Optimum Supplies guide to the new European Standards - EN1729

Does your Classroom Furniture conform to the new BS EN 1729 standards?

For many years the children in our schools have been seated on a variety of Polypropylene or Wooden chairs, which are manufactured in different styles and sizes. Provided these chairs pass British Standards for strength, stability and safety they are welcomed into our classrooms.

Each manufacturer has their own agenda for their chairs. Some are manufactured to a price, some to a style and others to a best value compromise.

However, none have been manufactured to a European Standard that first and foremost sets out to encourage good posture for our children.

EN1729 Part 1 is the standard drawn up by the Technical Committee for Europe, CEN/TC207, which now sets chair dimensions, heights, angles and back support contact points for every age group - so as toencourage good posture.

Good posture not only means our children will be healthier – it also means that they should be more comfortable – and therefore more attentive in class.

Buying educational furniture is important and you will need to get the right equipment for the job. It is essential that you take a long term view of your needs and those of your pupils and students. Research has shown that quality, ergonomically designed furniture improves concentration and reduces fidgeting, leading to better results.

There are many elements of the decision making process for buying classroom furniture. To stand the test of time, furniture should meet the relevant quality standards of strength and stability. A good starting point is the BESA (British Educational Suppliers Association) website www.besanet.org or FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) website www.fira.co.uk.

The fact that comfort, flexibility, strength, stability, style and design are all important, may sound blindingly obvious, but there is more to this than meets the eye. Today there is an enormous choice of educational furniture from suppliers and their catalogues and online stores and there are a number of key considerations you should take into account.

Tables and chairs should meet the needs of student's height, so 'one size fits all' is no longer the adage here. The chair seat and table height relationship is important and the new European Standard EN 1729 standard provides essential dimensions for children's wellbeing and specifically their backs. Height and tilt adjustable furniture is more expensive, but can provide flexibility in the classroom, according to need. The standard recommends either a range of fixed chair and desk heights or variable height furniture that can be adjusted quickly and easily. The problem with fixed height furniture is ensuring a match with the user as they circulate around a building or room. Therefore, purchasers of school furniture should consult the new standard before making a decision.

New European Standards for Classroom furniture were introduced during 2007.This new standard is referenced EN 1729 Parts 1 and 2. This refers to a new standard specifically for tables, desks and chairs for use in UK schools 1933 to 2008 and is the only current and valid standard for classroom furniture. The new standard is split into two parts: Part 1 for size and dimensions of products - checks functional dimensions and ensures correct seating posture for children's back care. Part 2 for strength and stability - checks product safety in use and ensures products will stand up to classroom demands. Any product must pass both parts to fully comply with EN 1729.

Some manufacturers of Classroom chairs have EN 1729 Part 1 Certification - or are stating that their chairs are EN 1729 compatible. This is fine, because Part 1 refers to new size dimensions, angles and comfort controls of Classroom seating to ensure that our children are sitting on chairs which offer correct posture. However, the most important aspect of EN 1729 is Part 2, the strength and stability of the chairs and we all need to know that the chairs we buy are structurally sound - making sure they can stand up to the rigours of school use.

Importantly, there are new chair seat and table height ratios. The standard now specifies 6 different sizes (heights) and allows manufacturers to make products at heights +/- 10mm to those shown. The following table should be used as your guide to EN 1729 standards.

New BS EN 1729 Classroom Furniture Information

With Government statistics showing that an average of 3 pupils per class are suffering from back problems, it is no surprise that many Local Authorities are already starting to specify this new standard for Classroom chairs. With the health of our children of paramount importance no-one wants to be accused of neglecting their future mobility and well being.

Be very careful when you order new products as the new table and chair sizes are typically 10-20mm different to the old BS sizes and their heights will probably not match up with existing furniture in your classrooms. Old and new chairs may not stack together, existing chairs and tables have colour coded feet - do not rely on these colours for ordering new furniture. EN1729 has changed some of these colours from those in the previous BS standard.

Whilst many of you may not know the full details and implications of EN1729, and indeed it is not yet a compulsory standard (advisory only) you can rest assured that your best interests are being addressed by Optimum Supplies. We, like you, have a duty of care to provide Classroom furniture which meets these standards and we are introducing new product ranges and updating existing ranges to meet with these requirements. We hope that our lead will encourage others within the industry also and we strongly believe it should be on the checklist when you consider Classroom furniture in the near future.

Check out our Titan Range of Furniture as this is the first range of furniture to meet with EN1729 both parts 1 & 2 and is available to order now.

The Titan Chair is the only one piece Polypropylene chair that has attained EN1729 Part 1 & 2 Certification.

The benefit of one piece Polypropylene chairs is well documented in terms of their longevity [15 year warranty], comfort and safety in the classroom. With no screws for practical jokers to remove, no sharp edges to cause damage, no metalwork to rust and full EN1729 Certification.

Many chairs will pass EN1729 Part 2 as this only applies to strength and replaces BS4875. The Titan conforms to Part 1 which is based on design for posture.Our Titan Chair is the only chair to offer our children and schools the best of everything.

So what are the new guidelines?

BS EN 1729:2006 Furniture. Chairs and tables for educational institutions.

This new European Standard for educational furniture, EN 1729:2006 was approved by the Comité Européen De Normalisation (CEN) on12 June 2006

BSI (British Standard Institute) published the UK implementation of EN 1729:2006, now referred to as BS EN 1729:2006 in 2007. It supersedes BS 5873-1:1980, BS 5873-2:1991 and DD ENV1729-1:2001, which have been withdrawn.

BS EN 1729-1:2006 (Part 1) details the functional dimensions that educational furniture should adhere to.

BS EN 1729-2 2006 (Part 2) details the testing requirements for educational furniture, which FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) adhere to and test all furniture to, that is proposed for educational use.

Please note that these standards are a guideline at present and therefore are not enforceable by law.