> EN 1335 standardWhen choosing an ergonomic office chair, more and more attention is being paid not only to design or price, but also to compliance with ergonomic standards. One of the most important European standards for office chairs is EN 1335.
This standard defines:
For the user, this means one thing: a chair compliant with EN 1335 should provide proper support during long hours of desk work.
The standard focuses on several key areas:
1. Chair dimensions
The standard defines ranges for many office chair dimensions. Some of the most critical include:
This allows the chair to be adapted to different users and various workstations.
2. Ergonomics and adjustments
An ergonomic office chair compliant with EN 1335 should provide:
In practice, this means the user can adjust the chair according to their height, leg length, working style, and the amount of time spent at the desk.
3. Safety
The standard also covers:
This is particularly important in offices, coworking spaces, open-plan environments, conference rooms, and intensively used workstations.
It is important that the evaluating institute is reliable and preferably accredited by an official accreditation body. In Poland, such an institution is Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA).
The document confirming compliance with EN 1335 is the so-called test report (commonly referred to as a “certificate” or “approval”).
First, it defines the parameters a chair must meet to ensure that prolonged sitting does not lead to health problems. Long hours of seated work may result in back pain, muscle tension, lumbar strain, poor circulation, and fatigue.
Second, it evaluates stability — whether the chair remains stable in various adjustment positions and does not tip over during normal use.
Third, it allows comparison between models from different manufacturers, helps assess the actual ergonomics of a chair, and distinguishes truly ergonomic products from models that are merely “office-looking” in appearance.
The EN 1335 standard is divided into two main parts, each covering a different group of parameters:
N 1335 does not cover chair strength testing. In the past, there was also EN 1335-3, which defined the methodology for strength testing. However, this part was withdrawn in 2018 and replaced by more universal standards: EN 1022 and EN 1728.
In practice, testing for EN 1335 compliance is now also carried out in accordance with EN 1022 and EN 1728. This information should be included in the test report.
The wider the adjustment range, the more universal the chair becomes — meaning a larger number of users can find a suitable seating position. Each level also reflects the intended application of the chair: the more demanding the environment, the higher the standard level that may be required.
EN 1335-1 levels:
The applicable EN 1335 level should always be specified in the test report.
Although the specific equipment depends on the model, a modern ergonomic office chair most commonly offers:
These are the elements that have the greatest impact on comfort during 6–8 hours of daily work.
Today’s working environment requires increasing attention to ergonomics. This applies not only to corporate offices, but also to home offices, design workstations, reception areas, and coworking spaces.
A properly selected ergonomic chair can improve:
When choosing a chair, it is worth paying attention to several key aspects:
Is EN 1335 mandatory?
The standard is not legally mandatory for every office chair, but it is one of the most important ergonomic standards used in Europe.
Is a chair compliant with EN 1335 better?
Compliance with the standard means that the chair meets defined ergonomic and technical requirements, which usually translates into greater comfort and safer everyday use.
Does EN 1335 apply to computer work?
Yes. The standard was developed primarily for office and computer workstations.
What type of chair is best for 8-hour workdays?
For long hours of work, ergonomic chairs equipped with the following features are generally the best choice:
Does every office chair comply with EN 1335?
No. Many models marketed as “ergonomic” do not actually meet the requirements of the ergonomic standard. That is why it is worth verifying whether a product complies with EN 1335 before choosing an office chair.
EN 1335 is one of the most important standards defining the ergonomics of modern office chairs.
For the user, it means:
When choosing an office chair, it is worth paying attention not only to design, but above all to ergonomics, adjustment range, and compliance with the requirements of a modern workplace.
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Chairs and armchairs
EN 1335 norm