Office Seating - Lifetime Warranty - What Exactly Does That Mean?

When purchasing office chairs there are many factors to review to make a proper and informed purchase.  Most people start with the price and then look at the chair features- ergonomics, fabric color options and the comfort of the chair. All of these combined are obvious factors leading to an office seating purchase decision.

With that said, there is one very important item is often overlooked - the warranty. The warranty offered by the manufacturer can tell you a great deal about the integrity of the chair. Most quality office seating manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty; however, what exactly does that mean? It is advisable to read the fine print regarding a lifetime warranty and get the warranty in writing. A lifetime warranty should include the following:    

 1. All moving and mechanical parts such as mechanism, pneumatic height lift, casters and the arms that should move up and down    and in and out.

 2. Structural components such as the base, seat and back wood. Poor quality bases can actually crack causing the user to fall from the chair.

3. Minimum of 5 years on the fabric and foam. Normal wear and tear should not be confused with a product failure. Fabric and foam will deteriorate over time. That is inevitable. Foam will start to break down from the moment it is used. The question is how long will it take to break down; 6 months or 6 years. The same is true with fabric.  There are several rules to follow to be sure your chair has a minimum of 2 lb density foam and your fabric has a minimum of 100,000 double rubs.

4.  Guarantee a weight capacity up to 250 lb. That is basic standard is the commercial office seating industry. 

5.  Chairs should meet Ansi-Bifma test performance standards. This is an agency that sets minimum requirements for office seating. 

Additionally, a lifetime warranty will not cover abuse or damage from alterations made to the office chair. Chairs that required 24/7 or big and tall applications need to carry separate warranties that address those requirements. A quality office chair should not require the customer to purchase an extended warranty. Just the notion itself puts in question the integrity of the product. Most warranties will only apply to the original purchaser and are not transferable.  Since a solid warranty usually means a quality product, a direct result is safety. People can and do get hurt in chairs. Companies should protect themselves against the possible injury liability cause by an office chair by purchasing a quality product made by a quality manufacturer. There is a tremendous amount of office seating and office seating components being manufactured in China today. Often these chairs and components are manufactured with the mindset of cost first and quality second. It is more important than ever to get a solid warranty from a reputable manufacturer to avoid problems.  The age old adage "you get what you pay for" is very true with office seating. A quality office chair should outlive its required use.

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