The Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) has created a guide for freestanding, fully-enclosed, occupiable, space-dividing products normally used in indoor spaces for privacy, conferencing, and other purposes.
The “BIFMA Pods-2020” guidance was developed by BIFMA’s Subcommittee for Building Codes over the past eight months. Forty-five subcommittee and industry stakeholders conducted reviews of this North American guide to ensure that the requirements were sound and safety for the user was considered. It was finalized and approved on September 18, 2020.

Pods are an increasingly popular and innovative furniture option in open office workplace design providing a quiet respite to focus on independent work tasks. They create workspace alternatives for individuals seeking flexibility and variety in choosing a setting best suited to their work style and task at hand. In support of their growing application, BIFMA is pleased to announce the approval and release of this new, voluntary, safety, and performance guideline.

BIFMA Pods-2020 covers a variety of product criteria including acoustics, electrical, emissions, ventilation, fire safety, stability, seismic, and other considerations. Copies of the new guide are available from BIFMA immediately. This and other standards may be ordered online at the following link: https://www.techstreet.com/bifma/pages/home