IS 12674 Part 1:1989 specifies test methods to evaluate the strength of settees and benches by simulating normal use and common misuse forces. It provides procedures for static, fatigue, impact, and drop tests at four severity levels to assess structural integrity of seating furniture. This standard is essential for furniture manufacturers, quality controllers, and engineers to ensure settees and benches meet safety and durability requirements under expected service conditions.
Overview
IS 12674 Part 1:1989 specifies test methods to evaluate the strength of settees and benches by simulating normal use and common misuse forces. It provides procedures for static, fatigue, impact, and drop tests at four severity levels to assess structural integrity of seating furniture. This standard is essential for furniture manufacturers, quality controllers, and engineers to ensure settees and benches meet safety and durability requirements under expected service conditions.
Audience
Contents
Structure
IS 12674 Part 1 - Scope: Key Specifications & Tables
The standard defines test levels and procedures for furniture strength and durability, focusing on static, fatigue, impact, and drop tests.
| Test Type | Load/Force/Height | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load | Seat force (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load | Back force per pad (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways static load | Force applied (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Seat fatigue test | Cycles @ 950 N seat force | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Leg forwards static load | Max forward force (N) | 375 | 500 | 620 | 760 |
| Seat impact test | Drop height (mm) | 140 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| Back impact test | Drop height (mm) | 120 | 210 | 330 | 620 |
| Drop test | Drop height (mm) | 75 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
| Use Type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Office | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Educational | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Institutional | ✔ | |||
| Hotel | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Hospital | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Type of Use | Test Level 1 | Test Level 2 | Test Level 3 | Test Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folding garden/camping | Selected | Selected | Not selected | Not selected |
| Domestic | Selected | Selected | Selected | Not selected |
| Office | Not given | Selected | Selected | Selected |
| Educational | Not given | Not given | Selected | Selected |
| Institutional | Not given | Not given | Not given | Selected |
| Hotel | Not given | Selected | Selected | Not given |
| Hospital | Not given | Selected | Selected | Selected |
| Military | Not given | Not given | Not selected | Selected |
| Police station | Not given | Not selected | Selected | Selected |
| Recreation room | Not given | Not given | Not selected | Selected |
| Common room | Not given | Not given | Not given | Selected |
| Public hall | Not given | Not selected | Selected | Selected |
| Test Type | Test Level 1 | Test Level 2 | Test Level 3 | Test Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Seat fatigue cycles | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 |
IS 12674 Part 1: Principles of Testing - Key Points
| Test | Primary Purpose | Secondary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Seat static load | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| Back static load | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| Arm & wing sideways static load | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| Seat & Back fatigue test | Service durability | Damage propagation |
| Leg static & diagonal base test | Handling strength | - |
| Seat impact test | Residual strength | Acceptable misuse |
| Back & Arm impact test | Impact strength | - |
| Drop test | - | - |
| Test | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Seat fatigue cycles | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Seat impact drop height (mm) | 140 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| Back impact drop height (mm) | 120 | 210 | 330 | 620 |
| Arm impact angle (degrees) | 28 | 38 | 48 | 68 |
| Drop test height (mm) | 75 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
graph LR
A[Static Load Tests] --> B[Fatigue Tests]
B --> C[Impact Tests]
C --> D[Drop Tests]
A --> D
Use these tables and principles to select appropriate test levels based on product category and expected service conditions.
IS 12674 Part 1: General Requirements for Tests
| Test Number | Test Title | Primary Purpose | Secondary Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1a, 1b | Seat & Back static load test | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| 2 | Arm & wing sideways static load | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| 3 | Arm downwards static load test | Basic strength | |
| 4a, 4b | Seat & Back fatigue test | Service durability | Damage propagation |
| 5a, 5b, 5c | Leg forward/sideways & diagonal base | Handling strength | |
| 6 | Seat impact test | Residual strength | Acceptable misuse |
| 7a, 7b | Back & Arm impact test | Impact strength | |
| 8 | Drop test |
| Test | Parameter | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load | Force (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load | Force at pad (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways static load | Force (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Wing sideways static load | Force (N) | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Arm downwards static load | Force (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1000 |
| Seat fatigue test | Cycles @ 950 N | 25000 | 50000 | 100000 | 200000 |
| Back fatigue test | Cycles @ 400 N | 25000 | 50000 | 100000 | 200000 |
| Leg |
IS 12674 Part 1: Inspection Before and After Testing
| Test Type | Test Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load per pad (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways static load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Wing sideways static load (N) | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Arm downwards static load (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1000 |
| Seat fatigue cycles (950 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Back fatigue cycles (400 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Leg forwards static load (N) | 375 | 500 | 620 | 760 |
| Leg sideways static load (N) | 300 | 390 | 490 | 760 |
| Diagonal base force (N) | 250 | 375 | 500 | 620 |
| Seat impact drop height (mm) | 140 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| Back impact drop height (mm) | 120 | 210 | 330 | 620 |
| Arm impact angle (degrees) | 28 | 38 | 48 |
IS 12674 Part 1: Test Equipment and Setup - Key Specifications
| Test Type | Test Level 1 | Test Level 2 | Test Level 3 | Test Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Wing sideways load (N) | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Arm downwards load (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1000 |
| Seat fatigue cycles (950 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Back fatigue cycles (400 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Leg forwards load (N) | 375 | 500 | 620 | 760 |
| Leg sideways load (N) | 300 | 390 | 490 | 760 |
| Diagonal base load (N) | 250 | 375 | 500 | 620 |
| Seat impact drop height (mm) | 140 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| Back impact drop height (mm) | 120 | 210 | 330 | 620 |
| Arm impact angle (degrees) | 28 | 38 | 48 | 68 |
| Drop test height (mm) | 75 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
IS 12674 Part 1: Determination of Seat and Back Loading Points
Double Back Loading Pad (Clause 6.13):
Loading Point Determination (Clause 6.3 & 7):
| Pad Type | Height | Width | Curvature Radius | Edge Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Back Loading | 200 | 250 | 450 (convex) | 12 |
| Seat Loading Pad | See Fig. 4 & 5 (varied) | - | - | - |
graph LR
A[Template (6.3)] --> B[Position on Seat Centerline]
B --> C[Push Rearwards to Match Seat Shape]
C --> D[Mark Seat & Back Loading Points]
D --> E[Mount Seat Loading Pad at Marked Points]
E --> F[Apply Force V (Table 2) 10 Times]
This procedure ensures accurate and repeatable load application points for static load testing of chairs per IS 12674 Part 1.
IS 12674 Part 1 — Key Test Procedures Summary
| Test No. | Test Type | Test Level 1 | Test Level 2 | Test Level 3 | Test Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | Seat static load test (N) | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
| 1b | Back static load test (N) | 410 (pad) | 560 (pad) | 760 (pad) | 760 (pad) |
| Balancing seat force (N) | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,600 | 2,000 | |
| 2 | Arm sideways static load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Wing sideways static load (N) | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 | |
| 3 | Arm downwards static load (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1,000 |
| 4a | Seat fatigue test (cycles @ 950 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| 4b | Back fatigue test (cycles @ 400 N) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| 5a | Leg forwards static load (N) | 375 | 500 | 620 | 760 |
| 5b | Leg sideways static load (N) | 300 | 390 | 490 | 760 |
| Balancing seat force (N) | 780 | 1,000 | 1,250 | 1,800 | |
| 5c | Diagonal base force (N) | 250 | 375 | 500 | 620 |
| 6 | Seat impact test (drop height mm) |
IS 12674 Part 1: Criteria for Passing Tests
| Test No. | Test Type | Parameter | Test Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | Seat static load | Seat force (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| 1b | Back static load | Back force per pad (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| 2 | Arm sideways static load | Force (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| 3 | Arm downwards static load | Force (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1000 |
| 4a | Seat fatigue test | Cycles @ 950 N | 25,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| 5a | Leg forwards static load | Max force (N) | 375 | 500 | 620 | 760 |
| 6 | Seat impact test | Drop height (mm) | 140 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| 8 | Drop test | Drop height (mm) | 75 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
flowchart TD
A[Start: Test Setup] --> B{Apply Static Load}
B -->|Pass| C{Apply Fatigue Load}
IS 12674 Part 1 — Test Report Key Formulas, Tables, and Specifications
| Test No. | Title | Primary Purpose | Secondary Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1a, 1b | Seat & Back static load test | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| 2 | Arm & Wing sideways static | Basic strength | Damage initiation |
| 3 | Arm downwards static load | Basic strength | |
| 4a, 4b | Seat & Back fatigue test | Service durability | Damage propagation |
| 5a, 5b,5c | Leg & diagonal base tests | Handling strength | |
| 6 | Seat impact test | Residual strength | Acceptable misuse |
| 7a, 7b | Back & Arm impact test | Impact strength | |
| 8 | Drop test |
| Test | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat static load (N) | 1100 | 1300 | 1600 | 2000 |
| Back static load (N) | 410 | 560 | 760 | 760 |
| Arm sideways load (N) | 300 | 400 | 600 | 900 |
| Wing sideways load (N) | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Arm downwards load (N) | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1000 |
| Seat fatigue cycles @ 950 N | 25000 |
Frequently Asked
Strength Testing Loads & Forces on Settees and Benches (IS 12674 Part 1)
Outward Arm Forces (Clause 6.9):
Apply two outward forces (H_a) at the most failure-prone point along the arms, repeated 10 times using local loading pads.
Seat Loading & Forward Force (Clause 6.5):
Repeated Application:
Forces are applied repeatedly (usually 10 times) to simulate fatigue.
| Test Type | Force Direction | Magnitude (kN) | Repetitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm Outward Force | Outward | As per Table 2 | 10 |
| Seat Load | Vertical Down | As per Table 2 | 10 |
| Forward Leg Force | Horizontal Forward | As per Table 2 (reduce if overturn) | 10 |
Loading diagram...
This ensures structural strength and stability under realistic use conditions.
According to IS 12674 Part 1 (1989):
| Loading Type | Location | Force (N) | Repetitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Loading | Seat loading point & front edge | See Table 2 | 10 |
| Back Loading | Back loading point or 100 mm below top | 330 (or less) | As specified |
This ensures realistic simulation of user loads for durability testing.
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According to IS 12674 Part 1, the four furniture test levels relate to the expected usage severity and corresponding strength requirements:
| Test Level | Usage Description | Typical Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Careful domestic use | Domestic bedroom furniture |
| 2 | General domestic use | Living/dining rooms, hotel bedrooms |
| 3 | Severe domestic use | Settees in college studies, hotel receptions |
| 4 | Exceptionally severe use | Student common rooms, barrack rooms |
This graded approach ensures furniture strength matches expected durability and misuse scenarios.
According to IS 12674 Part 1 (Clause 5.1.3), the following defects after strength testing are considered failures:
Passing criteria (Clause 9.1):
These ensure structural integrity and safety post-testing.
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IS 12674 Part 1 focuses exclusively on the structural strength and durability of the furniture frame, such as settees and benches.
| Covered Aspect | Not Covered Aspect |
|---|---|
| Structural strength | Upholstery material durability |
| Fatigue and impact on frame | Fabric wear and tear |
| Load tests on frames | Cushion resilience |
Thus, IS 12674 Part 1 is not intended for upholstery durability assessment but for the structural integrity of seating furniture.
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