BVCPS has extended its outdoor furniture testing capabilities to help manufacturers and retailers ensure compliance with the new updated version of the strict BS EN 581 standard
Building on its wealth of experience in outdoor furniture testing, BVCPS provides its customers with support and advice on the impact of the updated standard on the manufacturing of outdoor furniture and offers corrective design recommendations in order for products to conform to the new regulation.
The new standard has been introduced to clarify the criteria for determining whether parts of the item meet the standard by reducing the grey areas.
This should prevent situations where products do not meet the strict wording of the standard but are acceptable for use in terms of product safety.
The new version of the BS EN 581-1:2006 standard was introduced in April 2006 to rule the manufacture of outdoor seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use.
The standard has been updated to address general safety requirements for all outdoor furniture.
Although the new standard does call for edges to be rounded, it no longer specifies a specific radius to which those edges should be rounded.
It also changes the way in which gaps and holes are being tested.
BVCPS's worldwide laboratories have been briefed and are fully trained and prepared to test outdoor furniture to the new updated standard.
In the case of a product failure, BVCPS's expert technicians will directly inform the customer on the reasoning behind the failure and suggest how the product can be altered to ensure compliance with the new regulation.
Another major benefit of using BVCPS's outdoor furniture testing service is that details will be provided to the customer on timeframes and cost as soon as the product is received.
Alan Kirwilliam, director of sales and marketing at BVCPS Manchester, comments: "The introduction of the new standard has substantial implications on the manufacturing and retailing of outdoor furniture".
"We at BVCPS are committed to helping our customers capitalise on the ever-evolving regulatory environment offering comprehensive services to improve product quality and branding and reduce customer complaints, non-compliance and product recalls."
