What are the Top 6 On-site Testings During Outdoor Furniture Inspection

For many people, outdoor furniture is essential. Outdoor chairs and tables need to meet different quality standards than indoor chairs and tables. This is because outdoor furniture items must be able to withstand outdoor elements while maintaining their visual and structural integrity.

By following internationally recognized standards when conducting outdoor furniture inspections, you can help ensure that your products are resistant to the sun, wind, and rain.

Definition of Outdoor Furniture

Generally, outdoor furniture is divided into Outdoor furniture for Contract use and Outdoor furniture for Domestic use. (According to standard BS EN581-1, -2, -3)

a. Outdoor furniture for Contract use

Outdoor furniture for Contract used in public places such as restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, tourist resorts, and other places. due to it is public furniture, it has high-pressure resistance requirements.

b. Outdoor furniture for Domestic use

Outdoor furniture for Domestic use in private occasions, such as home gardens, balconies, and terraces.

c. Outdoor furniture for Camping use

Outdoor furniture for Campling use will be easy to carry, foldable, disassembled, lightweight structure, used for camping or traveling. For example, fishing chair, beach chair, etc.,

Top 6 On-site Testings in Outdoor Furniture Inspection

1. Assembly check (according to instruction manual)

2. Static Loading check:

• -For camping chair: 110 kgs on seat last for 1 hour
• -For domestic chair: 160 kgs on seat last for 1 hour
• -For camping table: 50kgs;
• -For the domestic table: 75kgs (force applied on the center of the table)

If the length is more than 160cm, two forces applied on the longitudinal axis of the tabletop with a distance of 40cm on either side of the transversal axis.

3. Impact check for Chair

-Procedure: Free drop 25kgs load from XXcm height for 10 times,

-To check if any deformation and breakage were found on the chair.

For the static loading check and impact check, it is required that after the test is completed, the product must not have any problems that affect the use, function, and safety, and it is acceptable to have a slight deformation without affecting the use and function.

4. Outdoor Furniture For the child

Loading and impact check with the half weight of an adult, if the claimed max weight is heavier than half of the adult, the inspector will use claimed max weight for the check.

In the on-site testing of furniture inspection, the sample size is usually 5pcs, if multiple models are inspected at the same time, the sample size can be appropriately reduced, 2 samples per item at least

5. Moisture content check

A moisture test measures the amount of water in samples, Usually, wood for structure has a moisture content of 19 percent. Moisture above this level can cause the wood to warp or shrink after installation. As the wood dries, the moisture level settles between 7 and 14 percent. that’s also the moisture requirements for the wood structure products.

The moisture test is typically conducted at an exterior wall and consists of a moisture meter and a probe,

6. Coating adhesive check by 3M tape

For coatings to perform satisfactorily, they must adhere to the substrates on which they are applied. A variety of recognized methods can be used to determine how well a coating is bonded to the substrate. Commonly used measuring techniques are performed with a knife or with a 3M Tape pull-off adhesion tester.

Mechanical Safety Requirements and Test Method For Seating and Table

A. Outdoor Furniture Stability Check (For Europe)

Stability test under vertical load: The vertical force F shall be applied to the side where the load is most likely to cause overturning, as far away from the supports as possible, and at a point 50mm from the outer edge of the tabletop.

-Measure the largest dimension of the tabletop (L)

-Use this dimension, determine the force F per table as below:

-Apply the force F to the side where the load is most likely to cause overturning, as far away from the supports as possible, and at a point 50mm from the outer edge of the tabletop

-Table shall not overturn

Note: For rectangular tables, the largest dimension to consider is the length, not the diagonal.

B. Outdoor Furniture Static Loading Check (For Europe & USA)

-Load the table with the weight as below

• For Campling use: 500N
• For Comestic use: 750N
• For Contract use: 1000N

-The application points are as below:

1) For a table top length L<=1600mm at the geometric center point of the table

2) For a table top length L>1600mm, at 2 points positioned on the longitudinal axis of the table top with 400mm on either side of the transversal axis

-Hold for one hour
-Collapse, damage, and loose structure

C. Outdoor Furniture – Chair Seat Strength and Durability

a. Seat Strength test –

Apply a downward force of F1 for a number of cycles N1 at the seat loading position

b. Sear Durability test –

Apply a downward force of F2 for a number of cycles N2 at the seat loading position at a rate of approximately 15 cycles per min.

c. Seat Impact test –

Carry out by means of a mass of M1, for a number of drops of N3 on the seat from the height of H1, with a frequency of approximately 10 cycles per min.

D. Outdoor Furniture – Chair Back Strength and Durability

a. Back static load test –

Apply the back force of F3 perpendicular to the back for N4 cycle at the back load position

b. Cyclic test on backrest –

Apply a load of F4 in the centerline and perpendicular to the backrest, at a height between 300mm and 400mm above the seat, for cycles of N5 at a rate of approximately 15 cycles per min

c. Test of alternating forces on the backrest for reclining seating –

Apply an outwards alternating force at a height between 300mm and 400mm above seating and 500mm from the right and left outer edge of the back, for cycles of N6

d. Backrest Impact test –

Strike the outside of the backrest top at its centre, horizontally with the hammer falling from the height of H2 with an angle a1 for cycles of N7

E. Outdoor Furniture – Chair Armrest strength and Fatigue

a. Arm Downward Static Load Test –

Apply a downward force of F6 for a number of cycles N8 in the middle and at 50mm from the front of the armrest or at any other point most likely to cause failure

b. Fatigue Test –

Apply a load F7 simultaneously on both arm rests, at 100mm behind the front edge of arm rests for a number of cycles N9. the loading device shall make an angle of 10 degrees to vertical.

c. Arm Impact Test –

Strike the outside of one armrest at the position most likely to cause failure, horizontally with an impact hammer falling from the height of H3 with an angle a2 for N10 times.

F. Outdoor Furniture – Chair Leg Strength

a. Leg forward static load test –

Apply a vertical seat load M4 at the seat loading position, Apply a horizontal forward force F8 centrally to the rear of a seat at seat level, for the number of N11

b. Leg sideward static load test –

Apply a vertical seat load M5 at the seat loading position, Apply a horizontal force F9 centrally to the side of seat at seat level, toward the leg restraining feet for the number of cycles N12

Outdoor Furniture – Safety Requirements

For seating, the edges and corners of the seat, backrest, and armrests which are directly in contact with the user when sitting, lying, or reclining shall be rounded or chamfered.

For table tops, the edges and corners which are directly in contact with the user shall be rounded or chamfered.

All other edges and corners of seating and tables, accessible during use shall be free from burrs or/and sharp edges.

Check with us to understand more outdoor furniture safety requirements

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Author: AQI Service as a professional quality control service company in China specialized in providing a complete range of quality inspection and testing certification services in China & Asia for global importers, buyers, retailers, and sellers.