SGS : Bunk and High Beds Top the Furniture Recall Tables

Weak safety barriers and head entrapment are the primary causes associated with recalls of bunk and high beds in the last ten years.

EU standards are regularly updated to take into account newly evaluated risks. Bunk and high beds fall under the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), and a French decree.

High beds and bunk beds have more product recalls than any other category of furniture, and the injuries tend to be more critical even fatal. During the last seven years Europe has had ten product recalls for this category of furniture and the statistics show that 80% of accidents resulting from the use of high beds and bunk beds involve children under six years of age. Furniture of this type is often recalled for one of two reasons. Firstly, there may be a risk of the bed's occupant falling due to a missing or weak containment barrier around the bed and, secondly, the bed may be built using the wrong dimensions, leading to an increased risk of head entrapment.

EU Requirements For Bunk Beds And High Beds

In response to these problems, the European Union (EU) updated its standards for bunk beds and high beds in 2015 - superseding EN 747-1:2012 with EN 747-1:2012+A1:2015. The amended regulation came in two parts:

• EN 747 Part 1 - requirements related to safety, strength and durability
• EN 747 Part 2 - amended test method

Compliance with these standards is mandatory for all bunk beds and high beds being brought onto the European market.

In September 2015, however, the French Government issued Decree No. 95 949. This notice restated a previous French government regulation - dated August 25, 1995 - the Prevention of Risks Resulting from the Use of Certain Bunk Beds.

By publishing Decree No.95 949, the French Government has restated the need for companies, looking to bring high beds and bunk beds to the French market, to be compliant with both European regulations and France's own regulations. Due to possible interpretation issues, French authorities more readily accept reports if they have been reviewed by French experts, it is therefore important that manufacturers seek confirmation by a French expert before offering their products to the French market.

Streamlining Compliance Verification

A number of SGS laboratories are currently accredited to carry out the tests required for the European standard - EN 747 - and its laboratory in Shunde, China is able to test bunk beds and high beds against the French Decree. Considering the high demand for testing these pieces of furniture for the French market, the company is looking to introduce the process to other laboratory facilities, giving more manufacturers the ability to access the French market.

For access to the French market, testing is conducted at Shunde, which holds the relevant China National Accreditation Service (CNAS) certificate and is able to carry out and issue the relevant paperwork. After testing, SGS's local furniture experts review the results and provide the marking/labeling via facilities at Aix, in France. After being reviewed by a French expert, a bilingual report can be created for the French authorities.

SGS Furniture Services

More than standard testing, SGS adds value from the drawing board to the shop floor. Product design analysis, component and product testing, auditing, inspection and retail store checks all help to ensure that products are designed with safety and compliance in mind. In addition, our internal furniture technical committee, made up of experts from different locations, keeps our technical teams update to date with amendments to standards and regulations, as well as harmonizing test procedures and interpretations across our network.

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For more information about SGS services for the furniture industry, please contact your local SGS sales representative or contact our global team:

Priscille Galceran
Global Furniture Expert
SGS France
t: +33 4 42 97 64 47