Companies who want to test the surface finish of their furniture can now do so at an accredited test lab in Asia, avoiding the expense of shipping to the UK.

FIRA’s Hong Kong, China based furniture testing facility, FIRA-CMA, has installed new equipment, developed and calibrated by FIRA engineers, to allow them to test table tops, worktops, kitchen doors and other cabinet furniture surfaces to assess their ability to withstand damage in use.

The new tests provided by FIRA-CMA include assessments for the resistance to wet and dry heat, scratching, impact damage and liquid attack from substances, such as tea, coffee, oil, alcohol, fat and blackcurrant juice.

FIRA’s Head of Materials Technology, Vaughan Taylor, said: “These tests ensure that working surfaces are fit for purpose and will not readily mark or degrade during normal service use. For example, the tests check that if a liquid is spilt it does not leave a permanent stain or if a hot coffee cup is placed directly on a worktop it does not damage the surface finish. The new tests replicate what we currently undertake in FIRA and complement the structural tests currently offered by FIRA-CMA.”

The FIRA accredited test lab continues to expand its services to replicate the comprehensive range of furniture tests offered by FIRA at its UK headquarters.

FIRA-CMA’s Testing Manager, Sharon Keung, said: “We have added these tests to meet the demand of sourcing agents and manufacturers in the Asian region. We are committed to being a one-stop shop for businesses looking to export their products to the European market.”

FIRA-CMA offers manufacturers and buyers the reassurance that products have been tested to current British and European Standards, and to the same high level as those tested in FIRA’s UK laboratories. The FIRA name on a test report is highly valued and accepted as an indication of product quality.