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Let's talk chair standards, because when you are looking to invest in an ergonomic chair it should be safe, adjustable, durable and last you for years.
There is no argument that there are a LOT of office chairs on the market that can be bought from big name furniture companies to online retailers. However, most office chairs being produced do not meet the ergonomic Australian and New Zealand standard - AS/NZS 4438 - Height Adjustable Swivel Chairs.
Why is this standard important? Because once met, it ensures that the chair you are sitting on is safe, comfortable and reduces the risk of future back pain.
So how do you know that the chair you choose meets the ergonomic standards?
AFRDI
The Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute (AFRDI) is an independent not-for-profit technical organisation providing standards, testing, product certification and research for buyers and sellers of furniture.
Durability and Sustainability
A level 6 AFRDI rating involves vigorous tests to ensure the durability and sustainability of the chair, including a range of forces being applied ten times for 10 seconds to simulate each to the following:
- Someone standing on the chair - 200kg
- 200,000 sits with the equivalent of a person weighing 120kg
- Someone sitting on the arm - 120kg
- The chair being dropped 10 times onto one leg (from a height of 450mm)
- In other tests a special 25kg weight is dropped five times onto the seat (from a height of 350mm)
- a 6.5kg hammer being swung through an arc of 1m onto the sides of the arms and the back of the chair
Adjustability
The chair also requires to have at least 4 adjustability settings to ensure it can be used for 90% of the population. These include: seat height, seat tilt, lumbar support and arm heights.
Safety
This measure ensures no features can cut or trap the user or anyone else in the vicinity of the chair, as well as stability to ensure the chair does not easily fall when the balance is interrupted.
No More Pain Ergonomics offer a range of Level 6 AFRDI approved ergonomic chairs that can be found below. If you would like to know more about our range, or about AFRDI, please feel free to send our experts an email at: info@nomorepainergonomics.com.au.
