U.S. General Services Administration
Commercial Furniture Standards
GSA uses industry and other nongovernmental standards when available and suitable for the items being acquired. GSA works with standards developing organizations to ensure standards reflect government needs and avoid unnecessary development of government standards.
The standards developed by GSA are available for download and use by industry and customer agencies. Standards developed by industry or other organizations are available from the developing organization. Contact information for acquiring industry standards is provided on the organization pages as a convenience for industry and customers. Standards organizations referenced include:
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization that oversees the creation, promotion, and use of thousands of norms and guidelines. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international standards so that American products can be used worldwide.
American National Standard Institute
25 West 43rd St, 4th Fl
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 212-642-4900
Fax: 212-398-0023
Email: storemanager@ansi.org
ASTM International was founded in 1898 as the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials. It is an organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
ASTM International
100 Barr Harbor Dr
P.O. Box C700
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
Phone: 610-832-9585
Email: service@astm.org
The following are ASTM standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
- ASTM C423 — Standard Test for Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method
- ASTM D297 — Standard Test Methods for Rubber Products - Chemical Analysis
- ASTM D629 — Standard Test Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Textiles
- ASTM D861 — Standard Practice for Use of the Tex System to Designate Linear Density of Fibers, Yarn Intermediates, and Yarns
- ASTM D1335 — Standard Test Method for Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM D1423 — Standard Test Method for Twist in Yarns by Direct Counting
- ASTM D1667 — Standard Specification for Flexible Cellular Materials Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Foam (Closed-Cell)
- ASTM D2646 — Standard Test Methods for Backing Fabric Characteristics of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM D3278 — Standard Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small Scale Closed Cup Apparatus
- ASTM D3574 — Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials - Slab, Bonded, and Molded Urethane Foams
- ASTM D3676 — Standard Specification for Rubber Cellular Cushion Used for Carpet or Rug Underlay
- ASTM D3936 — Standard Test Method for Resistance to Delamination of the Secondary Backing of Pile Yarn Floor Covering
- ASTM D5848 — Standard Test Method for Mass Per Unit Area of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM E84 — Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
- ASTM E90 — Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements
- ASTM E413 — Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
- ASTM E648 — Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
- ASTM E662 — Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
- ASTM F1427 — Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bunk Beds
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association develops and publishes standards for office furniture products. The standards are developed in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) procedures, and& are referenced in GSA single award and multiple award contracts.
BIFMA International
678 Front Ave, NW, Suite 150
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5368
Telephone: 616-285-3963
Fax: 616-285-3765
Email: email@BIFMA.org
The following are BIFMA standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 — Office Chairs
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.3 — Vertical Files (BIFMA has withdrawn the X5.3 Vertical Files standard as the tests in X5.9-2019 now apply to these units also)
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.4 — Lounge and Public Seating
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 — Desk Products
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.6 — Panel Systems
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 — Storage
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.11 — Large Occupant Office Chair
The Electrostatic Discharge Association was founded in 1982. It is a professional voluntary association, dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of electrostatic discharge (ESD) avoidance. ESDA develops standards to characterize product performance relating to electrostatic discharge. Products tested to these standards include textiles, plastics, furniture and flooring. These products are typically used where equipment sensitive to such discharges is used, assembled or repaired. GSA requires products advertised as ESD products to meet the applicable standards. Standards are available from:
Electrostatic Discharge Association
7900 Turin Rd, Building 3
Rome, NY 13440-2069
Phone: 315-339-6937
Fax: 315-339-6793
Email: info@esda.org
Standard test method for the protection of ESD susceptible items
ANSI/ESD STM4.2 — ESD protective worksurfaces — Charge dissipation characteristics
ANSI/ESD STM7.1 — Floor materials — Resistive Characterization of Materials
ANSI/ESD STM12.1 — Seating — Resistive Measurement
Standard for the protection of ESD susceptible items
ANSI/ESD S4.1 — Worksurfaces — Resistance Measurements
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a voluntary, non-profit trade association representing North American cabinet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry since 1955. KCMA administers the nationally-recognized performance standard for cabinets (ANSI/KCMA A161.1). Today, KCMA promotes responsible environment practices in the industry. Information on KCMA Standards is available from:
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association
1899 Preston White Dr
Reston, VA 20191-5435
Phone: 703-264-1690
FAX 703-620-6530
Email: info@kcma.org
ANSI/KCMA A161.1 — Performance & Construction Standard for Kitchen and Vanity Cabinets
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a trade association that creates and maintains standards and codes for use and adoption by local government.
National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169-7471
Phone: 617-770-3000
Fax: 617-770-0700
Email: custserv@nfpa.org
The following are NFPA standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
The California Bureau of Household Goods and Services' (BHGS) mission is to protect and serve the consumers while ensuring a fair and competitive market.
Bureau of Household Goods and Services
4244 South Market Ct, Suite D
Sacramento, CA 95834-1243
Phone: 916-999-2041
Fax: 916-921-7279
Email: homeproducts@dca.ca.gov
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) develops safety related standards for a wide variety of products. UL Standards related to furniture primarily concern electrical components that are incorporated in furniture products. GSA references UL standards for systems furniture products which include electrical harnesses for distributing electrical power in workstations.
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
333 Pfingsten Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062-2096
Phone: 847-272-8800
Customer Service: 877-854-3577
The following are UL standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings: