UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global safety science organization, announced that their laboratory in Cabiate, Italy, is the first and only lab in Italy accredited to perform testing to the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s (BIFMA) Standards for (Office Chairs), X5.11 (Large Occupant Office Chair), and X5.4 (Lounge Seating).  UL received accreditation from Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body.

This achievement demonstrates UL’s technical capability to perform furniture testing and evaluation according to BIFMA standards, which provides customers with confidence that their test results are accurate and reliable. BIFMA, the largest office and institutional furniture industry association in North America, works with the furniture industry to develop durability and safety standards for office and institutional furnishings. BIFMA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and has been developing standards since 1973. These standards are frequently reviewed and updated by working groups to meet industry needs.

According to Alberto Uggetti, vice president and general manager of UL’s Furniture Business Division, “Achieving accreditation to test to BIFMA Standards gives UL a competitive advantage in the Italian market. Italy is one of the world’s leaders in furniture design and production, and many products produced there are sold in the North American market. Now, Italian manufacturers that work with North American furniture manufacturers and distributors can conduct their testing in Italy with an accredited lab, instead of sending products overseas for testing.”