DIN EN 1728 2012-10 PDF

Full title and description

DIN EN 1728:2012-10 — Furniture — Seating — Test methods for the determination of strength and durability. This document is the German adoption of EN 1728:2012 and specifies laboratory test methods (static, dynamic, impact and durability) for the structural assessment of seating frames and related components; it provides procedures but does not set performance pass/fail criteria.

Abstract

EN 1728:2012 defines a comprehensive set of test methods to determine the strength and durability of seating constructions regardless of materials or design. The standard excludes children's highchairs, table-mounted chairs and bath seats, and it does not cover tests for ageing, upholstery materials, electrical functions or end‑use performance requirements (these are specified in other standards). The methods are intended for use in R&D, type testing and quality control.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn as the national 2012-10 edition and incorporated/updated in a later corrected German version (catalogued as DIN EN 1728:2014-02 which includes EN 1728:2012 + AC:2013).
• Publication date: EN publication 2012 (EN 1728:2012); the German adoption was issued as DIN EN 1728:2012-10 (01 Oct 2012) and later consolidated as DIN EN 1728:2014-02 (Feb 2014) with corrigendum AC:2013.
• Publisher: CEN (original European standard) / Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) for the German national version.
• ICS / categories: 97.140 (Furniture).
• Edition / version: EN 1728:2012 (German version issued as DIN EN 1728:2012-10; later corrected/issued as DIN EN 1728:2014-02 including AC:2013).
• Number of pages: Approximately 54–55 pages in national/adopted versions (page counts vary slightly between national publications).

Scope

Specifies test methods for determining the strength and durability of the structure of seating furniture (frames, seat, back, arm supports and related structural components) for adult seating without regard to use, materials or construction. Exclusions include children's highchairs, table‑mounted chairs and bath seats; the standard does not include tests for upholstery materials, ageing/degradation, electrical functions or specific performance requirements — those are covered by other standards. Tests may be applied selectively depending on seating type and intended use.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of loading points and general test conditions (ambient conditions, assembly, tolerances).
• Static load tests: seat and back static load, seat front edge, armrest and footrest static loading, headrest and leg tests.
• Durability and fatigue tests: combined seat/back endurance cycles, seat front-edge durability, armrest and footrest durability and multi-position backrest endurance.
• Impact and drop tests: seat/back/armrest impact tests, stacking/drop tests and backward-fall tests for certain configurations.
• Requirements for test equipment, loading pads, impactors, tolerances and test reporting (forces, durations, velocities and dimensional tolerances are specified).

Typical use and users

Used by furniture manufacturers, design engineers, independent testing laboratories, certification bodies and procurement/quality managers for R&D, type testing, quality control and comparative benchmarking of seating structural performance. Test houses apply the methods to generate reproducible data for technical files, product development and to support conformity assessment together with end‑use requirement standards.

Related standards

Relevant complementary and related standards include EN 12520 (safety requirements for domestic seating), EN 1022 (determination of stability for seating), EN 1730 (tables — related test methods) and various EN/ISO standards covering upholstery, mechanisms and end‑use performance where pass/fail criteria are defined. Users typically apply EN 1728 test methods together with these standards to establish conformity and safety.

Keywords

Furniture; seating; seating test methods; strength; durability; static load; durability cycle; impact test; armrest test; seat front edge; test equipment; ICS 97.140.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: EN 1728:2012 (adopted nationally as DIN EN 1728:2012-10) is a European standard that specifies laboratory test methods to determine the structural strength and durability of seating furniture; it describes procedures (not pass/fail limits).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers prescribed static, dynamic, impact, drop and endurance (fatigue) tests for seating structures — seat, back, arm supports, footrests and related load points — plus requirements for test apparatus, tolerances and reporting. It excludes children’s highchairs, table‑mounted chairs, bath seats, upholstery material durability, ageing tests and electrical functions.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Furniture manufacturers, product engineers, test laboratories, conformity assessors, QA managers and procurement teams use EN 1728 test methods during development, type testing and quality control.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The EN text is EN 1728:2012. The German national adoption initially issued as DIN EN 1728:2012-10 (01 Oct 2012) and was later consolidated/reissued as DIN EN 1728:2014-02 incorporating corrigendum AC:2013; users should reference the latest national adoption or consolidated edition for authoritative text.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: EN 1728 is part of the family of furniture standards produced by CEN/TC 207; it is typically used alongside other EN standards that set requirements or complementary tests for furniture (for example EN 12520 for domestic seating safety, EN 1730 for tables and EN 1022 for stability).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Seating, furniture testing, strength, durability, static load, endurance, impact test, armrest test, test methods, ICS 97.140.