On February 7, 2019, the Business Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) released a new version of its storage unit standard – BIFMA X5.9. The updated version replaces the previous 2012 version and is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

BIFMA X5.9 provides a common basis for evaluating the safety, durability and structural performance of storage units used in offices. It defines specific tests, laboratory equipment, conditions of test, and recommends minimum levels to be used in testing. It also defines how performance, durability, and structural adequacy should be evaluated.

The new version has expanded the scope of the standard to include vertical file cabinets; BIFMA will formerly withdraw X5.3-Vertical Files. It also contains an improved method for testing stability.

Other amendments include:

• Definitions:

1. New definitions for ‘lateral file’ and ‘vertical file’
2. ‘Case’ and ‘storage units’ modified
3. ‘Clear height’ definition lowered from 457 mm (18 in) to 305 mm (12 in)

• Environmental conditions

1. Test sample preconditioning of 24 hours at indoor ambient conditions
2. Test temperature of 15°C to 27°C (59°F to 80°F) with a relative humidity of 10-70%

• Stability tests

1. Not applicable to products less than 450 mm (17.7 in) in height
2. Section 9.2 – Horizontal Force Stability Test for Tall Storage Units without Extendible Elements
3. Added ‘without Extendible Elements’ to the test name
4. Height applicability lowered from 1067 mm (42 in) to 762 mm (30 in)
5. Update in loads and load location
6. Section 9.6 – Vertical Force Stability Test for Storage Units
7. Removed “Place an evenly distributed load of 36 kg/m (2 lb/in) of width in/on the lowest storage component in the unit” and “If the unit has multiple compartments, such as a coat closet and file or shelving spaces, load each compartment so as to load the interior bottom footprint of the unit.”
8. Update in loads and load location
9. Section 9.7— Stability Test for Pedestals/Storage Units with Seat Surfaces
10. Now only applies to units less than 965 mm (38 in) in height as measured from the floor to the top of the seating surface

• Other Test Set Up and Procedure Changes

1. Racking Resistance now includes a 600-lb weight limit
2. Vertical Load Durability test set ups in 7.1.2, 7.2.2, and 7.3.2 have been modified; harmonization with X5.5 to allow use of load bag or force
3. Separation and Engagement Tests now has a component applicability weight of 9 kg (20 lb) and clarification for use of functional loads
4. Movement Durability Test for Mobile Storage Units, added tolerance of +/- 0.020 inch for obstacle thickness. Cycle rate now 10 (+2/ -6) cycles per minute. Added direction for caster and glide combinations
5. Extendible Element Cycle Tests, now exclude extendible elements with a load capacity less than 7 kg (15.4 lb) and do not have mechanical suspensions. Removed references to Swivel/Do Not Swivel. Wide pulls increased to 457 mm (18 in) width. Removed, “Horizontal cycle Test for Television/Video Display Terminal Extendible Elements that Swivel”
6. Door Tests, wide pulls increased to 457 mm (18 in) width
7. Latch Test, now also relevant to applicable extendible elements 
8. Swivel Cycle Test for Television/Video Display Surfaces has been removed

The new version of BIFMA X5.9 has also improved clarity with several edits to figures and tables, modified tolerances, and BIFMA has removed sand as an option for the impact test bag. A complete summary of changes can be found in Appendix C to the standard.

SGS Furniture Services

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