A Fraunhofer IPA certificate isn't a marketing label: it's the result of a physical test where a chair is stressed thousands of times while the particles it releases are measured. Bimos has several lines independently tested this way, and the two reports below show exactly what happens during one of these tests.
What a Fraunhofer test actually measures
The Fraunhofer IPA test institute in Stuttgart applies a controlled, repeated mechanical force to the seat and backrest, expressed in newtons and cycles per minute, to simulate intensive daily use. During those cycles, the air around the chair is sampled and the number of particles released is counted. Based on that particle count, the chair is assigned an ISO 14644-1 class: the stricter the class, the fewer particles are allowed to release during intensive use.
Example 1: the Labsit, report IN 1609-845
For the Labsit, Fraunhofer IPA (Stuttgart, 25 March 2017) tested the seat with a force of 1200N and the backrest with 350N, each at 12 cycles per minute. Both parts achieved ISO Class 3, the strictest class in the Bimos range. That figure isn't just on the brochure: it's written directly into the test report, with date, location, and exact test parameters.
The Labsit, the model in report IN 1609-845.
Example 2: the Zadelkruk, report IN 2409-1551
The same method was applied to the cleanroom version of the Zadelkruk (model 9473R): a seat test at 1200N at 12 cycles per minute, carried out per ISO 14644-14, again achieving ISO Class 3. The certificate was issued in Stuttgart on 16 May 2025 and remains valid until 16 May 2030, tied to the exact article number tested.
The Zadelkruk (9473R), the model in report IN 2409-1551.
Tested for more than 25 years
The oldest Fraunhofer report in Bimos's archive dates from 1999, for the model that later became the Cleanroom Basic. Even then, the chair was tested to the US Fed. Standard 209E of the time, since replaced by today's ISO 14644-1. That shows independent testing isn't a recent marketing choice at Bimos, but standard practice since at least the late 1990s.
Key facts at a glance
- A Fraunhofer test applies a measured force to the seat and backrest and counts the particles released.
- Labsit: seat 1200N, backrest 350N, both ISO Class 3 (report IN 1609-845).
- Zadelkruk cleanroom (9473R): seat 1200N, ISO Class 3 per ISO 14644-14 (report IN 2409-1551).
- Bimos has had cleanroom chairs independently tested since at least 1999.
Why this matters for your decision
In an audit, a test report with a date, location, and measured values carries more weight than a brochure claim. Want to see the full test report for a specific model for your own documentation? Get in touch and we'll be glad to send it over.