Not everyone is familiar with the term “contract furniture”. In fact, many people are unsure of its meaning. There is a distinction between residential furniture and commercial grade furniture that should be kept in mind when purchasing furniture for any venue. Contract furniture is primarily utilized for business needs. It is frequently used in businesses like restaurants, hotels, educational institutions, and other settings. This includes all furniture types, including couches, chairs, tables, bar stools, and booths. Unlike residential/home furniture, which is only used by a small number of people, it must be made of high-quality materials and be found in any commercial setting where there is intense interaction with many people.
What Does Furniture Make For Contract Mean?
Commercial grade furniture, also known as contract grade furniture, is furniture used for businesses. The types of furniture can range from sofas and chairs to beds and bar stools, and examples include restaurants, hotels, airports, and even hospitals. Contract grade furniture is not typically available at neighborhood furniture stores; rather, it is designed and produced by businesses that focus on this category of products.
Why Is Contract Furniture Different?
A number of regulations must be taken into account when designing commercial spaces because they have an impact on the final product’s appearance. The same holds true for choosing and creating furniture for use in those commercial settings, which is typically tested and produced to particular quality standards that guarantee individual safety, long-lasting durability, and sustainability. These specifications change according to the environment and the materials used. Furniture used in hospitals, for instance, will undergo different testing than that used in hotels or restaurants.
Because of its more frequent use and need to adhere to regulations, residential furniture differs from commercial-grade furniture in a number of ways, including weight capacity, strength, and fire resistance. These variations result in a more pricey piece of furniture that will last longer and keep its appearance due to the use of stronger and more durable materials.
Furniture that is built to last is crucial for sectors like the food service and hospitality. It should be simple to maintain and resilient for a long time. It is made of commercial grade materials and complies with strict quality requirements and regulations. It is intended to be used anywhere there are many people who use it frequently or where there may be a significant difference in weight between people.
Commercial Vs. Residential Furniture
Contract grade furniture frequently resembles home furnishings quite closely. It is fashionable, made of high-quality materials, and designed for ease of use. However, there are a few significant areas where it is different.
The compliance standards that furniture must meet are the first distinction between contract grade and residential furniture. Strict legal requirements must be followed by all furniture suppliers in order to guarantee the safety of their goods. For commercial-grade furniture, these recommendations do not apply. For instance, the Crib 5 regulation, which requires that any furniture used in a school, office, or restaurant abide by a number of fire safety requirements, including fire resistant upholstery.
Commercial furniture is created with heavy use in mind, which is another significant distinction between it and restaurant furniture. A chair that will be used dozens of times throughout the course of the day by various customers in a busy restaurant has different design requirements than one that will only be used once a day at the dinner table. Contract grade furniture is constructed with increased durability to meet these demands and withstand regular and frequent use.
Standards In Commercial Furniture
For instance, a lot of healthcare fabrics are bleach-cleanable, and our chairs have removable cushions for simple cleaning. Furniture will continue to look brand new for years after purchase thanks to moisture-resistant fabrics and finishes.
Fabrics and finishes will be put through testing by a reputable commercial furniture manufacturer to ensure their longevity and integrity. Several Beaufurn designs in the Health Care line make use of fabrics with anti-microbial finishes tested to withstand more than 90,000 double rubs and some up to 1.3 million double rubs.
For the needs of today’s contemporary senior, Beaufurn’s new Senior Living Collection uses practical yet classic designs. There are numerous options that are designed with senior living in mind, including adjustable and removable seats, casters, front wheels, handles, and more. Repeated cleaning is not a problem for fabrics or wood finishes made of water.
The materials used to upholster a unique piece of furniture are frequently specified and sourced by designers. Manufacturers will indicate that COM (customer-owned material) is acceptable. Complete finish and upholstery customization is available for Beaufurn commercial furniture.
For instance, the Haley Uph Chair has a fully upholstered back and is offered in Graded Fabric or COM as well as any Standard Wood Finishes. Ideal for restaurants, airports, hotels, and universities.
Commercial restaurant furniture typically has foam padding with a density above 2.0 and must also adhere to strict safety regulations, like CAL 133/fire barrier codes.
Why Restaurants Need Contract Grade Furniture
Why restaurant grade furniture is so crucial for dining establishments becomes clear when comparing the differences between commercial and residential furniture. Due to the high volume of traffic that restaurants experience, the furniture inside must be able to withstand the wide range of customers who will be using it. The fact that non-commercial furniture would not meet the regulatory requirements for contract grade furniture and that these regulations directly apply to restaurants is also significant. With our restaurant furniture supply store, we make sure that restaurants can find the right furniture for their needs, from table tops and bases to chairs and benches.
Distinct Qualities Of Contract Furniture:
As was already stated, there is a noticeable difference in quality between patio furniture, dining room tables, and chairs used in residential settings and those used in commercial settings. In order to meet the legal requirements for commercial grade furniture, the restaurant and hospitality sector is required to submit furniture to tests for weight, stability, and durability. These rules are in place to make sure that everyone can continue to use the furniture.
- Commercial metal chairs and bar stools have 18 gauge steel frames, while residential chairs and stools have 20 to 22 gauge steel frames (the smaller the gauge, the more durable the frame).
- Hardwoods and softwoods are both acceptable materials for home bar stools and chairs. Bar stools and contract wood chairs have additional reinforcement bars and are made of hardwood.
- Both wood and metal contract furniture have sturdy seats that are upholstered in stain-resistant vinyl and simple-to-maintain fabrics or are made of long-lasting wood.
- We use a 7-stage finishing process on our commercial grade wood frames to give the wood a thicker, more durable finish. To make the finish on metal frames more scratch-resistant, powder coating is applied using special procedures.
- Furniture for restaurants typically has a manufacturer’s warranty of one to three years, while wood residential furniture typically has a 30- to 90-day warranty. In some cases, the products come with a lifetime warranty.
- Residential units can support up to 250 lbs. of weight. while many commercial chairs and bar stools are 400 lbs.
Experts strongly advise business owners, regardless of the sector they work in, to invest in contract furniture rather than residential. In a commercial setting, less durable residential furniture won’t hold up over time. High quality contract furniture with additional support can save you a ton of money and hassle in the long run, even though residential grade may be a more affordable alternative.
Benefits Of Commercial-grade Furniture
Quality contract-grade furniture offers a wide range of benefits, including:
- Because of its durability, the furniture will last longer and cost you less to maintain.
- The positive customer experience your customers receive from comfortable and attractive furniture increases the marketability of your brand.
- The comfort of your employees while they work may increase productivity.
- Contract-grade furniture of high quality is typically simple to keep clean and maintain.
Generally speaking, contract-grade furniture will last a very long time. It may also provide a wide range of additional advantages that are specific to your company or sector.
What Furniture Contract Benefits Can Be Found Online?
A contract furniture dealer is crucial in providing knowledgeable, individualized solutions for the customer’s furnishing needs based on experience and product knowledge. The dealer should have a thorough understanding of the various industry-specific requirements, specifications, budgets, and goals for furnishings. You have access to a much wider selection when you buy commercial furniture online than you would if you visited a physical store or showroom. Instead of having to buy what is already on the floor, you will typically be able to select the options you want, such as the frame finish and upholstery options. Additionally, since online merchants can save money on expenses like leasing a sizable store, they can charge their customers less. Additionally, online retailers let you view complementary furniture, such as chairs, bar stools, and restaurant tables, to finish your décor. A huge gallery of installations featuring our furniture will also be shown to you.
How To Choose A Trusted Contract Furniture Dealer/manufacturer
A table and chair set dealer or manufacturer can offer high-quality, specialized solutions based on experience and product knowledge. Every sector of the economy has different contract furniture goals and furnishing requirements. Adapting to changes in our living and working habits is a goal of new furniture designs. Therefore, partnering with a reputable contract furniture manufacturer or dealer is essential to developing your brand’s reputation and offering high-quality furniture to your customers.
1. Certificates
The ISO 9001: 2008 certification is an important factor to look at when choosing a contract furniture manufacturer, but there are two other pertinent factors you should take into account as well.
Ask if the most recent ISO certification assessment of the potential private label manufacturer found any problems that needed to be fixed. Just because a business is ISO 9001 certified does not necessarily mean that they have maintained it since their last audit; a dubious business may be hiding the fact that their accreditation is in jeopardy.
Instead of choosing a contract furniture manufacturer whose accreditation is in jeopardy, look for one who is open about their ISO certification and has a history of successful audit findings. If the prospective furniture supplier is not open and truthful, you should look for another outsourced manufacturing partner who adheres to an open-book philosophy.
Second, even though ISO 9001:2008 certification is a strong sign of quality, it should only be one small piece of a much longer and more thorough history of performance and output at that company.
2. Factory Audit
Furniture quality is impacted by factory audits. When working with a contract furniture supplier, retailers and online stores must keep in mind customer safety and adhere to time-to-market deadlines. This can make manufacturing tables and chairs challenging. To ensure the quality of the furniture, they must conduct expert supplier audits in order to optimize their supply networks.
Additionally, quality control is a crucial step in the manufacturing process of furniture. The need for trustworthy and knowledgeable furniture inspection has never been greater as the manufacturing of tables and chairs shifts to countries with lower labor costs.
In order to ensure that your finished piece of furniture meets the required quality standards and is prepared for immediate dispatch, inspections are essential during the manufacturing process. Along with the finished goods, the production standards and status that are carried out on the production line are evaluated during the inspection. Any product flaws should be found as soon as possible and fixed right away. Inspection reports ought to detail any quality problems, no matter how small.
Audits of furniture factories provide a thorough analysis of the supplier’s state, benefits, and drawbacks. In order to better meet the needs of the importer, this service can also help the factory that makes chair and table sets to pinpoint areas that need to be improved.
The usual factory inspection comprises the following:
- Background of the furniture manufacturer
- Manpower
- The ability to produce
- Machines, facilities, and gear
- Production line and manufacturing process
- Internal quality control measures, such as testing and inspection
- System and capability of management
- Environment
3. The Professionalism Of The Team
Another crucial aspect to think about when choosing a contract furniture manufacturer is the professionalism of the team, as this will affect the furniture’s quality, dependability, and durability. It goes without saying that experts are more capable of producing creative furniture designs than amateurs.
What Does Contract Grade Furniture Mean Faq
What Does The Term “contract” In Furniture Mean?
Any office or public-use furniture designed and manufactured for commercial installation is referred to as contract furniture. Any furniture item designed and sold specifically for a home is referred to as residential furniture.
What Does Furniture Intended For Commercial Use Mean?
The term “commercial use furniture” refers to any item of furniture made and sold specifically for use in businesses or public spaces. It is made to withstand continuous, demanding use. In comparison to residential furniture, the materials used are of higher quality and will last longer.
What Does Industrial Grade Mean?
Any furniture item designed for use in an industrial environment is considered to be of industrial grade. Depending on the manufacturer, it is made of durable materials and might include a warranty.
High temperatures and environments with significant temperature changes can be tolerated by industrial grade furniture.
Consumer Grade: What Is It?
Consumer-grade refers to products that are developed, advertised, and offered for use by an individual, a family, or a household. Even though it might be made of lower-quality materials, the price may not always reflect this.
What Distinguishes Commercial From Retail?
Office space is typically included when talking about commercial space. There might not be as many people walking around as in a store. Retail space is a term used to describe a shopping area with lots of foot traffic.
Conclusion
Now that you are familiar with the fundamentals of the contract furniture market and the significance of choosing particular items for your hospitality or entertainment facility, the fundamental question, “What is contract grade furniture?” has been addressed.’ It can be challenging to choose which seating, worktops, or bed option is the best contract furniture option for your business because there are so many different styles and varieties available. Therefore, take into account all of the above-mentioned considerations before making a choice.
