CMD recognised for their ergonomics excellence

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FIRA International have recognised CMD with an Ergonomics Excellence Award for their ‘Reach Spring Assisted Monitor Arm’. The Ergonomics Excellence Award identifies genuine ergonomic excellence across workplace and domestic furniture products.

To achieve the ergonomics award products are independently assessed by FIRA’s ergonomics department for ergonomic qualities; ergonomic design; whether the product is ergonomically and structurally fit for purpose; level of comfort and wellbeing for the user; compliance with relevant health and safety regulations; and ensuring the manufacturer has high quality standards and a good environmental policy.

Being spring assisted, the monitor arm’s tilt and position can be adjusted with little or no effort, allowing for numerous viewing angles and distances. Height adjustments result in the monitor arm being suitable for the sitting height of 5th to 95th percentile people. Whilst horizontal adjustments allow for a range of comfortable eye to monitor distances.

Speaking on the award, Levent Caglar, Head of Ergonomics at FIRA International, said “The team were very impressed with the assessment of CMD’s Reach Spring Assisted Monitor Arm. The range of movements, coupled with the ease of movement, make this a very ergonomically sound product. It’s vital for well-being that screen users can easily move the position of monitors to suit their tasks, and the spring assisted monitor arm gives this ability.

“As well as holding excellent ergonomic credentials, the arm also offers quality assurance; CMD hold ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management systems) and the arm is manufactured from recycled aluminium (42%), steel (32%) and plastic (5%).”

As part of the full criteria of Ergonomics Excellence, FIRA International also confirmed that the Reach Spring Assisted Monitor Arm had also met the applicable requirements of ‘BS EN ISO 9241-5:1999 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs). Workstation layout and postural requirements’. It also successfully fulfilled the ‘Level Severe’ requirements of FIRA’s structural integrity and durability test (PP 0045:2003).

The monitor arm joins over 21 products with a FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award, including task seating, desking, computer accessories, mattresses and garden furniture.

Designers or manufacturers across the furniture supply chain who are keen to understand the ergonomic effectiveness of their products should email info@fira.co.uk, call +44 (0)1438 777 700 or visit www.fira.co.uk/ergonomics – which also includes a list of all current excellence holders.

Government’s Latest PRODCOM Data Confirm Furniture Manufacturing’s Strong 2016 Performance

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Latest statistics on the production of manufactured goods reveal that the UK furniture industry continued to grow despite a comparatively difficult business environment and increasing competition from overseas.

Whilst the total turnover data for 2016 remain provisional, they are not anticipated to change significantly by the time that they are eventually confirmed this time next year. Time series data show that all sub sectors experienced a downturn as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. However, unlike some other industries, recovery was almost immediate. The brakes were put on the decline from 2009 to 2012 after which total furniture manufacturing turnover increased by 29% from £7.1 billion to a provisional £9.2 billion in just 4 years.

If you wish to become a member of the Furniture Industry Research Association to view this data, and other key resources, you can learn more about membership here. Or alternatively contact the team on +44 (0)1438 777 700, or email membership@fira.co.uk

EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) Guidelines for Textiles

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The Furniture Industry Research Association has published advice for members on how to be compliant with the new EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) guidelines for textiles, which were launched earlier this month.

The EU GPP criteria exist to facilitate the inclusion of green requirements in public tender documents. The criteria aims to reach a balance between environmental performance, cost considerations, market availability and ease of verification. Tender documents may include all or some of the GPP guidelines, depending on the specific requirements of the tender.

FIRA Members can download the guidance, which includes an introduction to the guidelines, scope and criteria of the guidelines, alongside compliance and assessment criteria from here: https://www.fira.co.uk/news/article/eu-green-public-procurement-gpp-guidelines-for-textiles

If you wish to become a member of the Furniture Industry Research Association to view this document, and other key resources, you can learn more about membership here. Or alternatively contact the team on +44 (0)1438 777 700, or email membership@fira.co.uk

FIRA International Continue to Recognise Ergonomic Excellence

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Humanscale’s new range of ‘Trea’ chairs has received FIRA International’s Ergonomic Excellence Award, which recognises companies who design and manufacture ergonomically outstanding products.
The award identifies genuine ergonomic excellence in both domestic and workplace furniture products; clearly distinguishing those that are outstanding from other products in the marketplace which do not meet this stringent criteria.

To achieve the award, products are independently assessed by FIRA’s ergonomics department for ergonomic qualities; ergonomic design; whether the product is ergonomically and structurally fit for purpose; level of comfort and wellbeing for the user; compliance with relevant health and safety regulations; and ensuring the manufacturer has high quality standards and a good environmental policy.

All five chairs in the range have been recognised and comprise one chair with a cantilever base, two chairs with a star base (one on castors and one on glides) and two square based chairs (one on castors and one on glides).

Speaking on the Trea range, Levent Caglar, Senior Ergonomist at FIRA International, said “whilst the bases on the Trea chairs may differ, the fundamental ergonomic design of the seat remains constant. And this was why we have awarded Ergonomic Excellence to the full range.

“Our assessment found that participants who trialled each of the Trea chairs liked the comfort they provided. The curved shell of each of the chair backs was found to support and comfort the curves of the user, with particular support given to the lumbar. The chair range also has a backrest which reclines to follow the natural point of rotation in the hip whilst cradling the user’s lumbar. These were standout reasons for the award, alongside green credentials of the range”.

The Trea range joins over 20 products with a FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award, including mattresses, garden furniture, desks, IT accessories, task seating and storage holders.

Designers or manufacturers across the furniture supply chain who are keen to understand the ergonomic effectiveness of their products, or interested in working with FIRA to develop new best practice standards should info@fira.co.uk, call +44 (0)1438 777 700 or visit www.fira.co.uk/ergonomics – which also includes a list of all current excellence holders.

Consultation on Withdrawal of Level 3 Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors Apprenticeship – Closes 5th April 2017

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The Government are working through a planned withdrawal of apprenticeship frameworks over the course of the parliament as employers move from old frameworks to the new Apprenticeship Standards. The Skills Funding Agency have released a notification that the Level 3 Furniture Apprenticeship Framework will be withdrawn on 1st April 2018. The Furniture Trailblazer Group have submitted a proposal to develop a replacement standard but are having some difficulties in getting approval.

As a replacement standard won’t be in place until September 2018 at the earliest we are urging employers to appeal against the planned withdrawal by completing a short online questionnaire. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete.

Full details of the consultation can be accessed on the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-of-apprenticeship-frameworks

The online questionnaire can be accessed here: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/5ZPXL

New Office Furniture Standard Published

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FIRA can announce that a new International Standard for assessing office seating has been published: BS ISO 24496:2017 Office furniture — Office chairs — Methods for the determination of dimensions.

The standard has been in development for some time and features a new assessment dummy (chair measurement device, or CMD) which is used to assist in the measurement of office chairs and their features. The standard is a test method standard and does not have any requirements. As an International Standard (ISO) this standard may not be implemented in all European countries, unlike Europe Standards (EN). It is hoped, however, that this standard will be referenced by standards that define chair dimension, such as EN 1335-1, when it becomes due for revision.

For more information contact FIRA on 01438 777700 or email info@fira.co.uk

​Supporting All Your Furniture Testing Needs

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Product and furniture testing provides reassurance to you and your customers, not only for meeting mandatory safety requirements, but as an insight into performance and durability.

FIRA International’s UKAS-accredited laboratory carries out testing which simulates real-life use and foreseeable misuse for all types of furniture and related products for both the domestic and contract markets.

The testing team has been bolstered through the addition of a new Account Manager, Laura Winch, who is available to support you in all your furniture testing needs.

Laura can advise on all furniture testing services including:

Flammability and physical performance tests
Safety, strength and durability testing on finished products
Performance tests on adhesives and boards
Bespoke testing services
Development of new test methods
Assessment of instructions and flat pack assembly
Dimensional assessment against ergonomic standards

To discuss your furniture testing needs contact Laura by email, lwinch@fira.co.uk or call 01438 777 615.

Don’t forget that full FIRA members receive Voucher Credits which can be redeemed against testing services. Find out more about membership at www.fira.co.uk/membership

Insights into the Furniture Industry Research Association

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The Furniture Industry Research Association has released their latest ‘Annual Review’, which is a consolidation of much of the work undertaken by the Research Association over the past 12 months.

The Review details new projects undertaken by the Association, including how the furniture industry can play its part in moving towards a circular economy; details of a new Flammability Due Diligence scheme; and new ergonomics research focused on mattresses.

The Review’s facts and figures section offers a summary of the recently released ‘Statistics Digest for the UK Furniture Industry’, highlighting how the furniture industry has seen an increase in turnover by 7.1% to £8 billion, whilst emphasising caution towards a continuing increase in imports.

There are two pages dedicated to standards which impact the industry, giving detailed information on 20 new standards which have been recently published and confirmed, alongside updates on numerous standards which are currently in the review and development stages.

All members of the Furniture Industry Research Association will receive a copy of the Review as part of their membership, however an online version can be viewed here – https://www.fira.co.uk/images/FIRA-2016-Annual-Review.pdf