Furniture Testing 101: Storage Furniture Stability Testing for Safer Homes and Stronger Brands

Furniture stability testing is about more than passing a laboratory exercise. It is about avoiding costly recalls that can devastate a brand. A single recall can cost millions, covering retrieval, repairs, and penalties, as well as indirect losses such as sales declines, reputational harm, and weakened customer loyalty. In severe cases, recalls have pushed companies into administration or caused long-term erosion of market share.

This guide demystifies storage furniture stability testing, outlines the latest global requirements (ASTM F2057, UL 1678, BIMFA X5.9, EN 14749, ISO 7170), shares lessons from recent recalls, and shows how Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines helps brands bring safe, compliant products to market without sacrificing design or speed.

What is Furniture Stability Testing?

Furniture stability testing evaluates whether a free-standing unit resists tipping under realistic loads, forces, and usage scenarios, such as multiple drawers open, placement on carpet, added contents, or a child interacting with the unit.

Typical items include clothing storage units (CSUs) such as dressers and chests, as well as domestic storage and kitchen furniture.

Global Storage Furniture Stability Standards and Regulations

United States - ASTM F2057

Mandatory under the STURDY Act since 1 September 2023, ASTM F2057 specifies performance and test requirements for CSUs to reduce child tip-over risk. It defines interlock performance, test forces, carpet simulation, and labelling, and requires a compliant anti-tip device in the box.

United States - UL 1678

Voluntary standard and specific for carts, stands and entertainment centres for use with audio and/or video equipment. It covers the labelling, safety, strength and stability test methods and requirements.

United States - BIMFA X5.9

Voluntary standard and specific for storage units used in office and/or commercial environment. It includes test methods for strength and durability as well as the stability.

European Union & UK – EN 14749

Sets safety requirements and test methods for domestic and kitchen storage units and worktops, including stability. The 2022 amendment provides further alignment and clarifications.

International – ISO 7170

Provides test methods for determining the strength, durability, and stability of storage units, supporting consistent approaches across markets.

Keeping specifications current matters: retailers and regulators expect conformance with the latest editions and may update protocols accordingly.

Why Furniture Stability Testing matters

Furniture stability testing plays a critical role in ensuring that products remain safe and functional under everyday use. Whether it’s a tall wardrobe, a freestanding kitchen cabinet, or a work desk, poor stability can lead to accidents, product failure, and costly recalls.

For clothing storage units (CSUs), tip-over risk is especially serious. Regulatory momentum has accelerated: the STURDY Act required the CPSC (the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to adopt a standard that simulates the weight of children up to 60 lb (27.2 kg) and real-world conditions (carpet, loaded drawers, multiple drawers open, dynamic force). The adoption of ASTM F2057-23 as the mandatory rule signals industry alignment on more rigorous stability performance.

But beyond CSUs, stability testing ensures that all types of furniture, from kitchen units to office shelving, meet structural expectations, reduce liability, and protect brand reputation.

How Furniture Stability Testing works

While protocols vary by standard, several principles recur. Below is a simplified view, always consult the actual standard text for definitive requirements.

Static and “carpet with child weight” tests (ASTM F2057)

ASTM F2057 requires CSUs to pass three stability tests:

• Clothing-load test: with doors and extendible elements open (unless interlocked), contents loaded to a defined density.
• Horizontal force test: 10 lbf (44.5 N) applied at the highest handhold (up to 56 in / 1.42 m).
• Carpet with child weight test: simulated child mass (60 lb / 27.2 kg) applied to the element most likely to cause tip-over, with a test block under rear legs to simulate carpet.

It also requires an appropriate anti‑tip device (per ASTM F3096) and warning labels, among other design controls (e.g., interlocks must function without extra consumer action on assembled units). For more details on child furniture safety testing, explore our service page here.

Safey requirements with tip stability tests (UL 1678)

UL 1689 includes the safety requirements including strength, stability and labelling for carts, stands and entertainment centres for use with audio and/or video equipment. The stability tests cover static and dynamic force with considering the placement of loading of audio and video equipment.

Strength, durability and stability testing (BIMFA X5.9)

BIFMA X5.9 provides strength, durability and stability test methods and requirements for storage units used in office. The stability tests cover the different usage scenario with static, horizontal and vertical force.

Stability and usage testing (EN 14749)

EN 14749 sets safety requirements and test methods for domestic and kitchen storage units, including testing stability in relevant configurations (e.g., wall‑hanging considerations, loaded conditions). The standard’s 2022 amendment reflects ongoing alignment of methods and clarifications for practical testing.

Strength, durability and stability (ISO 7170)

ISO 7170 provides test methods for fully assembled storage units, covering stability alongside strength and durability. It offers suggested loads and cycles (Annex B), supporting consistent test set‑ups across domestic and non‑domestic applications. Acceptance criteria are defined by the product’s applicable standard or buyer requirement.

Common stability pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Top‑heavy designs and narrow footprints

Tall, narrow units are inherently less stable, especially with drawers extended. Early design review and finite element thinking around mass distribution, drawer travel and plinth/base geometry helps. (ASTM F2057’s “carpet + child weight” test is designed to expose precisely this vulnerability.)

Insufficient or ineffective anti‑tip hardware

A wall‑anchoring kit is only protective if it works for the lifetime of the product. The 2024 recall of plastic tip‑restraint kits shows why hardware selection and validation matter. Consider metal brackets, robust straps, and user‑friendly installation instructions - tested to recognised hardware standards.

Interlocks that don’t behave as intended

Where interlocks are used, ASTM F2057 requires they engage without extra consumer action, and that they function under specified forces during testing. Validate interlock performance with realistic tolerances and assembly variance.

Carpet and uneven floor assumptions

Laboratory carpet simulations (rear test block) reveal how friction and tilt change behaviour. If your buyer profile includes carpeted homes, treat the “carpet with child weight” test as a design input, not just a final gateway.

Change control risks

Seemingly minor changes (drawer slides, materials, fasteners) can alter weight distribution and stability. Lock in a re‑test trigger list and document change assessments to avoid surprise non‑conformities.

Recent recalls: what they teach us about tip‑over prevention

• Tip‑restraint performance is mission‑critical. Tip-restraint performance is mission-critical. In January 2024, the CPSC recalled millions of plastic restraint kits after reports of breakage, which could allow units to detach from walls. Hardware that degrades over time undermines the prevention strategy.
• STURDY enforcement is active. The CPSC has cited products sold after the compliance date that did not meet ASTM F2057-23. This underscores the need for robust stability testing and documentation for every SKU and production change.

How Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines Can Help

At Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines, we understand that stability is only one piece of a broader furniture safety strategy. Deadlines are tight, cost pressures real, and design intent matters. Our global network of accredited laboratories provides:

• Mechanical & structural testing: stability, static/dynamic loading, durability, impact.
• Standards expertise: testing and guidance to ASTM F2057, EN 14749, ISO 7170, EN 1022/1728 (seating), BIFMA, and regional requirements.
• Pre‑compliance reviews: identify stability risks early (e.g., drawer extension, interlock behaviour, ballast options) and reduce costly redesign cycles.
• Chemical & flammability assessments (e.g., formaldehyde/VOC, REACH, TB117/BS 5852) to support complete market readiness.
• Global market access: one partner to interpret regional furniture compliance testing nuances and streamline documentation for buyers and authorities.

For additional resources, read our article: Furniture Testing 101: Why Furniture Performance Testing Matters, which distils why performance testing - stability included - protects both consumers and brands in today’s regulatory landscape.

Practical next steps for your team

• Map your scope: Which units are CSUs under ASTM F2057? Which ranges fall under EN 14749 and ISO 7170? Build a standard‑by‑SKU matrix.
• Design for stability: Treat the 60 lb carpet test and 10 lbf horizontal force as design inputs; evaluate interlocks and anti‑tip strategies early.
• Validate hardware: Select robust anti‑tip devices and verify performance over time; avoid materials prone to brittleness.
• Document & monitor: Keep test reports synced with the latest accepted editions and maintain a change‑control protocol that triggers re‑testing after material or construction updates.
• Partner with a lab: Engage us for pre‑compliance checks and formal testing, so you can launch with confidence and scale globally.

References & standards cited

• CPSC 2023 Annual Tip‑Over Report (published Feb 2024) – Injury and fatality statistics, locations and injury characterisation.
• CPSC Business Guidance for Clothing Storage Units – Definitions, test requirements (clothing load, horizontal force, carpet + child weight), anti‑tip device and labelling.
• Federal Register (88 FR 28403) – CPSC adoption of ASTM F2057‑23 under the STURDY Act; effective 1 Sept 2023.
• EN 14749:2016 + A1:2022 – Domestic & kitchen storage units; safety requirements and test methods.
• ISO 7170:2021 – Test methods for the determination of strength, durability and stability of storage units.
• CPSC Recall (Jan 11, 2024) – Multi‑company recall of plastic New Age tip‑restraint kits.
• UL 1678:2019 (R2023) – Standard for Safety – Household, Commercial, and Institutional-Use Carts, Stands and Entertainment Centres for Use with Audio/or Video Equipment
• BIMFA X5.9:2019 – Storage Units