Mechanical test standard: furniture is not strong?

Many people assume that the strength of furniture depends on its thickness or how it feels when touched. However, this isn't always accurate. Some wardrobes have weight-bearing plates that are prone to bending or collapsing, while some chairs may appear sturdy but fail under prolonged use. The real way to determine if furniture is durable and reliable is through mechanical performance testing, following standardized procedures. Recently, new content was added to the "Mechanical Performance Test for Furniture" standard, giving consumers a clearer way to assess the quality of their furniture based on technical data.

"The updated standards have refined and clarified previous requirements, making them more relevant to today's market," said Yang Junyuan, Secretary-General of the Ningbo Furniture Trade Association. He explained that as consumer habits evolve, industry inspection standards must also adapt. These updates were developed based on real-world complaints, consumer feedback, lab results, and inspection data, ensuring they reflect actual usage scenarios and safety concerns.

The new standard now covers key aspects such as the strength, durability, and stability of various furniture types, including tables, chairs, cabinets, and single-storey beds. For example, the stability criteria for cabinets have been revised, with added requirements for center of gravity analysis, shelf stability tests, and loading stability when non-fixed cabinet parts are in motion. In terms of table testing, new methods were introduced for irregularly shaped tabletops, including horizontal static load and endurance tests.

In simple terms, mechanical properties refer to how furniture materials perform under different conditions—such as compression, sustained pressure, bending, torsion, impact, and long-term use. If these properties don’t meet the required standards, it can directly affect the furniture’s lifespan and user safety. During production and quality checks, furniture undergoes various mechanical tests, including assessing the load capacity of chair surfaces, backrests, handrails, and other structural components. These tests ensure that furniture is safe, stable, and built to last.