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IS 3791:1983 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for metal paper trays - specification. This standard specifies the requirements for materials, dimensions, manufacture, and finish of metal paper trays used for organizing documents in offices. It ensures structural rigidity, appropriate rust-preventative coating, and user safety by mandating edge treatments.
JIS S 1039:1999JSA (Japanese Standards Association), Japan
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Stationery and office supplies — Letter trays
Directly specified requirements for letter trays, including dimensions, materials, and performance.
GB/T 14383-1993SAC (Standardization Administration of China), China
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Metal letter trays
Prescriptive standard for metal letter trays, similar in structure and intent to the IS code.
ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2019BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association), USA
LowCurrent
Storage Units - Tests
Performance-based standard for all office storage units; does not specify trays but includes relevant strength and durability tests for shelves/surfaces.
BS EN 14073-2:2004BSI (British Standards Institution) / CEN (European Committee for Standardization), UK/Europe
LowCurrent
Office furniture - Storage furniture - Part 2: Safety requirements
Covers safety requirements (e.g., sharp edges, stability) for all office storage furniture, not specific to paper trays.
Key Differences
≠IS 3791 is a prescriptive standard, defining specific materials (mild steel, tinplate) and dimensions. Modern international standards like ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 are performance-based, focusing on test outcomes (e.g., load capacity, durability) regardless of material or design.
≠The load testing in IS 3791 is a simple static load test (15 kg for 1 minute). In contrast, BIFMA X5.9 specifies more rigorous and comprehensive tests, including distributed load tests for surfaces which would equate to a higher load for the same surface area.
≠IS 3791 specifies exact dimensions for two paper sizes (Foolscap and A4). While older standards like JIS S 1039 also specified dimensions based on local paper sizes, modern performance standards do not mandate product dimensions, only that they function safely.
≠The Indian Standard focuses on the final product specification. Broader standards like BS EN 14073-2 introduce more detailed and quantifiable safety requirements, such as minimum radii for accessible edges and corners to prevent injury, which is more descriptive than the IS code's requirement to be 'suitably rounded off'.
Key Similarities
≈All standards, whether specific or general, aim to ensure the product is fit for its primary purpose of holding standard-sized documents in an office setting.
≈Both IS 3791 and the international counterparts include requirements for strength and durability. The IS code's 'Rigidity Test' is a basic form of the more complex load-bearing tests found in BIFMA and EN standards.
≈The need for a protective and durable finish is a common theme. IS 3791 specifies coatings like stove enamelling, while performance standards like BIFMA X5.9 include specific tests for finish adhesion and abrasion resistance.
≈A focus on user safety through the treatment of edges is present in both. IS 3791 requires edges to be 'beaded or suitably rounded', which is the same fundamental goal as the more specific geometric requirements in standards like BS EN 14073-2.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
A4 Tray Nominal Dimensions (L x W x H)
305 x 230 x 75 mm
No mandated dimensions; designed to accommodate A4 paper (297 x 210 mm). A typical product size is ~320 x 240 x 60 mm.
JIS S 1039:1999 (Concept)
Steel Sheet Thickness
Not less than 0.50 mm
≥0.5 mm
GB/T 14383-1993
Load Bearing Test
15 kg uniformly distributed load for 1 min with no permanent set.
Shelf strength test: ~366 kg/m² distributed load. For an A4 tray (~0.07 m²), this equates to ~25 kg.
ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2019
Dimensional Tolerance (Length/Width)
± 3.0 mm
Typically ± 2 mm to ± 5 mm in similar prescriptive standards.
JIS S 1039:1999
Edge Safety
Edges shall be beaded or suitably rounded off to avoid injury.
Accessible edges and corners shall be rounded with a radius of ≥ 2 mm or chamfered.
BS EN 14073-2:2004
Finish Requirement
Prescribed options: Stove enamelling, chromium plating, etc.
Performance-based: Must pass tests like Adhesion (ASTM D3359) and Scratch/Abrasion resistance tests.
ANSI/BIFMA X5.9-2019
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use