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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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
The following are NFPA standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
NFPA 255 — Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
NFPA 701 — Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films
The California Bureau of Household Goods and Services' (BHGS) mission is to protect and serve the consumers while ensuring a fair and competitive market.
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.
Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.
Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."
Per diem localities with county definitions shall include"all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."
When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.
U.S. General Services Administration