AS 4688.1:2018 Furniture—Fixed height chairs
5.2  Corners and edges
The following requirements apply:
(a) There shall be no sharp edges accessible to the user.
(b) The ends of tubular components shall be capped or otherwise closed and finished smoothly.
(c) All contact points with the floor shall be designed to militate against scratching.
NOTE  As an example, contact points should be fitted with slides, glides, castors, ferrules,caps or similar.
(d) Static-reducing gaps, such as “V” formations, that may cause entrapment or laceration to the user or others in the immediate vicinity of the chair shall be closed or the edges forming the feature shall be a minimum of 3 mm thick, smooth and well rounded such that injury is unlikely.
5.3  Adjusting devices
The following requirements apply:
(a) Movable and adjustable parts shall be manufactured such that inadvertent separation of parts is improbable.
(b) Adjustment controls shall be easily adjusted by the occupant from the seated position.
(c) There shall be no shear or squeeze points created by parts accessible to the user moving relative to each other by forces applied during normal use (see Note).
(d) Where parts accessible to the user move in true scissor action without any gap between them, the edges creating the scissor action shall be rounded or chamfered to an extent that physical injury is unlikely.
NOTE  Shear and squeeze points are not considered to exist when the user can reasonably be assumed to be in control of his/her movements and easily be able to cease applying the force upon experiencing pain.
6  Test levels
The test levels shall be determined before proceeding with testing, to ascertain the correct level of test for strength, durability and stability. Testing shall be in accordance with AS/NZS 4688.2, AS/NZS 4688.3 or AS/NZS 4688.4, as applicable.
7.1  General
Dimensional requirements have been omitted from this Standard on the basis that fixed height chairs are available in a vast range of shapes and sizes and, while there are desirable attributes, (see Appendix B) ultimately, the choice is individual and to place dimensional constraints would place undesirable limitations on design and innovation. For chairs that swivel on a central column and attached to star type bases the dimension detailed in Clause 7.2 prevents a tripping hazard and is considered to be a general safety requirement.