Agenda for the Day
11.15am – 12.00pm The Specifiers’ Guide presentation
12.00pm – 12.30pm Sustainable Purchasing and Manufacturing 12.30pm – 12.50pm Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme
12.50 pm – 1.20pm FIRA Gold
1.20pm – 2pm Lunch
2pm – 2.30pm Importance of Ergonomics in Specifying Furniture
2.30pm – 3pm Tours of our world renowned testing facilities
Testing and Certification
Consultancy
Research
Training
Lobbying
Setting and Maintaining Standards
What we do:
Current Problems
Tenders that specify misleading or inappropriate standards
and requirements cause problems.
Both for tendering authorities and suppliers, resulting in:
• Loss of time • Higher costs
• Wasted effort
• Inferior quality• Non-conformance• Liability/Legal Challenge
Solution
Specifiers need:
• Access to clear and concise advice for tender creation
• Access to accurate information on current requirements
• Access to the correct and current furniture standards
• A Guide for non-domestic and contract furniture
BenefitsFor Specifiers:• Understand the issues and requirements
• Save time and money in preparing tenders
• Save time and money in reviewing submissions
• Better products that are value for money and fit for purpose
For Manufacturers and Suppliers:• Better understanding of the specifiers’ needs
• Save time and money in responding to tenders
• Better chance of success for more responsible manufacturers
Target Audience
• Purchasers for Public Sector Organisations (Central and Local Government, Education and Health).
• Interior designers and architects.
• Specifiers for hospitality, hotels, offices.
• Procurement Professionals in the Private Sector.
• Construction and Fit-Out Companies and Main Contractors.
• Facilities Managers.
• Manufacturers and Suppliers.
Specifier Services Web Site
http://www.specifierservices.co.uk
The site has 2 main elements:
•A guide to Specifying and Tendering for Contract Furniture
•A tool to Create A Technical Specification
A Guide to Specifying and Tendering for Contract Furniture
• Legal Probity and Financial Performance
• Insurance
• Technical Capability, Capacity and Experience• Business Continuity and Risk Management• Quality Management Performance
• Health and Safety Performance
• Environmental Performance
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)• Supply Chain Management
What to look for in a Supplier?
• Fire Safety Requirements
• Safety and Performance Requirements
• Ergonomics• Product Certification and Award Schemes• Sustainable Manufacturing• Materials Specification
• Environmental – Timber Sourcing, Recycled Content, Re-use.
What to look for in a Product?
A Guide to Specifying and Tendering for Contract Furniture
• Public Sector Tendering
• Statement Of Requirements and Scope• Advertising• Restricted Procedures – P.Q.Q. & I.T.T.• Open Procedures (web based)
• Award Criteria and Scoring
• Reviewing Supporting Documentation• Final Selection• De-briefs
Preparing & Reviewing Tender Submissions
A Guide to Specifying and Tendering for Contract Furniture
Create a Technical Specification
Date Created: 18/07/2012Company: FIRAAddress: Here and nowContact name: Alan BennettContact no: 07561 331245Email: [email protected]: Bariatric chair testProduct: Chair for ELAdditional information: tender for new project, new building etc
Requirements:All products shall meet the requirements of the following standards:
Structural PerformanceFS0 56:2011 Furniture - Bariatric Seating - Requirements for strength, stability and durability 50 stone
Flammability PerformanceBS 7176:2007 Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing compositesMedium Hazard
Textile PerformanceBS 2543:2004 Upholstery fabrics for end use applications. Classification Severe Contract
Foam PerformanceBS 3379:2005 Combustion modified flexible polyurethane cellular materials for load bearing applications. X rated
Next Steps• Promotional Campaigns
– Regional and in-house workshops
– Individual training sessions
– C.P.D. programmes
• Next addition: Specification Advice for Educational Furniture – Storage Furniture (Heavy and Severe use)– Secure Storage (Heavy and Severe use)– Seating (size marks 1-7)– Tables (size marks 1-7)
• Future addition: Specification Advice for Hospital Furniture
• The site is evolving and developing (we welcome feedback)
Why Sustainability?
- Economic
- Environmental
- Social
- Regulatory
Numerous challenges to be overcome
Complex science
GPP and Government Buying Standards
- Sustainable timber- Limit and control of chemicals and hazardous substances- Use of recycled and/or renewable materials- Recyclability and separability of packaging materials and furniture parts- Durable, fit for use, ergonomic, easy to disassemble, repairable and recyclable furniture
When supplying furniture to central government and related organisations, there is an obligation to meet the Government Buying Standard for furniture.
Core criteria include:
Ethical Timber Sourcing
Chain of Custody (CoC) - Unbroken path which timber and paper products take from forest to consumer, including all stages of the supply chain
EU Timber Regulations - March 2013. Organisation’s first placing timber or timber products on to the European market are obliged to ensure that such products originate from legal sources by conducting ‘due diligence’
REACH
EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
Substances of Very High Concern
Includes:Azocolourants – Restricts the use of azo dyes that can produce carcinogenic amines in textiles and leather in contact with skin
Brominated flame retardants – Bans the use of Penta- and octa-BDE flame retardants
Waste Management and End of Life
Waste Management Hierarchy
Since April 2011, public sector organisations are encouraged to meet at least 5% of their office furniture needs through reuse/refurbish/reupholster of current stock
Environmental ImpactsCarbon Footprint
The total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or organization, event or product, throughout the lifecycle or within set boundary conditions
LCA
Assessment of the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s life from cradle to grave (raw material, manufacture, transport & distribution, installation & use, disposal)
EPD
Quantifiable information or data on the environmental aspects of goods or services
Furniture FootprinterIndustry specific
Based on verified material and process carbon dioxide values
Best Foot Forward and aligned with PAS2050 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHP)
BREEAM/LEEDBuilding Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method
Responsibly sourced materials, low embodied energy and recycled materials
Wellbeing
Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design
Products are assessed for volatile organic compounds
SKA Ratings- Rating the environmental performance of fit-out projects against sustainability criteria (energy, waste, materials, CO2 emissions, pollution, water, wellbeing and transportation)
- Not directly related to furniture but increasingly asked for in fit-out projects
- Government Buying Standards for furniture
Summary
- Economic- Environmental- Social- Regulatory
Good News: We CAN help!
Complexity and Challenges
Furniture Industry Sustainability
Programme (FISP)Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund
Research and Consultancy Manager
Benefits to Members
FISP Member Benefits
• Improved efficiency and reduced costs
• 3rd party approval and verification
• Access to new markets
• Marketing opportunities
• Additional stakeholder value
• Competitive advantage
• Sector specific guidance and support
Why should a specifier ask for FISP?
FISP is renowned as the sustainability benchmark for the furniture industry.
Certification provides:
• Independent verification of a bidder’s commitment to managing and improving their sustainability performance.
• Assurance of a bidder’s compliance with appropriate health, safety and environmental legislation.
• Evidence of a bidder’s commitment to continuous improvement of their sustainability performance.
Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme
FISP Audit Structure
Section 1: Core Commitments
- Environmental policy.
- Legal compliance.
Section 2: Environmental Commitments
- Choice of 5 from 9 criteria.
- Environmental criteria including waste management, energy management, procurement, packaging management, transport and sustainable timber.
Section 3: CSR Commitments- Choice of 3 from 6 criteria.- Economic and social criteria including community relations, education and
ethical issues.
FIRA - Sustainability Services
• FISP (Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme)
• Club Green
• Chain of Custody
• ISO 14001
• Carbon Footprinting- Furniture footprinter™
FIRA Gold Certification
A third-party product and service certification scheme operated by FIRA International Ltd (FIRA)
Benefits to Specifiers
• An important tool to aid evaluation
• Determining eligibility requirements by demanding FIRA Gold Certification as part of a tender document
• A single certificate which saves time with due diligence, ensuring that the product or range continues to meet all the relevant standards
Benefits to Manufacturers
Having independent certification which is industry recognised as a mark of product excellence will help increase your sales by:
• Standing out from your competitors
• Providing customer satisfaction
• Growing your reputation and brand
• New and exciting advertising PR and training opportunities
• Being specified for many more projects and tenders
What is Gold Certification?
• Established for over 25 years
• Backed by FIRA’s 60 years of experience
• Highly valued
What is involved?
• Initial type testing of samples to all applicable standards, which may include:
- Structural performance- Safety- Stability
What is involved?
• An initial inspection of the manufacturing premises
•Review of Customer complaint process
•A selected retesting programme
• Factory Audit
What is Gold Certification?
• The FIRA Gold Certification scheme is the only endorsement that encompasses:
– Legislation
– Good working practices
– Company polices
What is involved - Stage One
• Stage one is the pre-audit process to ensure that processes are in place to achieve the FIRA Gold Installation Certification
Installation Manual – Current legislation
– Working practices
– Company policy
– All necessary guidelines
– Fitting Manual
What is involved - Stage One
• Internal Auditing Processes
• Fitter Induction and Training
• Customer Complaint File
• Pre-audit visit
• External audit documentation
What is involved - Stage Two
• Ensures continued compliance with Stage One
• Continued compliance achieved through:– Full membership
– Ongoing auditing of regional installation managers or service providers
Marketing Support
• Dual branded brochures
• Point of sale information
• Sales training
• FIRA supported news releases in trade and specifier magazines
• FIRA’s marketing team will help you maximise PR and marketing opportunities
You will receive an introductory pack that will include ideas and tips as to how to maximise your sales opportunities
Testimonials
“…as a specifier for Frameworks Arrangements I find the FIRA Gold accreditation scheme a useful tool in demonstrating that the range of kitchen units and worktops provided by the manufacturer meets the required British Standards specified by the LHC for public sector housing programmes...”
Aftkhar Shah, Technical Manager - LHC
“...There is no doubt in our minds that Gold Certification gave us a competitive edge...”
John Foley, Managing Director – RSBI, City Building Glasgow
Testimonials
“...We pride ourselves on our reputation for supplying high quality, competitively priced products with an unrivalled service within our industry. Our FIRA Gold Product Certification provides verification of this to our clients...”
Mark Human, Managing Director - Anco Storage
“…FIRA Gold is universally recognised and accepted, as a benchmark for the quality and performance of our products across all our market sectors from specifiers and architects to end consumers…”
Simon Collyns, Marketing & Export Director - Symphony Group Plc
Testimonials
“...At Manhattan we view the FIRA Gold Certifications as the most important accreditation that we hold... “
Iain Flitcroft, Chairman - Manhattan Furniture
“…Achieving FIRA Gold certification for Agitus means we have not only reached minimum standards but exceeded them through independent testing and evaluation by those who have leading industry knowledge…”
Paul Clarke, Commercial Director - Senator
Testimonials
“...Working with established independent quality organisations, like FIRA, will further strengthen our abilities to make sure our customers can buy full room solutions from B&Q with complete peace of mind.”
Billy Quinn, Director of Installations - B&Q
“The continuous on-going auditing and feedback will promote continuous service improvements, increasing customer satisfaction and internal efficiencies”
Johanne Murphy - IKEA
Summary of Benefits
• An important tool to aid evaluation
• Determining eligibility requirements by demanding FIRA Gold Certification as part of a tender document
• A single certificate which saves time with due diligence, ensuring that the product or range continues to meet all the relevant standards
Summary of Benefits
Having independent certification which is industry recognised as a mark of product excellence will help increase your sales by:
• Standing out from your competitors
• Providing customer satisfaction
• Growing your reputation and brand
• New and exciting advertising PR and training opportunities
• Being specified for many more projects and tenders
An Ergonomic Approach to Furniture Specification
and Final Selection
ERGONOMICS
Levent ÇaglarAdrian Hodder
Ergonomics is…
…a multi-disciplinary approachto achieve a good fit between:
People
Equipment they use
Work they do
Environment in which they operate
Results of Unsuitable Conditions
When humans are made to adapt to unsuitable conditions, it can often lead to:
Inefficiency
Errors
Unacceptable Stress
Physical/Mental Cost
Benefits of well specified ergonomic furniture:
Benefits can include:
Better working postureLess instances of work related injury
Better health, safety and wellbeingIncreased employee morale
Better productivity
Reduced absenteeism
Task Analysis
Examining the type of work that will be undertaken with the furniture being specified.
Systematic breakdown of job elements• Identify the operational sequence of work
• Ways in which employees use information and equipment
Methods can vary depending on department and person• It cannot be assumed that all employees work in the same
way.
Launched in order to identify and differentiate those products which excel in ergonomics from
those which only meet the minimum requirements of ergonomic standards.
FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award
Ergonomically Excellent Products:
Improve well being, and health & safety of staff
Improve efficiency & productivity of workforce
Increase morale of workforce
Reduce staff turnover & absenteeism
Reduce the number of litigation cases
FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award
Winners of FIRA Ergonomics Excellence Award
Sayl ChairHerman Miller
ID Concept ChairsVitra
Orvia ChairsBurgess
M8 Monitor ArmHumanscale
LITE iPad SupportErgonomic Cafe
Axess Ergo Dealer DeskSBFI
How FIRA Ergonomics can help
Ergonomics Excellence Award
We can help with any part of the process:
• Guidance in writing tender documents
• Evaluation of bid documents
• Selecting shortlists of products
• Conducting user trials with shortlisted products