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IS 5974:1986 (Part 2) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for methods of test for strength and stability of tables and trolleys, part 2: stability. This standard prescribes the methods for testing the stability of various types of tables and trolleys. It details procedures to apply vertical and horizontal forces to assess the furniture's resistance to overturning under simulated use conditions.
Methods of test for strength and stability of tables and trolleys, Part 2: Stability
EN 1730:2012CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Furniture - Tables - Test methods for determination of strength, durability and stability
Directly provides test methods for table stability, including horizontal and vertical force applications.
ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association), USA
HighCurrent
Desk and Table Products - Tests
Covers stability tests for office desks and tables, focusing on safety and performance in a commercial setting.
AS/NZS 4935:2009Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand, Australia/New Zealand
MediumCurrent
Domestic furniture - Freestanding furniture - Determination of stability
Provides general stability test methods for all freestanding domestic furniture, including tables.
ISO 7171:1988ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
LowWithdrawn
Furniture — Storage units — Test methods for the determination of stability
Although for storage units, its principles of applying forces to assess tipping risk are conceptually similar.
Key Differences
≠IS 5974 combines a vertical load and a horizontal force in its primary stability test, whereas EN 1730 typically specifies separate tests for vertical stability (leaning) and horizontal stability (pushing).
≠The magnitude of test forces in modern standards like EN 1730 and BIFMA X5.5 is often higher and more specific to the intended use (e.g., 750 N vertical load for an office table in EN 1730 vs. 250 N general load in IS 5974).
≠IS 5974 includes a specific stability test for trolleys on a 10-degree inclined plane, a test not explicitly found in table-specific standards like EN 1730 or BIFMA X5.5, which would be covered under mobile furniture standards instead.
≠International standards are more detailed in their test setup, specifying loading pad sizes and shapes (e.g., 100 mm diameter disc in EN 1730), whereas IS 5974 is less prescriptive about the test apparatus.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental principle across all standards is to assess stability by applying forces at the points most likely to cause the item to tip over.
≈All standards mandate that the primary pass/fail criterion is the same: the table or trolley must not overturn when subjected to the specified test forces.
≈All standards require testing the furniture in its most unstable configuration, such as with drawers, doors, or extension leaves fully opened.
≈The types of stability evaluated are consistent, including resistance to sideways pushing (horizontal stability) and resistance to a weight being placed on an edge (vertical stability).
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Horizontal Stability Force (Basic Push)
100 N or 1/10th of table weight (max 500 N)
89 N (20 lbf)
ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021
Horizontal Stability Force (Basic Push)
100 N or 1/10th of table weight (max 500 N)
20 N (for tables < 20 kg) or 50 N (for tables ≥ 20 kg)
EN 1730:2012
Vertical Stability Load (Edge Lean)
250 N (25 kgf)
750 N (for office work tables)
EN 1730:2012
Vertical Stability Load (Edge Lean)
250 N (25 kgf)
334 N (75 lb)
ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021
Horizontal Force Application Height
750 mm from floor or top surface if lower
At top of surface, max 1000 mm from floor
EN 1730:2012
Trolley Stability Test
Unit placed on a 10-degree inclined plane
Not specified; typically covered by separate mobile furniture standards
EN 1730 / BIFMA X5.5
Tip-Resistance Horizontal Force (Heavy Push)
Up to 500 N (as part of combined test)
503 N (113 lbf) applied with a vertical load to prevent sliding
ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Vertical load for large table stability test750 N
Vertical load for small table stability test350 N
Horizontal force for stability test20 N
Vertical load for overturning test on extending leaves100 N
Maximum height of stop to prevent sliding3 mm
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Stability Under Vertical Load
Clause 4 - Horizontal Stability
Clause 5 - Overturning Test for Tables with Extending Top/Leaves
Clause 6 - Test for Stability of Trolleys
Frequently Asked Questions4
What is the main purpose of this standard?+
To provide a uniform method for determining the stability of tables and trolleys to ensure they do not easily tip over in normal use.
What force is used to test the horizontal stability of a table?+
A horizontal force of 20 N is applied outwards at the edge of the tabletop at the midpoint of the longest side (Clause 4.3).
How is a trolley's stability tested?+
The trolley is loaded with its maximum specified weight, then tilted to an angle of 5 degrees. It must not overturn (Clause 6).
What is the difference in testing a 'large' versus a 'small' table?+
A large table (top > 0.25 m²) is tested with a 750 N vertical load, while a small table (top ≤ 0.25 m²) is tested with a 350 N load (Clause 3.2).