Furniture, put through its paces
This is what the tests of our furniture look like!
What happens during furniture testing?
In the first step, furniture testing deals with the stability and durability of all components. Also decisive are the test results for compliance with all valid guideline values for substances that are harmful to health. In particular, the furniture must not exceed the critical threshold values for alkanes, esters, terpenes, hydrocarbons and ketones. In addition, the responsible laboratories also test for CFCs, heavy metals, flame retardants and other biocides.
Finally, the experts deal with the durability, light fastness and rub fastness of the products. They attach great importance to excellent manufacturing quality. Especially in the case of children's, school and youth furniture, no protruding nails or sharp-edged components may pose a risk to safety or health. In addition, the quality mark is also awarded to kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom furniture. These quality and testing regulations are unique in Europe and highly sought after. So important, in fact, that they are used as the basis for international standardisation.
Proven quality and safety
Which test criteria must a piece of furniture fulfil in order to receive the "Golden M"?
The DGM develops the quality and testing regulations (RAL-GZ 430) as a basis, which are regularly updated by experts. These stipulate exactly
- what furniture must be able to withstand
- how it must be processed
- how the numerous tests and inspections in the laboratory must be carried out
- which results are good enough for a tested piece of furniture to receive the RAL quality mark.
The responsible testing institutes and experts carry out the tests required for the DGM.