EN 12520:2024

This document specifies the minimum requirements for the safety, strength and durability of all types of domestic seating for adults. It also specifies additional test methods for seat side-to-side durability as well as finger entrapment and shear and compression. It does not apply to ranked seating, seating for non-domestic use, office work chairs, chairs for educational institutions, outdoor seating and to links for linked seating for which European Standards exist. It does not include requirements for the durability of upholstery materials, castors, reclining and tilting mechanisms and seat height adjustment mechanisms. It does not include requirements for electrical safety. It does not include requirements for the resistance to ageing, degradation, flammability and ergonomics. The requirements are based on use by persons weighing up to 110 kg. Annex A (normative) specifies the seat side-to-side durability test in D-G points. Annex B (informative) gives rationales for some of the tests referred to in Table 1. Annex C (normative) specifies the test methods for finger entrapment and shear and compression. Annex D (normative) specifies the seat loading point for seating with suspended flexible material.