New rules

Testing requirements for beds have changed.

Bed designers and manufacturers often turn to SATRA for assistance during the design and product-proving process. Before new beds are released onto the market, designers and manufacturers are likely to be interested in the safety, strength and durability of the prototype product and how it performs during simulated use.

To supply such information, SATRA has for many years tested to the original EN 1725 standard for ‘Domestic furniture. Beds and mattresses. Safety requirements and test methods’, which was published in 1998 – 25 years ago.

Since then, there have been technical discussions about updating and improving this standard, and an updated version was published in December. EN 1725:2023 ‘Furniture – Beds – Requirements for safety, strength and durability’ covers all adult beds (including beds that fold away), but not medical beds, high beds or bunk beds, which are covered by their own specific standards.

The main differences from the 1998 version are: the introduction of requirements for non-domestic use, to establish whether the product is fit for use in locations such as hotels and B&Bs; the inclusion of requirements for guest beds that are to be used on an occasional basis – for example, folding beds or a trundle bed which is stored underneath the main bed when not in use; the introduction of test methods covering the durability of electrically operated bed mechanisms. This will utilise a test dummy of 110kg, with which the bed will be tested for 5,000 cycles from its initial position to its second position and back to the start; test methods that apply horizontal loads and forces, including testing of headboards attached to the main bedframe have also been introduced; there are more in-depth safety requirements: the new standard specifies edges should not be sharp and be free from burrs. In addition, where there are holes in tubular and rigid components, emphasis is now placed on potential shear and compression points. The standard also covers entanglement hazards such as pulls, cords and similar.

Monofilament threads are not to be used; the additional durability testing of mechanisms for lifting bed bases and sofa-bed functions and the introduction of information on the product’s usage, care and maintenance, as well as (where applicable) assembly instructions and information on size and maximum weight of the recommendation mattress.

The revised standard is now more comprehensive, factoring in more stresses applied in the tests and expanding the scope of the standard to cover products not previously covered. SATRA will soon be offering testing to this new standard as part of the suite of furniture and flammability testing available to its customers.

Subscribe

And receive a glossy copy of our magazine straight to your door