FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Christy Urban
Phone: 301.644.3202
curban@a2la.org
A2LA Supports Newly Launched “BIFMA Compliant” Program
January 16, 2020 – In June 2019, The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) formally announced the launch of its branded conformance program, BIFMA Compliant. This voluntary program includes elements for conformance and will provide a commercial furniture registry that makes it easy to identify products that comply with BIFMA standards. Furniture manufacturers that elect to participate will be able to upload product information to a publicly accessible online database of BIFMA Compliant products. The program will be available to both BIFMA members and non-members.
The new program elements require that testing be conducted in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test lab with the relevant BIFMA standard(s) listed on the Scope of Accreditation. The lab may be a first party (in-house) or third-party lab. A2LA has extensive experience accrediting to the specific standards required by BIFMA Compliant and has the knowledge and staff resources necessary to support the increased volume of laboratories now seeking this type of accreditation. Labs interested in participating in this program are encouraged to apply for accreditation early in 2020 to be best prepared for the BIFMA Compliant program launch in October of 2020.
BIFMA Compliant will cover nine mechanical standards: office seating, large occupant office seating, educational seating, lounge and public seating, occasional-use seating, desk/table products, small office/home office, panel systems and storage units. BIFMA plans to open the online registry for loading of compliant product information in mid-2020.
More information about A2LA’s mechanical field of testing and the accreditation program that supports BIFMA Compliant can be found here.
More information about BIFMA Compliant including a full list of the program elements, can be found at https://www.bifma.org/page/bifma-compliant
About A2LA
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, stand-alone sampling organizations, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and product certifiers. For more information about A2LA, please visit www.A2LA.org.
About BIFMA
BIFMA is the not-for-profit trade association for business and institutional furniture manufacturers. BIFMA sponsors the development of safety, performance and sustainability standards used across the furniture industry, as well as advocating for regulatory conditions that enhance value and foster innovation.