> Could you tell us about standards for office chairs? Are they compulsory standards?
In Europe there are European standards for office chairs. A few years ago these standards took over from national standards and have been unified.
For office work chairs (swivelling) the standards are called EN-1335 :
EN 1335 1st part concerns Dimensions
EN 1335 2nd part concerns Safety Requirements
EN 1335 3rd part concerns durability trials
As regards Visitor chairs the corresponding standard is the EN 13761 that encompasses at the same time Dimensions, safety requirements and test methods.
Standards with regard to office chairs are to be considered as advice. They are not compulsory standards as for household appliance or the use of helmets when riding a motorbike for example.
Yet, when products comply with standards, this proves that the manufacturer has taken into account criteria concerning dimensions, safety and the durability of the products.
On the contrary, there does exist compulsory European Directives. It is the 90/270 CEE Directive concerning security and health minimal prescriptions related to computer work.
This law states that computer users must have chairs providing them a total freedom of movements (thus they must be swivelling chairs). It must be possible for the user to adjust the height of the seat, and the height and depth of the backrest. Besides, users who require a footrest should be granted one.
Any employer must respect this Directive on pain of punishment by the Inspectors of Work. Therefore fixed and four legged chairs and other kinds of chairs must be banned for computer work.
