BIFMAs

BIFMAs refers to the standards, guidelines, and certification programs developed by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) for the office furniture industry. BIFMA is a trade association whose members manufacture or supply office seating, desks, storage, panels, and related products. Its mission is to improve safety, performance, durability, and sustainability through voluntary, consensus-based rules and credible testing.

Standards and testing: BIFMA publishes performance and safety test methods and dimensional requirements for major product families, and it collaborates with ANSI to develop nationally recognized standards. The standards cover seating, desks and tables, storage, and workspace systems, addressing stability, strength, ergonomics, and reliability. The guidelines are used by manufacturers, retailers, architects, and government procurement officials to specify compatible products.

Certification and labeling: Many products are evaluated by third-party laboratories for conformity with BIFMA standards and may carry a BIFMA conformity mark, signaling verified performance and safety.

Sustainability: The ANSI/BIFMA e3 family defines environmental and social attributes, and the BIFMA LEVEL program certifies products against e3 criteria across multiple attributes, including materials, energy, and supply chain responsibility.

Governance and membership: BIFMA is governed by a board of directors and committees composed of member companies and industry stakeholders. Its members span manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in North America and beyond.

Impact: BIFMA standards are widely used in procurement, testing, and product design, helping harmonize expectations across suppliers and buyers and contributing to market confidence in office furniture performance and environmental stewardship.