Specifications, standards, and purchase descriptions that commonly apply to furniture and furnishings
We develop technical documents to describe the essential characteristics and expected performance of products purchased for government use. Technical documents take different forms depending upon the product and types of information included in the document.
Documents developed to support purchases of furniture and furnishings include technical descriptions and test standards to describe the essential physical characteristics and performance required for our contracts.
- AA-C-2786 Cabinet, Security, Information Processing System Storage [PDF - 737 KB] —The specification describes the requirements for security containers used for storing operating information processing systems.
- Amendment-2 [PDF - 22 KB] —This amendment revises portions for AA-C-2786.
- Qualified Products List QPL-AA-C-2786-1 [PDF - 57 KB] —This document is a list of products qualified under the specification.
- AA-C-2859A Cabinet, Security, Weapons Storage [DOC - 131 KB] —This federal specification describes the requirements for weapons storage cabinets.
- Qualified Products List QPL-AA-C-2859A-3 [DOC - 33 KB] —This is a list of products qualified under the specification.
- AA-D-600D Door, Vault, Security [PDF - 118 KB] —The federal specifications and qualified products list are for GSA approved vault doors intended for the protection of classified information.
- Amendment 4 [DOC - 37 KB] —Amendment to Federal Specification AA-D-600D.
- Qualified Products List QPL-AA-D-600-8 [DOC - 51 KB] —This is a list of products qualified under AA-D-600D.
- AA-F-358J Filing Cabinet, Legal and Letter Size, Uninsulated, Security [DOCX - 93 KB] — The federal specification and qualified products list are for uninsulated, filing cabinets intended for protection of classified information.
- AA-F-363D Filing Cabinet Security, Maps and Plans, General Filing and Storage [PDF - 38 KB] —The federal specification and qualified products list cover map and plan filing cabinets intended for protection of classified information.
- Amendment-3 [PDF - 95 KB] —Amendment to map and plan filing cabinet requirements.
- Qualified Products List QPL-AA-F-363-17 [DOC - 46 KB] —This is a list of products qualified under the specification.
- AA-V-2737 Modular Vault Systems [PDF - 922 KB] —This document describes requirements for modular vault systems intended for the protection of national security information.
- Amendment-2 [DOC - 32 KB] —Amendment to modular vault system requirements.
- Qualified Products List QPL-AA-V-2737-5 [DOC - 43 KB] —This is a list of products qualified under the specification.
- FF-L-2740B Lock, Combination [DOC - 236 KB] —This document describes requirements for combination locks intended for the protection of national security information.
- Qualified Products List QPL-FF-L-2740-8 [PDF - 8 KB] —This document is a list of products qualified under FF-L-2740A.
- Fed. Std. 834A Performance Test Method for Intensive Use Chairs [DOCX - 46 KB] —Federal Standard 834A describes the procedures and acceptance levels for chairs for intensive use environments.
- FNAE 80-214A Upholstered Furniture Test Method [PDF - 1 MB]
- FNE 82-243L Beds, Wood, Contemporary Oak Style [DOC - 989 KB]
- FCNE 87-441F Furniture Systems [PDF - 50 KB]
- FCNE 87-442F Workstation Clusters [PDF - 50 KB]
- FCNE 87-445F Demountable Wall Systems [PDF - 45 KB]
- 3FNE 90-504C High Density Movable Filing Systems [PDF - 18 KB]
- FNE 98-576A Certification Requirements for Freestanding Acoustical and Speech Privacy Partitions [PDF - 16 KB]
- 3FNE 98-578B Freestanding Partitions, Moveable Partitions and Demountable Walls [PDF - 82 KB]
- 3FNE 99-582E Safety and Performance Test Requirements for Bunkable and Loftable Beds, Beds with Drawers and Drawer Units, for use Under Beds [PDF - 785 KB]
- 3FNE 99-583B Test Requirements for Wall Beds [PDF - 37 KB]
- 3FNE 00-589A Test Requirements for Library Bookstacks [PDF - 48 KB]
- 3FNE-CO 00-593A Chairs, Wood, Executive Office, Traditional [PDF - 850 KB]
- 3QSAB-08-606 Safety, Performance and Flammability Requirements for Complete Daycare and Classroom Solutions [DOC - 38 KB]
- 3QSAB 09-608 Technical Requirements for Wood Executive Office and Conference Room Furniture [DOC - 82 KB]
- 3QSAB 09-609A Performance Test Requirements for Upholstered Seating [PDF - 50 KB]
- 3QSAB 11-613A List of Accredited Labs that can Perform 3FNE 99-582E Bed and Bed Drawer Unit [PDF - 45 KB]
We use industry and other nongovernmental standards when available and suitable for the items agencies acquire. We work with standards-developing organizations to ensure standards reflect government needs and avoid unnecessary development of government standards.
We provide contact info and standards that industry or other organizations developed for industry and buyers’ convenience.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization that oversees the creation, promotion, and use of thousands of norms and guidelines. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international standards so that American products can be used worldwide.
American National Standard Institute
25 West 43rd St, 4th Fl
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 212-642-4900
Fax: 212-398-0023
Email: storemanager@ansi.org
ASTM International was founded in 1898 as the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials. It is an organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
ASTM International
100 Barr Harbor Dr
P.O. Box C700
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
Phone: 610-832-9585
Email: service@astm.org
The following are ASTM standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
- ASTM C423 — Standard Test for Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method
- ASTM D297 — Standard Test Methods for Rubber Products - Chemical Analysis
- ASTM D629 — Standard Test Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Textiles
- ASTM D861 — Standard Practice for Use of the Tex System to Designate Linear Density of Fibers, Yarn Intermediates, and Yarns
- ASTM D1335 — Standard Test Method for Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM D1423 — Standard Test Method for Twist in Yarns by Direct Counting
- ASTM D1667 — Standard Specification for Flexible Cellular Materials Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Foam (Closed-Cell)
- ASTM D2646 — Standard Test Methods for Backing Fabric Characteristics of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM D3278 — Standard Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small Scale Closed Cup Apparatus
- ASTM D3574 — Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials - Slab, Bonded, and Molded Urethane Foams
- ASTM D3676 — Standard Specification for Rubber Cellular Cushion Used for Carpet or Rug Underlay
- ASTM D3936 — Standard Test Method for Resistance to Delamination of the Secondary Backing of Pile Yarn Floor Covering
- ASTM D5848 — Standard Test Method for Mass Per Unit Area of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings
- ASTM E84 — Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
- ASTM E90 — Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements
- ASTM E413 — Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
- ASTM E648 — Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
- ASTM E662 — Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
- ASTM F1427 — Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bunk Beds
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association develops and publishes standards for office furniture products. The standards are developed in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) procedures, and& are referenced in GSA single award and multiple award contracts.
BIFMA International
678 Front Ave, NW, Suite 150
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5368
Telephone: 616-285-3963
Fax: 616-285-3765
Email: email@BIFMA.org
The following are BIFMA standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 — Office Chairs
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.3 — Vertical Files (BIFMA has withdrawn the X5.3 Vertical Files standard as the tests in X5.9-2019 now apply to these units also)
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.4 — Lounge and Public Seating
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 — Desk Products
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.6 — Panel Systems
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 — Storage
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.11 — Large Occupant Office Chair
The Electrostatic Discharge Association was founded in 1982. It is a professional voluntary association, dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of electrostatic discharge (ESD) avoidance. ESDA develops standards to characterize product performance relating to electrostatic discharge. Products tested to these standards include textiles, plastics, furniture and flooring. These products are typically used where equipment sensitive to such discharges is used, assembled or repaired. GSA requires products advertised as ESD products to meet the applicable standards. Standards are available from:
Electrostatic Discharge Association
7900 Turin Rd, Building 3
Rome, NY 13440-2069
Phone: 315-339-6937
Fax: 315-339-6793
Email: info@esda.org
Standard test method for the protection of ESD susceptible items
ANSI/ESD STM4.2 — ESD protective worksurfaces — Charge dissipation characteristics
ANSI/ESD STM7.1 — Floor materials — Resistive Characterization of Materials
ANSI/ESD STM12.1 — Seating — Resistive Measurement
Standard for the protection of ESD susceptible items
ANSI/ESD S4.1 — Worksurfaces — Resistance Measurements
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a voluntary, non-profit trade association representing North American cabinet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry since 1955. KCMA administers the nationally-recognized performance standard for cabinets (ANSI/KCMA A161.1). Today, KCMA promotes responsible environment practices in the industry. Information on KCMA Standards is available from:
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association
1899 Preston White Dr
Reston, VA 20191-5435
Phone: 703-264-1690
FAX 703-620-6530
Email: info@kcma.org
ANSI/KCMA A161.1 — Performance & Construction Standard for Kitchen and Vanity Cabinets
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a trade association that creates and maintains standards and codes for use and adoption by local government.
National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169-7471
Phone: 617-770-3000
Fax: 617-770-0700
Email: custserv@nfpa.org
The following are NFPA standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings:
The California Bureau of Household Goods and Services’ (BHGS) mission is to protect and serve the consumers while ensuring a fair and competitive market.
Bureau of Household Goods and Services
4244 South Market Ct, Suite D
Sacramento, CA 95834-1243
Phone: 916-999-2041
Fax: 916-921-7279
Email: homeproducts@dca.ca.gov
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) develops safety related standards for a wide variety of products. UL Standards related to furniture primarily concern electrical components that are incorporated in furniture products. GSA references UL standards for systems furniture products which include electrical harnesses for distributing electrical power in workstations.
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
333 Pfingsten Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062-2096
Phone: 847-272-8800
Customer Service: 877-854-3577
The following are UL standards that apply to GSA furniture offerings: