AS/NZS 4610.2:2020

The objective of this Standard is to provide educational authorities, purchasers, specifiers, users, manufacturers and consumers with requirements for school and educational chairs that specify sizing, safety, strength, durability and stability requirements to assist in selection and evaluation.

This Standard specifies sizing, safety, strength, durability and stability requirements for eight sizes of chairs for educational institutions.
Chairs may be —
(a) fixed height;
(b) height adjustable;
(c) with arms;
(d) without arms;
(e) have fixed seats; or
(f) swivel seats.
Chairs may have —
(i) fixed or inclinable backrests of not more than 30° from vertical;
(ii) fixed or inclinable single slope seats;
(iii) a writing tablet; or
(iv) a storage area, usually under the seat.
Where a chair includes a storage component, this Standard will not make any strength or durability assessment of that component.
Bases may be, but are not limited to —
(A) discrete legs;
(B) sled;
(C) cantilever; or
(D) pedestal types.
Bases may be fitted with —
(1) wheels;
(2) castors;
(3) glides; or
(4) ferrules.
NOTE 1 In this Standard, the term “chair” also includes stools.
This Standard does not cover the following:
(aa) Chairs other than those with single-sloped seats and single-sloped seats with a forward inclination greater than 7° or a rearward inclination of greater than 5°.
(bb) Double-sloped seats (i.e. a seat where approximately 30 % to 50 % of the seat depth slopes to the front and the remainder slopes to the rear of the seat).
NOTE 2 Double-sloped seats have a substantial apex height, see Figure 1.1.
(cc) Folding chairs.
(dd) Benches or seating for more than one person.
(ee) Outdoor and playground seating.
(ff) Lounges and ottomans.
(gg) Chairs intended for use by teachers, administration staff or management.
(hh) Chairs for use in commercial environments.

Originated as AS/NZS 4610.2:1999.
Revised and republished as AS/NZS 4610.2:2020.