QUESTIONS REGARDING PRODUCT CERTIFICATIONS
How is the GS mark related to the Quality Office certification?
The GS mark (GS = Geprüfte Sicherheit/Tested Safety) is an important pillar of Quality Office certification. It not only proves that a product complies with relevant standards, but also provides a comprehensive overview of its safety. No product can receive Quality Office certification without this mark. However, the mark alone does not suffice to cover the diverse requirements of office work. Quality Office products also have to meet high ergonomic standards, be permanently versatile and easy to use and make a relevant contribution to comfort and sustainability.
Is the Quality Office label granted for all types of office and non-domestic furniture?
The L-Q 2022 guideline defines requirements for the following product categories:
- Office chairs
- Visitor chairs and conference chairs
- Swivel chairs for communication areas and mobile working from home
- Office desks
- Visitor tables and conference tables
- Desks for mobile working from home
- Office pedestals
- Office cabinets
- Pharmacy cabinets
- Partitions
Irrespective of the specific application, general requirements can be defined for these products regarding quality, functionality, durability and versatility.
State-of-the-art office furnishings also include products whose quality can only be assessed within the context of the specific use situation. This is the case with sofas and other similar types of seating, for example. Quality Office labels cannot be granted for such products.
How is L-Q 2022 different from previous guidelines?
The L-Q 2022 guideline is the second revision of the “Requirements for Office Workplaces” that was first published in 2006. The first revision was carried out in 2010, when the focus was mainly on creating stricter requirements for office desks and raising some of the standards for seating and storage furniture. The revision in 2021/22 was carried out for a different reason: Some of the criteria that had been defined in the 2000s have declined in importance due to the transformation of office work, whilst others, such as customization and sustainability, have become more significant. However, the main change was that new product categories and areas of application were added in the last years. As a result, the L-Q 2022 guideline has been “modernized” and expanded. Products for working at home and for dynamic seating in communication areas are recent additions.
A difference in quality between products certified on the basis of the “old” and the “new” guideline exists only in exceptions and is negligible.
Why are there two different logos for the Quality Office label?
Other than the current logo, which consists of a white “q” against a red background, many certificates still bear the Quality Office logo that shows a big “Q” on a grey background. The latter was used for certificates awarded prior to March 2022. However, these certificates remain valid without restrictions until their specified expiration date.
How long are Quality Office labels valid?
Quality Office certificates can be granted for a period of up to three years, after which they have to be reviewed.
Product certificates sometimes have a shorter duration, because less time remains for the GS mark. This mark also has to be extended on a regular basis. If a product is not changed in the interim, the Quality Office certificate can be immediately extended upon application and the presentation of a new GS mark.