Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies test methods for the strength and overload tests of connectors for furniture constructed from panel material and procedures for evaluating test results.

The document is specifically intended for assessing of cabinet connectors for carcases made of wood-based panel materials.

The methods described can, however, be used to assess the relative performance of other types of connectors, e.g. some types of connectors for beds.

The strength and overload tests only apply to the connectors and their components, as well as the mounting to and in the cabinet carcase. It does not apply to additional functions that the connector may have e.g. covering of the connector.

The tests described are carried according to a test setup with specified properties and characteristics.

The test results are only valid for the connector tested.

The results can be used to represent the performance of production models, provided the tested model is representative of the production model.

Aging and the influences of temperature and humidity are not included. The standard contains four informative annexes, providing additional methodologies for the detailed evaluation of the test results, and a procedure for comparing the tested connector with a reference connector.

Annex A (informative) – Reference connector – Glued dowel

Annex B (informative) – Ratio generation

Annex C (informative) – Stiffness calculation for further evaluation of the overload

Annex D (informative) – Evaluation by the characteristic value (5% percentile)

Purpose

Provision of test methods to evaluate the performance of connecting fittings as a basis for the characterisation of their technical properties. No technical specifications exits so far to compare different products or optimize their properties.