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Your Location：Home > Light industry grocery inspectionEN 581 Standard is a crucial European standard for the mechanical safety performance of outdoor furniture and is a mandatory requirement for exporting to the EU market. Its core purpose is to ensure that outdoor furniture for adults has sufficient mechanical strength, stability, and durability under normal use and foreseeable misuse, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to users.
The standard consists of three parts:
•EN 581-1:2017 - Outdoor furniture - Seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use - Part 1: General safety requirements;
•EN 581-2:2015 - Outdoor furniture - Seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use - Part 2: Mechanical safety requirements and test methods for seating;
•EN 581-3:2017 - Outdoor furniture - Seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use - Part 3: Mechanical safety requirements and test methods for tables.
1. Scope of ApplicationThe EN 581 standard applies to seating and tables intended for outdoor use, regardless of their material, design/construction, or manufacturing process. It primarily targets three usage scenarios:
•Camping: Outdoor furniture intended for use in camping environments.
•Domestic: Furniture for use in domestic outdoor spaces like courtyards and gardens.
•Contract: Outdoor furniture for public commercial venues such as hotels, restaurants, and parks.
Products not covered by this standard mainly include:
•Movable upholstery and covers;
•Permanently fixed furniture (e.g., fixed to the ground or walls);
•Street furniture (e.g., public benches);
•Outdoor furniture for severe contract use (which may require higher specifications);
•Children's furniture.
2. General Safety Requirements (EN 581-1)
•Edge and Corner Treatment: All user-accessible parts must be free of burrs, sharp edges, and sharp points.
•Openings and Gap Limitations: To prevent finger entrapment. Typically checked using 7 mm and 12 mm test probes. Openings where a probe inserts more than 10 mm and cannot be easily withdrawn must be covered.
•Shear and Crush Points: Should be avoided where possible. If unavoidable, they must not be actuated by a powered mechanism or by an unintentional user action.
3. Outdoor Seating Testing (EN 581-2)The following is a summary of common test items and limit requirements for outdoor seating:
| Test Item | Test Method Brief | Test Load/Cycles (Camping/Domestic/Contract) | Purpose |
| Seat Static Load | Apply a vertical force at the seat loading point. Hold for 30s for first 9 cycles, 30min for the last. 10 cycles total. | 1100N / 1600N / 2000N | Verify structural stability under significant static pressure |
| Backrest Static Load | Apply a horizontal force at the backrest loading position. Repeat 10 times. | N/A/410N/560N | Ensure backrest structural stability under significant static load. |
| Seat Fatigue Test | Apply a 1000N vertical force cyclically at the seat loading point. | 12.500/25,000/100,000 cycles | Assess long-term durability under use. |
| Seat Impact Test | A 25kg impactor is dropped freely from 180mm height onto the seat surface. | 10 cycles (General) | Simulate impact from a user sitting down suddenly; evaluate impactresistance. |
| Front Leg Static Load | Place a 75kg load on the seat. Simultaneously apply a horizontal outward force. Repeat 10 times. | 300N/375N/500N | Test leg stability and strength under forward pressure. |
| Side Leg Static Load | Place a 75kg load on the seat. Simultaneously apply a lateral horizontal force. Repeat 10 times. | 250N/300N/390N | Test leg stability and strength under lateral pressure. |
| Armrest Static Load | Apply a vertical downward static force on the armrest. | 400N/750N/900N | Ensure armrests can bear vertical pressure and provide reliable support. |
| Stability Test | Assess stability in different directions according to EN 1022. | Apply 600N vertical force, etc. | Ensure the seat is unlikely to tip over when force is applied from different directions. |
| Test Item | Test Method Brief | Test Load/Cycles (Camping/Domestic/Contract) | Purpose |
| Vertical Stability | Apply a vertical force 50mm from the tabletop edge. | Force (F)is calculated based on usage scenario and tabletop longestside length (L). | Ensure the table does not easily overturn under vertical force. |
| Tabletop Vertical Static Load | Apply a vertical downward force on the tabletop center or specified point. Hold for 30s for first 9 cycles, 30min for the last. 10 cycles total. | 500N / 750N / 1000N | Ensure the tabletop can withstand pressures from normal use, avoiding damage. |
| Horizontal Fatigue Test | Fix the table legs. Apply a horizontal force near the legs for cyclic loading. | 100N, 5000 cycles / 150N, 10000 cycles / 150N, 20000 cycles | Evaluate the structural fatigue strength under repeated horizontal forces. |
| Umbrella Support Test | For tables supporting umbrellas (not built-in base), apply a 30N horizontal force at 2200mm height. | 30N horizontal force (General) | Check the stability of tables with umbrellas in windy conditions, preventing overturning. |
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