angle in lounger

3.5
street furniture
outdoor furniture use in public space, permanently fixed to the ground or any structure (e.g. bus stop,
wall…) or not able to be manually removed

4 Testing

Testing shall be carried out as specified in EN 1728 and EN 1022.

With the exception of seating with a seat and back made of one piece of flexible material (e.g. textile),
attached at the upper and lower edges only, seat and back loading points shall be determined according
to EN 1728.

For seating with a seat and back made of one piece of flexible material (e.g. textile), attached at the
upper and lower edges only, the loading point shall be the lowest point when a rolling cylinder (Clause
5) is placed in the seating.

5 Test equipment

In derogation to EN 1728 and EN 1022, the loading position template for seating with seat and back
made of one suspended or hanging piece of flexible material (e.g. textile) shall be a cylinder with a mass

of (1 ± 0,5) kg and a diameter of (70 ± 10) mm.

Axis of the cylinder shall be perpendicular to the median plane of the seat. Let the cylinder roll from the
higher part of the top front of the flexible part. Where the cylinder stops the seat load shall be applied.
NOTE

A suitable length of the cylinder is 200 mm.

6 Safety, strength and durability requirements for loungers
6.1 General
Before and after the strength, durability and stability tests are carried out, the EN 581-1 requirements
shall be fulfilled.

6.2 Stability, strength and durability
6.2.1 Test sequence and parameters

The lounger shall be tested following the order listed in Table 1.
5


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Table 1 — Test sequence and test parameters for loungers
Test

References

Test parameters

1. Seat and back static load test a

EN 1728:2012, 8.2

ˆ 2. Additional seat and leg
rest static load test

EN 1728:2012, 8.3

3. Seat and back durability test

EN 1728:2012, 8.4.1

4. Additional seat durability test

EN 1728:2012, 8.4.2

ˆ 6. Arm rest static load test

EN 1728:2012, 8.6

Vertical specified Force, N
Cycles

8. Impact test

EN 1728:2012, 8.8

Drop height, mm

5. Durability test on back rest EN 1728:2012, 8.5
mechanism

7. Arm rest durability test

9. Lifting
loungers

test

for

10. Forward stability

mobile EN 1728:2012, 8.9

c, d

11. Rearward stability

EN 1728:2012, 8.7

c

12. Sideways stability c, d

A.1.2

Specified seat load, N
Specified backrest load, N

Minimum specified force F2 (back), N
Cycles
Additional cycle 30 min ± 10 s

Camping

Domestic

750
600
10

750
900
10

1 100
10
1

Seat load on loading point, N
Force applied on D-E point, N
Cycles

Additional cycle 30 min ± 10 s

1

1 600
410

360
10
1

1

Contract
2 000
560
500
10
1

750
900
10
1‰

Specified seat load, N
Specified backrest load, N
Minimum specified force F4 (back), N
Cycles

750
250
220
12 500

1 000
333

300
25 000

1 000
333
300
50 000

Specified force, N
Seat load, N
Cycles

190
1 000
5 000

250
1 000
10 000

250
1 000
20 000

Specified force, N
Cycles

750
5 000

10

1 000
10 000

700
10

1 000
20 000

900 b
10 ‰

Specified force, N
Cycles

400
5 000

400
10 000

400
30 000

Load, N

1 000

1 000

1 000

Cycles

Cycles

140
10

500

180
10

1 000

240
10

2 000

EN 1022:2005, 6.6 for upright position and 7.5 for most reclined position
A.1.1

If seat and back are of one piece of flexible material (e.g. textile), only the tests on seat shall be carried out.
If armrest is less than 15 mm wide, carry out test with 700 N.
c
In the case of seating which might not fulfil the stability requirements before carrying out any tests, the applicable stability tests may be carried out

before starting the sequence of tests specified in this table.
d
This test is not applicable for seating with a seat height < 200 mm and a mass < 5 kg. The height shall be determined by measuring from the floor to
the upper seating area on the geometrical centre of the unloaded seat.
a

b

6.2.2 Requirements
The safety, strength and durability requirements are fulfilled after testing in accordance with Table 1
when:
a) there are no fractures of any joint, member or component,
b) there is no loosening of joints intended to be rigid,

c) the lounger fulfils its function after removal of the test loads,

d) the product shall not overturn when subjected to the stability tests.
6


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

7 Safety, strength and durability requirements for other seating
7.1 General
Before and after the strength, durability and stability tests are carried out, the requirements of EN 5811 shall be fulfilled.

7.2 Stability, strength and durability
7.2.1 Test sequence and parameters

The seating shall be tested for strength, durability and stability following the order listed in Table 2.
Table 2 — Test sequence and test parameters for other seating

Test

Reference

1. Seat static load and back static EN 1728:2012, 6.4
load test a

2. Seat front edge static load

EN 1728:2012, 6.5

3. combined Seat and back EN 1728:2012, 6.17
durability test a

4. Durability test on seating with EN 1728:2012, 6.19
a multi-position back rest
ˆ 5. Arm rest static load test
6. Arm rest durability test

7. Leg forward static load test

EN 1728:2012, 6.11

EN 1728:2012, 6.20
EN 1728:2012, 6.15

8. Leg sideways static load test

EN 1728:2012, 6.16

9. Seat impact test c

EN 1728:2012, 6.24

10. Foot rest static test d

EN 1728:2012, 6.8

11. Forward stability e, f

EN 1022

13. Sideways stability

EN 1022

12. Rearward stability

f

e, f

Test parameters

Specified seat load, N

Load applied on seat not being tested, N

Specified backrest load, N

Minimum specified force F2 (back), N
Cycles

Additional cycle 30 min ± 10 s

Camping

Domestic

Contract

750

750

750

1 100
-

10
1

1 600
410
360
10
1

2 000
560
500
10
1

Specified force, N

1 100

1 300

1 300

Specified seat load, N

1 000

1 000

1 000

220

300

Seat load, N
Cycles

Seat load, N

Specified backrest load, N

Minimum specified force F4 (back), N
Cycles

Seat load, N

Specified force, N
Cycles

Vertical specified Force, N
Cycles

Specified force, N
Cycles

Seat load, N

Horizontal specified forces, N
Minimum specified force, N
Cycles

Seat load, N

Horizontal specified forces, N
Minimum specified force, N
Cycles

Drop height, mm
Cycles

Vertical specified force, N
Cycles

750
10

750
250

750
10

750
333

12 500

25 000

190

250

750

5 000
10

400

750

10 000
700
10

400

750
10

750
333
300

50 000
750
250

20 000

900 b
10‰

400

5 000

10 000

30 000

250

300

400

750
150
10

750
200
150
10

1 000
175
10

1 000
300
175
10

1 000

250
10

1 000
300
200
10

140

180

240

-

1 000

1 200

10
10

10
10

10
10

EN 1022

7


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Test

Reference

Test parameters
Camping

Domestic

Contract

If seat and back are of one piece of flexible material (e.g. textile), only the tests on seat shall be carried out.
If armrest is less than 15 mm wide, carry out test with 700 N for contract use.
c
The application point shall be at least 100 mm from the front edge. This test shall not be carried out on seating with a seat height > 600 mm.
d
This test is carried out only on seating with a seat height > 700 mm.
e
This test is not applicable for seating with a seat height < 200 mm and a mass < 5 kg. The height shall be determined by measuring from the floor
to the upper seating area on the geometrical centre of the unload seat.
f
In the case of seating which might not fulfil the stability requirements before carrying out any tests, the applicable stability tests may be carried
out before starting the sequence of tests specified in this table.

a

b

7.2.2 Requirements

The safety, strength and durability requirements are fulfilled after testing in accordance with Table 2
when:
a) there are no fractures of any joint, member or component,
b) there is no loosening of joints intended to be rigid,

c) the seating fulfils its function after removal of the test loads,
d) the seating fulfils the safety requirements,

e) the product shall not overturn when subjected to the stability tests.

8 Information for use
8.1 General

Instruction for use shall be provided in the language(s) of the country where the seating are sold. These
instructions shall be headed "IMPORTANT, RETAIN FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: READ CAREFULLY" in
letters no less than 5 mm high, unless if the following information are permanently marked on the
product.
It shall contain at least the following details:

a) name and address of the manufacturer/supplier/retailer;

b) conditions for use of the product (domestic, camping or contract).
If applicable:

c) assembly instructions;

d) instructions for the care and maintenance of the seating;

e) if the seating is fitted with seat height adjustments with energy accumulators, an additional note is
required pointing out that only trained personnel may replace or repair seat height adjustment
components with energy accumulators.

8.2 Marking for loungers

Loungers equipped with wheels, but not intended to be lifted and moved with a person in it shall be
permanently marked with the pictogram as shown in Figure 2. The smallest dimension of the pictogram
shall not be less than 25 mm.
8


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Figure 2 — Pictogram

9 Test report
The test report shall include at least the following information:
a) reference to this part of the European Standard;
b) details of piece of furniture tested;

c) use of the product (Camping, Domestic or Contract);
d) any defects observed before testing;

e) the test results according to the applicable clauses;

f)

compliance with the requirements;

g) the name and address of the test facility;
h) the date of test.

9


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Annex A
(normative)

Forward and sideways stability tests for loungers
A.1 Test procedure
A.1.1 Sideways stability
The seat loading points shall be on a line 60 mm from the side edge and the first point shall be 300 mm
from the front edge. The following loading points shall be placed at least 600 mm apart from each other
and at least 300 mm from an armrest or the rear edge of the lounger. See Figure A.1.

The forces shall be applied using the loading pad defined in EN 1022:2005, 4.2.

If the arm rest is more than 400 mm in length apply additional vertical force FB.2 in the centre of it.

Apply simultaneously the downwards forces FB.1 on seat as specified in Table A.1 and the load on the
arm rest (see Figure A.1).
Maintain forces for 5 s.

Dimensions in millimetres

a) Lounger with arm rest

b) Lounger without arm rest
Figure A.1 — Example of application points for sideway stability

10


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

A.1.2 Forward stability
Apply the downwards force FB.3 as specified in Table A.1 (see Figure A.2). Apply a force FB.4 horizontally
outwards. Maintain both forces for at least 5 s.
Dimensions in millimetres

Key
L

length of the lounger

Figure A.2 — Forward stability
Table A.1 — Forces value
Force name

Force value
N

FB.1

600

FB.3

600

FB.2
ˆ FB.4

250
20‰

11


BS EN 581-2:2015
EN 581-2:2015 (E)

Annex B
(informative)

Purchase information (guidelines)

To allow the consumer to select a product that will be suitable for the intended use prior to purchase,
purchase information should be available without the need to open any package. This should include:
— identification of the product;

— product characteristics such as dimensions, storage information, maintenance, etc.;

— conditions for use of the product (camping, domestic or contract).

12


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