EN 16139
I have in-depth knowledge of furniture standards – including EN 16139, which defines requirements for strength, durability, and safety of seating used in contract environments. I actively apply this knowledge when working on the development of chairs and similar products.
EN 16139 Furniture – Strength, durability and safety
EN 16139 er en europæisk standard, der bruges til at teste holdbarheden og sikkerheden af stole, som skal anvendes i offentlige eller professionelle miljøer – det vi kalder kontraktmarkedet.
Standarden er opdelt i flere undertests, der præcist beskriver, hvordan en stol skal testes. Der er typisk omkring 10 forskellige testpunkter, som en stol skal igennem, afhængigt af hvordan den er designet. Det gælder uanset om det er en stol med slædestel, fire ben eller krydsfod – dog varierer testene alt efter om stolen har armlæn, eller for eksempel en integreret skriveplade.
EN 16139 is a European standard used to test the durability and safety of chairs intended for public or professional use – what we typically call the contract market.
The standard is divided into multiple subtests that describe exactly how a chair must be tested. There are usually around 10 different test points a chair must go through, depending on its design. That applies whether it’s a sled-base chair, a four-legged model, or a swivel chair – although the tests vary depending on features like armrests or an integrated writing tablet.
I know all the individual test requirements and understand the structural challenges they present. I have experience with which parts of a chair’s construction tend to fail – and which solutions are needed to meet the standard. In the video below, I show the “leg forward static load test” – one of the more critical procedures.
Two levels – with the highest requirements for the contract market
EN 16139 har to belastningsniveauer:
Niveau 1: Generel brug
Niveau 2: Hård brug (anvendes typisk til kontraktmarkedet)
EN 16139 defines two load levels:
Level 1: General use
Level 2: Severe use (typically used in the contract market)
If a chair is intended for public spaces, cafés, airports, schools, or other demanding environments, level 2 is typically used.
FEM simulation as a development tool
En af mine spidskompetencer er at simulere disse tests digitalt via FEM (Finite Element Method). Det betyder, at jeg kan analysere konstruktionen og beregne spændinger og belastninger på en stol – allerede i udviklingsfasen.
For eksempel ved udvikling af en stol med plastskal kan jeg simulere, hvordan den reagerer på testbelastning, og optimere godstykkelser, materialevalg og geometri, inden man investerer i dyre værktøjer. På den måde er der langt større chance for, at stolen klarer testene – allerede i første prøveserie.
Ready for certification – from simulation to testing
One of my key strengths is simulating these tests digitally using FEM (Finite Element Method). This allows me to analyse the structure and calculate stresses and loads on a chair already during the development phase.
Once the design has been thoroughly worked through and tested digitally, the next step is to have the product physically tested and certified. In Denmark, for example, this is typically carried out by the Danish Technological Institute in accordance with EN 16139.
With the right documentation and preparation, the test can often be passed without major adjustments – allowing the product to move quickly toward market launch.
EN 16139
I have in-depth knowledge of furniture standards – including EN 16139, which defines requirements for strength, durability, and safety of seating used in contract environments. I actively apply this knowledge when working on the development of chairs and similar products.
EN 16139 Furniture – Strength, durability and safety
EN 16139 er en europæisk standard, der bruges til at teste holdbarheden og sikkerheden af stole, som skal anvendes i offentlige eller professionelle miljøer – det vi kalder kontraktmarkedet.
Standarden er opdelt i flere undertests, der præcist beskriver, hvordan en stol skal testes. Der er typisk omkring 10 forskellige testpunkter, som en stol skal igennem, afhængigt af hvordan den er designet. Det gælder uanset om det er en stol med slædestel, fire ben eller krydsfod – dog varierer testene alt efter om stolen har armlæn, eller for eksempel en integreret skriveplade.
EN 16139 is a European standard used to test the durability and safety of chairs intended for public or professional use – what we typically call the contract market.
The standard is divided into multiple subtests that describe exactly how a chair must be tested. There are usually around 10 different test points a chair must go through, depending on its design. That applies whether it’s a sled-base chair, a four-legged model, or a swivel chair – although the tests vary depending on features like armrests or an integrated writing tablet.
I know all the individual test requirements and understand the structural challenges they present. I have experience with which parts of a chair’s construction tend to fail – and which solutions are needed to meet the standard. In the video below, I show the “leg forward static load test” – one of the more critical procedures.
Two levels – with the highest requirements for the contract market
EN 16139 har to belastningsniveauer:
Niveau 1: Generel brug
Niveau 2: Hård brug (anvendes typisk til kontraktmarkedet)
EN 16139 defines two load levels:
Level 1: General use
Level 2: Severe use (typically used in the contract market)
If a chair is intended for public spaces, cafés, airports, schools, or other demanding environments, level 2 is typically used.
FEM simulation as a development tool
En af mine spidskompetencer er at simulere disse tests digitalt via FEM (Finite Element Method). Det betyder, at jeg kan analysere konstruktionen og beregne spændinger og belastninger på en stol – allerede i udviklingsfasen.
For eksempel ved udvikling af en stol med plastskal kan jeg simulere, hvordan den reagerer på testbelastning, og optimere godstykkelser, materialevalg og geometri, inden man investerer i dyre værktøjer. På den måde er der langt større chance for, at stolen klarer testene – allerede i første prøveserie.
Ready for certification – from simulation to testing
One of my key strengths is simulating these tests digitally using FEM (Finite Element Method). This allows me to analyse the structure and calculate stresses and loads on a chair already during the development phase.
Once the design has been thoroughly worked through and tested digitally, the next step is to have the product physically tested and certified. In Denmark, for example, this is typically carried out by the Danish Technological Institute in accordance with EN 16139.
With the right documentation and preparation, the test can often be passed without major adjustments – allowing the product to move quickly toward market launch.
EN 16139
I have in-depth knowledge of furniture standards – including EN 16139, which defines requirements for strength, durability, and safety of seating used in contract environments. I actively apply this knowledge when working on the development of chairs and similar products.
EN 16139 Furniture – Strength, durability and safety
EN 16139 er en europæisk standard, der bruges til at teste holdbarheden og sikkerheden af stole, som skal anvendes i offentlige eller professionelle miljøer – det vi kalder kontraktmarkedet.
Standarden er opdelt i flere undertests, der præcist beskriver, hvordan en stol skal testes. Der er typisk omkring 10 forskellige testpunkter, som en stol skal igennem, afhængigt af hvordan den er designet. Det gælder uanset om det er en stol med slædestel, fire ben eller krydsfod – dog varierer testene alt efter om stolen har armlæn, eller for eksempel en integreret skriveplade.
EN 16139 is a European standard used to test the durability and safety of chairs intended for public or professional use – what we typically call the contract market.
The standard is divided into multiple subtests that describe exactly how a chair must be tested. There are usually around 10 different test points a chair must go through, depending on its design. That applies whether it’s a sled-base chair, a four-legged model, or a swivel chair – although the tests vary depending on features like armrests or an integrated writing tablet.
I know all the individual test requirements and understand the structural challenges they present. I have experience with which parts of a chair’s construction tend to fail – and which solutions are needed to meet the standard. In the video below, I show the “leg forward static load test” – one of the more critical procedures.
Two levels – with the highest requirements for the contract market
EN 16139 har to belastningsniveauer:
Niveau 1: Generel brug
Niveau 2: Hård brug (anvendes typisk til kontraktmarkedet)
EN 16139 defines two load levels:
Level 1: General use
Level 2: Severe use (typically used in the contract market)
If a chair is intended for public spaces, cafés, airports, schools, or other demanding environments, level 2 is typically used.
FEM simulation as a development tool
En af mine spidskompetencer er at simulere disse tests digitalt via FEM (Finite Element Method). Det betyder, at jeg kan analysere konstruktionen og beregne spændinger og belastninger på en stol – allerede i udviklingsfasen.
For eksempel ved udvikling af en stol med plastskal kan jeg simulere, hvordan den reagerer på testbelastning, og optimere godstykkelser, materialevalg og geometri, inden man investerer i dyre værktøjer. På den måde er der langt større chance for, at stolen klarer testene – allerede i første prøveserie.
Ready for certification – from simulation to testing
One of my key strengths is simulating these tests digitally using FEM (Finite Element Method). This allows me to analyse the structure and calculate stresses and loads on a chair already during the development phase.
Once the design has been thoroughly worked through and tested digitally, the next step is to have the product physically tested and certified. In Denmark, for example, this is typically carried out by the Danish Technological Institute in accordance with EN 16139.
With the right documentation and preparation, the test can often be passed without major adjustments – allowing the product to move quickly toward market launch.