Creating Guidelines for Quality in Outdoor Furniture

Great Outdoors Meets Modern Workspace

In response to the shift toward outdoor work and open-air environments during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, BIFMA investigated environmental influences on outdoor furniture. Thinking beyond four walls, outdoor furniture needs to be able to within stand harsh weather including intense UV light, strong winds, extreme temperatures, and water exposure. BIFMA formed a subcommittee in 2021 to explore combining BIFMA’s safety and performance standard with accelerated weather testing. In fact, our very own David Potter volunteers his time and expertise to this committee.
  

Striving for Quality Beyond Four Walls

After three years, the subcommittee created an outdoor furniture whitepaper that lists recommended ASTM and UV test procedures. This whitepaper provides guidance for manufacturers like Ghent who design outdoor furniture and focus on durability and structural integrity. “This whitepaper will direct manufacturers to design outdoor workspaces that perform reliably, withstand environmental stress, and last over time," commented David Potter, Product Development Engineer at Ghent.

Learn more by reading the BIFMA Outdoor Furniture Whitepaper. 
  

Ghent’s Outdoor Collection 

Taking notice of the shift in outdoor workspaces, especially in office and education environments, Ghent is excited to introduce our Outdoor Collection! Featuring Haven, Preserve, GRVT, and outdoor enclosed boards, this collection delivers durable, purpose-built tools designed to support collaboration and connection in any outdoor setting.    

Our Outdoor Durability 

At Ghent, our engineers do rigorous testing to ensure our products follow the BIFMA guidelines for performance and safety. Preserve is engineered with robust structural supports that are designed to endure highspeed winds up to 150 mph. Our outdoor Glassboards feature dual layered tempered glass with an EVA interlayer and are tested over time to resist discoloration in high UV exposure environments. These intentional design choices ensure our outdoor products remain durable, safe, and reliable in even the harshest conditions.

Quote Your Outdoor Space Now