DIDP430

Exam Preparation
Bachelor of Interior Design
 unit learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students

will be able to

• analyze furniture, fixture, equipment

manufacturer, and vendor information for
appropriateness of application to a design
solution;
• evaluate building materials and finishes for
appropriateness of application to a design
solution; and
• assemble a reference of industry standard
furniture and finishing schedules and
documentation used in professional practice.
 Unit 5

Sourcing and Research of Manufacturer

and Vendor FF&E Information
 Introduction

Over the duration of a project, the

interior designer must obtain and
apply information to all aspects of
the design. This includes
information about space planning
data, building codes and
standards, construction products,
finishes, and furniture, fixtures
and equipment.

When selecting FF&E the designer

must know how to obtain the
correct product information and
use it to select, specify and
procure furniture and furnishings.
 How to Research

In any type of
research, the interior 1. Define the problem
designer should follow
a logical sequence of 2. Establish a strategy and schedule
steps to get the right
information in the 3. Determine the appropriate sources
most efficient way
possible. 4. Determine the sequence of source
contact
The following is an
example of the 5. Contact sources & record information
sequence of steps
that may be used:
 FF&E Research Needs

Researching and finding sources for furniture, accessories, and other items
includes a broad range of needs. Sometimes the designers needs to find one
task chair that has a particular form, style, and material and is within a
particular price point/client budget. Other times the item simply needs to
satisfy the flammability requirement for furniture in a particular state.

Consider the following:

• Initial selection
• Standards
• Codes & Regulations
• Sustainability
• Samples & Mockups
• Cost
 Information Sources

There are many information 1. Journals & Newsletters

sources available to designers -Contract
-Interior Design
when researching sources for
-Healthcare Design
FF&E, materials and finishes. -Hospitality Style
Interior design is different from -Avery Index to Architectural
architectural design in that the Periodicals
-Compendex Database
selection of most furniture and
finishes ultimately becomes 2. Merchandise Mart, Trade Shows &
manufacturer specific or Showrooms
proprietary. -IIDEX, IDS, NeoCon

3. Manufacturers, Dealers & Rep’s

The following list includes some of -Sweets Directory
the more common sources of
information that interior
designers can use to research and
source FF&E:
 Information Sources

4. Internet Research
The following list includes some of -Trade Only Design Library
the more common sources of www.todl.com
-Contract Design Magazine
information that interior www.contractdesign.com
designers can use to research and -Material Connexion
www.materialconnexion.com
source FF&E: -BIFMA
www.bifma.org

5. Trade Associations
-Encyclopedia of Associations

6. Databases
-Techstreet
www.techstreet.com
-IHS
www.global.ihs.com
-NSSN
www.nssn.org
-ASTM
www.astm.org
-ANSI
www.ansi.org
Material & Finish Selections | General Guidelines

Material and finish selection involves a

rational approach to deciding which
products meet the clients aesthetic,
functional, and economic needs as well
as selecting products that meet the
requirements of safety, durability, and
sustainability. Because of the legal
consequences of poor selection, this
process is especially important for the
designer.

Standards for selection vary with the

material or product. The following
guidelines and criteria will not apply to
every product, the designer should
select the ones that are appropriate for
the product being evaluated.
 General Guidelines

When selecting materials, • Obtain as much information as possible

finishes and other products, the about the products being reviewed
interior designer should always • Obtain client approval for all products
follow certain general being used
procedures to help make the • Ask manufacturer specifically about any
best selection and to avoid potential problems (installation, etc)
potential legal problems. • Notify the manufacturer in writing of the
intended use
Following these procedures is • Follow manufacturer’s recommendations
especially important when using for detailing and specifications
a new product or using an • If installation is specialized, require that
existing product in a new way. the manufacturer provide a field rep to
observe installation
All actions taken by the interior • Investigate the production capability and
designer should be financial condition of the manufacturer,
documented. distributor, and installing contractor
 Criteria for Selection

Criteria for the selection of materials and finishes can be broadly

classified into 5 groups:

• Function
• Durability
• Maintainability
• Safety/health
• Cost

Each of these groups involves dozens of individual selection criteria that

should be considered when appropriate for the material or finish being
selected.
 Function

When assessing a material or finish consider the following:

• Acoustic qualities
• Aesthetics
• Availability
• Choice (of colour, texture, etc)
• Installation method
 Durability

Durability relates to the serviceability of the • Abrasion resistance

• Attachment
product or material when in use. There are
• Blocking resistance
many aspects of durability, and one or more • Breaking resistance
of these may apply to a particular product. • Chemical resistance
The following list gives some of the more • Coating adhesion
• Cold-cracking resistance
common aspects of durability:
• Colourfastness
• Corrosion resistance
• Crocking resistance
• fabrication quality
• Heat-aging resistance
• Lightfastness
• Scrubbability
• Shrinkage
• Stain resistance
• Strength/structure
• Tear resistance/tear strength
• Washability
 Maintainability

Maintainability is an important quality for finish materials, products, and

details that experience wear and tear through the life cycle of a building.
All buildings and interior finishes need to be maintained to preserve their
appearance and service life. Many durability criteria directly relate to
maintainability, the more durable a material is, the less maintenance is
required,

• Cleanability
• Repairability
• Resilience
• Self-healing quality
• Sustainability
 Maintainability

Maintainability is an important quality for finish materials, products, and

details that experience wear and tear through the life cycle of a building.
All buildings and interior finishes need to be maintained to preserve their
appearance and service life. Many durability criteria directly relate to
maintainability, the more durable a material is, the less maintenance is
required,

• Cleanability
• Repairability
• Resilience
• Self-healing quality
• Sustainability
 Safety/Health

Safety relates to the prevention of accidental harm to people, as well as

to security from intentional harm. Health covers a wide variety of topics,
from mold resistance to indoor air quality (IAQ).

• Finish safety
• Flammability
• Mold and mildew resistance
• Outgassing
• Security
• Slip resistance
• Volatile organic compound (VOC)
 Cost

The cost of a material or product is nearly

always an important criterion for selection.
However, cost should always be balanced
with considerations of value and durability.
There are two aspects of cost: first cost
and life-cycle cost.

The first cost is the initial cost is the initial

amount of money required to purchase
and install a product.

The life-cycle cost is the entire cost of a

product over its life or the life of the
building and includes the initial cost,
maintenance cost, energy costs, financing
costs, and replacement costs.
 Selection of FF&E

Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) describes freestanding interior

components that are not physically attached to the construction and that are
usually purchased under a separate contract. Sometimes things like office
equipment, storage shelving, bank teller equipment, and other built-in items
that must be coordinated with construction are selected and specified by the
interior designer, while the construction itself may be the responsibility of
the architect.

FF&E is typically a separate line item on a clients budget and is purchased

under a separate contract because the methods of specifying, ordering, and
installing are different from those used in a standard construction contract.

There are three basic categories of furniture: ready-made, custom designed,

built-in.
 Selection of FF&E

Types of Furniture:

• Seating
• Tables
• Workstations
• Storage
• Beds
• Systems furniture
 Selection of Furniture Fabrics

The selection of fabric for upholstered

furniture has a great influence on the
furniture’s appearance, durability and Commonly used fibers:
safety. Because the same piece of • Wool
furniture can be covered with a variety of • Cotton
fabrics, the interior designer must know • Linen
what is available and the criteria for • Silk
selecting fabrics and padding for specific • Rayon
uses. • Acetate
• Nylon
Fibers used for furniture fabrics can be
broadly classified into natural and
• Acrylic
synthetic. The natural fibers are further • Olefin
divided into cellulosic and protein. • Polyester
Cellulosic fibers, such as cotton and linen, • Specialty fibers
come from plants, while protein fibers,
such as wool are manufactured from
animal sources.
 Selecting Fabrics

Selecting the correct fabric Criteria for fabric selection:

for a piece of furniture is a
matter of balancing the • Durability (snagging, pilling, fuzzing)
functional and aesthetic • Flammability
requirements against cost • Dimensional stability (buttoning, tufting,
and availability. channeling)
• Maintenance
The best fabric for a • Appearance
hospital waiting room • Scale
must be quite different • Comfort
from that used in a private • Touch
office.
 Selecting Fabrics | Cushioning & Seaming

Cushioning and seaming affect the comfort, wearability, and flammability of

furniture. Some common cushioning materials include cotton batting,
polyester batting, polyurethane foam, latex foam, rubberized fibers, and
shredded fibers. These may be used alone or in cushion placed on coiled or
sinuous spring support.

Because cushion material affects the flammability of upholstery as much as

the surface fabric, it should be selected carefully. Untreated cellular plastic
cushioning presents a particularly high fire hazard. These plastics include the
following types of foams: polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene,
polypropylene, PVC, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), cellulose
acetate, epoxy, phenolic, urea, silicone, and foamed latex.
 Selecting Fabrics | Cushioning & Seaming

The following list gives padding types, from the most resistant to cigarette
ignition and small flame to the least resistant:

• Neoprene and combustion-modified polyurethane

• Polyester batting
• Smolder-resistant and flame-resistant polyurethane foam
• Smolder-resistant and flame-resistant cellulosic batting
• Mixed fiber batting
• Untreated polyurethane foam
• Cellulosic batting
• Latex foam (rarely used)

One of the important considerations in upholstery fire safety is smoldering

resistance or, as it is sometimes referred to, cigarette ignition resistance.
 Standards & Tests | Flammability

Many test methods, adopted by

various local and state Commonly used standards:
governments, have been
developed to set standards for the • Vertical ignition test NFPA701
flammability of upholstery and
fabrics used for interior • Cigarette ignition resistance test of
applications. These standards furniture components NFPA260
define limits on a materials
flammability in terms of one or
• Cigarette ignition resistance test of
more of the following
characteristics: resistance to furniture composites NFPA261
ignition, resistance to flame spread,
resistance to smoldering, • Full seating test NFPA266
prevention of smoke development,
prevention of hear contribution to
the growth of a fire, and
prevention of toxic gas release.
 Standards & Tests | Wearability & Durability

In addition to test methods for Important tests for fabrics:

the flammability of fabrics and
furniture, there are dozens of • Wyzenbeek Abrasion resistance test
test methods for specific ASTM D4157
aspects of fabric wearability
• Taber abraser test ASTM D3884
and durability. These tests are
promulgated by ASTM, • Martindale abrasion test ASTM D4966
American Association of Textile
Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), • Fade-Ometer test AATCC16
and the Chemical Fabrics and
Film Association (CFFA). • Crocking resistance test AATCC8

• Tearing strength test, tongue method

ASTM D2261

• Bacterial resistance test AATCC147

 Furniture Drawings & Standards

As with construction, furniture

drawings and specifications are
required to completely and
accurately communicate the
design intent and individual
furniture selections of the interior
designer.

The furniture and furnishings

documents are typically not a part
of the construction contract
because of the different way
furniture is procured and the laws
under which merchandise is
bought and sold.
 Furniture & Furnishings Standards

Many of the standards for commercial • ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 General Purpose Office
office furniture have been Chairs
promulgated by the Business and • ANSI/BIFMA X5.3 Vertical Files
• ANSI/BIFMA X5.4 Lounge Seating
Institutional Furniture Manufacturers • ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 Desk Products
Association (BIFMA). The American • ANSI/BIFMA X5.6 Panel Systems
National Standards Institute (ANSI) has • ANSI/BIFMA X5.9 Storage Units
approved these standards. • ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 VOC Emissions from
Office Systems, Components & Systems
The following are the standards • ANSI/BIFMA X7.1 Emissions of Low-
applicable to construction and emitting Office furniture systems and
durability of commercial office seating
• ANSI/BIFMA/SOHO S6.5 Small Office/
furniture. The BIFMA standards define
Home Office
the specific tests to be used for each • BIFMA G1 Ergonomics Guideline Visual
standard, the laboratory equipment Display Terminal Furniture Used in Office
that can be used, the conditions of the Work Space
tests, and the recommended minimum
acceptance levels.
 Furniture Specifications

Although the MasterFormat system provides a place to specify furnishings

(Division 12), most interior design projects have separate specifications for
construction and for furniture and accessories. This is because the
procedure for specifying, contractor for, and building construction items is
different from that for specifying, purchasing, delivering and installing
furniture.

The exact method of specifying and ordering furniture varies with the size of
the project and the particular working methods of the interior design office.
The responsibilities of the client, interior designer, furniture dealer, and
others are described in the formal contract between the interior designer
and the client.
 Furniture Specifications

For example, many interior designers select furniture for the client and
assume the responsibility of writing purchase orders and coordinating
delivery and installation. In this case, furniture specifications are not
written. The selections that are approved by the client are directly listed on
the purchase order that is sent to the furniture dealer. This is the procedure
most commonly used for residential design.

For commercial work and some residential projects, the interior designer
may select the furniture but the job of ordering, installing and billing over to
one or more furniture dealers who supply the specific brands of furniture
needed. The dealer contracts directly with the client and assumes all
responsibilities.
 Furniture Specifications

On a larger commercial
projects where a quoted
price is requested from
one or more dealers
bidding on the same work,
furniture specifications
must be written to clearly
state the clients
requirements.
These specifications not
only list in detail all the
individual items required
but also state bidding
requirements,
responsibilities,
installation procedures,
and methods of invoicing.
 Industry Coordination

The designer is only one part of a rich and complex mix of design
professionals, consultants, and trade sources. The designer must understand
the role of each of the members of the industry in order to practice
effectively and professionally.

Design professionals include other interior designers, architects, and

engineers, all of whom may contribute to the design of a project.
Consultants may include specialized service providers such as acoustical
engineers, preservation consultants, and code experts.

Trade sources include the manufacturers, dealers, representatives, suppliers,

contractors, and craftworkers who provide the goods and services necessary
to complete an interior design project.
 Industry Coordination

There are several sources from which interior designers typically procure
furniture and furnishings. They can also serve as excellent sources of
information.

• Sales representatives
• Dealerships
• Showrooms
• Specialty shops
• Manufacturers
Handout(s):
No handouts this Unit.
 discussion

No discussion this Unit.

 assignments

DUE
Quiz 2
Opens at 9 a.m. ET on Day 4 of Unit 5 and
closes at 11 p.m. ET on Day 7 of Unit 5
Worth 15% of final grade