SIST EN 12520:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 12520:2016
Pohištvo - Varnost, trdnost in trajnost - Zahteve za sedežno pohištvo za domačo
uporabo
Furniture - Safety, strength and durability - Requirements for domestic seating
Möbel - Sicherheit, Festigkeit und Dauerhaltbarkeit - Anforderungen an Sitzmöbel für
den Wohnbereich
Meubles - Sécurité, résistance et durabilité - Exigences relatives aux sièges à usage
domestique
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12520:2024
ICS:
97.140 Pohištvo Furniture
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 12520
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.140 Supersedes EN 12520:2015
English Version
Furniture - Safety, strength and durability - Requirements
for domestic seating
Meubles - Sécurité, résistance et durabilité - Exigences Möbel - Sicherheit, Festigkeit und Dauerhaltbarkeit -
relatives aux sièges à usage domestique Anforderungen an Sitzmöbel für den Wohnbereich
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 September 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12520:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Test sequence . 5
5 Safety, strength and durability . 5
5.1 General safety requirements . 5
5.1.1 General. 5
5.1.2 Holes in tubular or rigid components . 6
5.1.3 Shear and compression points . 6
5.2 Stability . 6
5.3 Strength and durability . 6
5.4 Requirements . 8
6 Information for use . 9
7 Test report . 9
Annex A (normative) Seat side-to-side durability test in D-G points . 10
Annex B (informative) Rationales . 13
Annex C (normative) Test methods for finger entrapment and shear and compression . 15
Annex D (normative) Seat loading point for seating with suspended flexible material . 21
Bibliography . 22
European foreword
This document (EN 12520:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 207 “Furniture”,
the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by May 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 12520:2015.
— updated to reflect the finger entrapment requirements within CEN/TR 17202, including an Annex
containing test methods;
— definition of single column seating was added;
— side to side durability test method and requirements for single column seating were added;
— Table 1 updated with information on applicability of test method dependent on type of the seating;
— seat impact test updated with requirements dependent on the seat height adjustability;
— testing of durability of electrically operated seating products added;
— clarification of seat loading point for seating with suspended flexible material by adding Annex D.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
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.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1022:2023, Furniture — Seating — Determination of stability
EN 1728:2012, Furniture — Seating — Test methods for the determination of strength and durability
EN 13759:2012, Furniture — Operating mechanisms for seating and sofa-beds — Test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
accessible part
part to which access can easily be gained by the user when the seating is in its intended configuration of
use and for which the probability of unintentional user contact is high
3.2
foot rest
part intended to support the feet of the user which assists the user getting on or off an item of seating
[SOURCE: EN 1022:2023, 3.3, modified: Note 1 to entry was deleted.]
3.3
leg rest
extension of the seat area intended to support the legs of the user
Note 1 to entry: A leg rest can or cannot be permanently attached to the structure of the item of seating, and
might not be suitable for use as an item of seating itself.
[SOURCE: EN 1022:2023, 3.4]
3.4
single column seating
item of seating, whose upper part, which includes the seat, is mounted on a single support with a
diameter of up to 120 mm at its narrowest point
Note 1 to entry: This includes e.g. chairs with gas lifts.
[SOURCE: EN 1022:2023, 3.12, modified: “seat” was changed to “seating” in the term]
3.5
stool
seating unit without back rest or with a back rest, which has a height of ≤ 100 mm above the seat
surface
4 Test sequence
The tests shall be carried out on the same sample and in the order in which they are listed in Table 1.
With the exception of test no. 15 (EN 13759:2012), where a separate sample may be used.
5 Safety, strength and durability
5.1 General safety requirements
5.1.1 General
The seating shall be designed so as to minimize the risk of injury to the user.
All parts of the seating with which the user comes into contact during intended use when the seating is
positioned in its intended configuration of use shall be designed so that physical injury and damage are
avoided.
This requirement is met when:
a) the edges and corners of the seating which are directly in contact with the user are rounded or
chamfered;
b) all other edges and corners accessible during intended use are free from burrs and/or sharp edges.
Movable and adjustable parts shall be designed so that injuries and inadvertent operation are avoided.
Load bearing parts of the seating shall not become loose unintentionally.
All parts that are lubricated to assist sliding shall be designed to protect users from lubricant stains
when in normal use.
5.1.2 Holes in tubular or rigid components
There shall be no holes in the ends of tubular components or holes in rigid components in accessible
parts between 7 mm and 12 mm, unless the depth of penetration is less than 10 mm. This requirement
is fulfilled if there is no hazard present when tested in accordance with C.1.
5.1.3 Shear and compression points
5.1.3.1 General
The requirements contained within 5.1.3.2, 5.1.3.3 and 5.1.3.4 do not apply to electrically operated
furniture.
NOTE The requirements for electrically operated furniture will be provided in EN 17684, which is under
preparation.
5.1.3.2 Shear and compression points when setting up and folding
Unless 5.1.3.3 or 5.1.3.4 are applicable, shear and compression points that are created only during
setting up and folding are acceptable, because the user can be assumed to be in control of their
movements and to be able to cease applying the force immediately upon experiencing pain.
The edges of parts moving relative to each other and creating shear and compression points shall be as
specified in 5.1.1.
5.1.3.3 Shear and compression points under influence of non-electrically powered mechanisms
With the exception of operation of doors, flaps and extension elements, there shall be no areas where
the distance between two accessible parts moving relative to each other can be less than 25 mm, and
more than 8 mm in any position during movement that could present a risk of injury to the user,
created by parts of the furniture operated by non-electrically powered mechanisms, e.g. mechanical
springs and gas lifts.
This requirement is fulfilled if there is no hazard present when tested in accordance with C.2.3.
5.1.3.4 Shear and compression points during use
With the exception of operation of doors, flaps and extension elements, there shall be no areas where
the distance between two accessible parts moving relative to each other can be less than 18 mm, and
more than 8 mm in any position that could present a risk of injury to the user, created by loads applied
during normal use, e.g. attempting to move the seati
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