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IS 13713:1993 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for plastic chairs for general office purposes. This standard specifies the material, dimensional, and performance requirements for fixed-base plastic chairs intended for general office use. It covers chairs with and without arms (Type B and Type A respectively) and outlines the testing procedures to ensure their stability, strength, and durability.
! This standard is for non-revolving, fixed-base chairs only. Revolving chairs are covered by other standards.
! Performance testing, such as static load and stability tests, is critical for compliance and user safety. These tests are detailed in IS 5416.
! The standard distinguishes between Type A (without arms) and Type B (with arms) chairs, which have different dimensional requirements, particularly the overall width and width between arms.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
plasticpolymerspolypropylene
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
BIFMA X5.1-2017Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA), USA
HighCurrent
General-Purpose Office Chairs - Tests
Both standards specify tests for safety, durability, and structural performance of office chairs.
EN 1335-2:2018European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
HighCurrent
Office furniture - Office work chair - Part 2: Safety requirements
Specifies safety, strength, and durability requirements for office work chairs, similar to the IS code's intent.
ISO 21015:2007International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
MediumCurrent
Office furniture -- Office work chairs -- Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability
Overlaps in defining test methods for strength and durability, but ISO 21015 does not set acceptance criteria.
BS 5459-2:2000+A2:2008British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Specification for performance requirements and tests for office furniture. Part 2: Office pedestal seating for use by persons weighing up to 150 kg and for use up to 24 hours a day
Covered performance testing for office chairs, but was known for its high-severity 24-hour use criteria.
Key Differences
≠The IS code is material-specific, applying only to plastic chairs, whereas international standards like BIFMA X5.1 and EN 1335 are performance-based and apply to chairs of any material.
≠The seat impact test in BIFMA X5.1 is significantly more severe, using a 102 kg (225 lb) mass, compared to the 25 kg mass specified in IS 13713.
≠International standards are more comprehensive, including tests for components like casters, armrests, and swivel mechanisms that are not explicitly detailed in IS 13713.
≠EN 1335 includes specific ergonomic dimensional requirements for chairs (Type A, B, C), a feature absent in IS 13713 which focuses solely on strength and stability.
≠Modern BIFMA standards are updated more frequently and often define different test loads for various user weights, while IS 13713:1993 provides a single set of criteria.
Key Similarities
≈All standards mandate a core set of tests including static load, impact load, fatigue/cyclic loading, and stability assessment to ensure safety and durability.
≈The fundamental principle of applying static loads to the seat and back to verify structural integrity without failure is a common requirement across all standards.
≈All standards include procedures to test for forward, rearward, and sideward stability to prevent the chair from tipping over during normal use.
≈The concept of cyclic testing (fatigue) to simulate long-term use is a shared methodology, with comparable cycle counts (e.g., 100,000 in IS vs 120,000 in BIFMA for back durability).
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Seat Static Load
135 kgf (approx. 1324 N) for 1 hour
300 lb (136 kg / 1334 N) for 1 minute (Proof Load)
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Back Static Load
70 kgf (approx. 686 N)
150 lbf (68 kg / 667 N) (Functional Load)
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Seat Impact Test (Drop Mass)
25 kg mass from 150 mm height
225 lb (102 kg) mass from 6 in (152 mm) height
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Back Fatigue Test (Cycles)
100,000 cycles
120,000 cycles
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Back Fatigue Test (Load)
32 kgf (approx. 314 N)
75 lbf (approx. 334 N)
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Seat Fatigue Test (Load)
90 kgf (approx. 883 N)
240 lb (109 kg / 1067 N)
BIFMA X5.1-2017
Rearward Stability Test
Chair must not tip with 60 kg on seat and tilted back 17 degrees.
A specific fixture applies a 13.5 lbf (60 N) rearward force; chair must not tip.
BIFMA X5.1-2017
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
What is the specified seat height for an office chair under this standard?+
The seat height (H1) must be between 420 mm and 500 mm, as per Table 1.
What is the static load the seat must withstand?+
The seat must withstand a static load of 1360 N applied vertically for 1 minute without breaking, as per the test described in Clause 7.3.
What are the material requirements for the plastic?+
The standard specifies that the plastic used should be virgin polypropylene conforming to IS 7328 or other engineering plastics with comparable properties (Clause 4.1).
How is the chair's stability tested?+
Forward and sideway stability are tested by applying specified forces (e.g., 200 N for forward stability) at the edge of the seat to check if the chair tips over (Clause 7.2).