Contract Seating & Upholstery
Lounge, dining, meeting and breakout seating specified by frame, foam, upholstery, finish and destination-market evidence.
Contract Seating & Upholstery sourced from the factories that make it
Contract seating is specified as a complete construction: frame, joints, foam, upholstery, finish and the evidence required for the destination market. We keep those items tied to the quoted model and approved sample.
What we source
- Lounge chairs, sofas and ottomans
- Dining chairs, bar stools and banquettes
- Meeting, visitor and breakout seating
- Metal, timber and upholstered chair frames
- COM upholstery supplied by the client
- Loose cushions and coordinated soft seating
What your market asks for
Our main markets are North America and Australia, where contract furniture is specified against local standards.
| Product and market | Standard or rule | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| North America — office seating | ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 | The test standard commonly specified for general-purpose office chairs. We ask the factory for the test report of the specific model. |
| United States — upholstered seating | 16 CFR Part 1640, effective 25 June 2021 (applies California TB 117-2013) | Indoor seating furniture with an upholstered seat, back or arm, manufactured, imported or reupholstered on or after 25 June 2021, must meet TB 117-2013; since 25 June 2022 each product carries a permanent label reading “Complies with U.S. CPSC requirements for upholstered furniture flammability”. Mattresses, foundations and bedding are outside this part. |
| California — upholstered furniture | Business and Professions Code §19101 and §19094 | Since 1 January 2020, new upholstered furniture sold in California must not contain covered flame retardant chemicals above 1,000 parts per million, and the label states whether the upholstery materials contain added flame-retardant chemicals. |
| United States — composite wood | TSCA Title VI (40 CFR Part 770) | Hardwood plywood, MDF and particleboard, and component parts and finished goods containing them, must meet the emission standards and be labelled. Since 22 March 2019, importers of articles containing regulated composite wood products must also comply with the import certification regulations (19 CFR 12.118–12.127). |
| Australia and New Zealand — office seating | AS/NZS 4438, certified by AFRDI | AS/NZS 4438 covers height-adjustable swivel chairs. AFRDI (the Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute) tests and certifies commercial furniture; we ask for the certificate of the specific model. |
| Australia — wooden furniture imports | Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 (as amended from 3 March 2025) and Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 | Importers of regulated timber products must meet due diligence requirements. The Rules list wooden-frame seats (tariff items 9401.61 and 9401.69) and wooden furniture and parts (9403.30 to 9403.60 and 9403.91). |
| Australia — buildings | NCC 2025 Volume One, clause C2D11 | Sets fire hazard properties for internal linings, floor coverings and other listed materials in Class 2 to 9 buildings, including specific seating in some Class 9b buildings; “a joinery unit, cupboard, shelving, or the like” is listed among the exceptions. State variations apply, and your certifier decides what applies to your building. |
As of September 2026. These are examples, not a complete list. Requirements differ by product, building type and jurisdiction, and your specifier or certifier decides what applies to your project; we confirm what the factory holds before we quote. More on our compliance page →
What matters for this package
Specify the construction
State the intended use, dimensions, frame, foam, upholstery, finish and required test method in the RFQ.
Approve before production
For custom products, approve drawings, materials, fabric and finish samples before bulk production.
One inspection before shipment
When bulk production is finished, our own QC team carries out one inspection before shipment; your project team is welcome to attend.
Contract seating and upholstery: questions clients ask
What should a contract seating specification include?
State the intended use, dimensions, frame, joints, foam, upholstery, finish, quantity, destination and any named test method required by the project.
Can we supply our own fabric?
Yes. Tell us if the upholstery is customer’s own material (COM), and record its usable width, repeat, direction and delivery responsibility.
When are samples approved?
For custom products, drawings, materials, fabric and finish samples are approved before bulk production.
Who inspects the seating before shipment?
Our own QC team performs one inspection after bulk production is complete and before shipment. Your project team is welcome to attend.
How does FBM Furniture charge?
For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price.
To get a quotation, send us
- An FF&E schedule or product list, room by room, with quantities — plus drawings for any custom pieces
- The specification or a reference photo or link for each item: dimensions, materials, fabric and finish
- Your fabric and finish selections, or ask us to propose them; tell us if fabric is supplied by you (COM)
- Where your project is, so we check the standards your market requires
What the quotation shows. Per line: item, specification, materials, fabric and finish, dimensions, unit price, quantity, packing and lead time — like-for-like against your spec, any substitution flagged.
Related project guide: Commercial Sofas and Upholstered Lounge Chairs for Contract Furniture Projects.