What is a DIN standard?
A DIN standard is a standard developed at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) in Berlin, which establishes unified standards for products and processes, such as quality, minimum performance, properties, dimensions, etc.
Interested parties, such as manufacturers, consumers, retailers, research institutes, or government agencies, can participate in the development of DIN standards by serving on committees. Currently, there are approximately 33,000 standards worldwide.
Which DIN standards exist in Germany?
German standards have become increasingly internationalized in recent decades. For example, a standard is now called DIN EN when a European standard has been adopted by the German Institute for Standardization.
Or DIN EN ISO , if it is an international standard that is also a European standard.
DIN ISO is accordingly an international standard valid in Germany; whereas DIN refers to a standard that has exclusively or predominantly national significance.
Where can I find DIN standards?
In many university libraries in Germany, national and international standards can be viewed via the Perinorm database .
Some standards are also published in Germany by Beuth Verlag in the "DIN Pocketbook" series. This series compiles DIN standards on various topics.
Alternatively, the individual standard documents can be purchased from the standardization institutions or from the associated publishers, for example Beuth Verlag or VDE Verlag.
The office chair dilemma: Health vs. DIN standard
The DIN standard EN 1335 for office chairs
DIN EN 1335 is a standard that specifies dimensions, safety requirements, and safety tests for office chairs, such as the adjustability of seat height, seat depth, and backrest. It is the authoritative standard for office chair development in Germany. The standard is based on a 1989 draft (DIN 4551).
The problem is that the DIN standard sets certain standards and dimensions based on average sizes and proportions. However, this can lead to problems because people have different body types and needs.
The DIN standard EN 1335 for ergonomic office chairs
Ergonomic office chairs, on the other hand, rely on individual adjustment options to offer optimal support and comfort.
For office chairs, this means that the ergonomic insights and developments of the last 25 years are not taken into account in this standard. However, the fact that the number of employees with back problems is constantly increasing due to rigid sitting postures in conventional office chairs has led precisely to the development of movement technologies in office chairs during this period.
Unfortunately, some of these new technologies cannot be tested according to DIN EN 1335. This means that modern office chairs currently have to adhere to outdated standards.
Modern, innovative office chairs like the Aeris Swopper currently have to adhere to outdated DIN standards.
For example, one of the regulations of DIN EN 1335 states that the lowest seat height of an office chair must be 420 mm. This is useful for people with short legs or a short stature.
Ergonomics before standards: The limits of DIN EN 1335
The average height of employees has steadily increased in recent years. Therefore, for people with a height of approximately 170 cm or more, a seat height of at least 480 mm is recommended, ideally in combination with a raised desk.
Although this no longer complies with DIN regulations, it has significant advantages for the back health of employees.
It is good, but not easy for implementation, that a company management is not obliged to adhere to DIN EN 1335 when selecting work equipment.
The DIN EN 1335 standard is merely a recommendation or minimum requirement for employee protection. The health and long-term productivity of employees should be the primary consideration when choosing the right office chair – not the standard itself.
A responsible employer will therefore not force an employee who experiences back pain when sitting on a conventional office chair according to DIN EN 1335, but whose health improves when sitting on a non-DIN-compliant office chair, to sit on a DIN-compliant office chair.
Does the Aeris Swopper comply with DIN standards?
Yes and no. The Aeris Swopper in its original form has no backrest and therefore does not comply with DIN EN 1335.
Therefore, consumers must occasionally familiarize themselves with the aforementioned facts:
Current developments are clashing with outdated regulations. Although many employees experience an improvement in their back problems by sitting on the Aeris Swopper , companies that interpret DIN standards as regulations rather than recommendations only permit its use in exceptional cases.
However, the Aeris Swopper has the GS mark according to EN 1022 and EN 13671 for office visitor chairs and can therefore be used without hesitation at all workplaces.
There are currently no DIN standards for active seats, such as the Aeris Swopper. Therefore, there is also no official testing procedure according to which the Aeris Swopper could be tested according to its specific properties.
So far, only DIN EN 1335 exists for conventional office chairs.
The state of the art is therefore far ahead of the DIN standards.
With the development of the Aeris Swopper with backrest and casters, as well as the Low spring suspension, and the Aeris 3Dee active office chair, both certified as office chairs according to DIN 1335, Aeris has catered to all employers, safety engineers, and occupational physicians who want to provide their employees with the latest dynamic seating technology while also complying with relevant standards. In this version, it meets all the requirements of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and the German Pension Insurance.
The Aeris Swopper office stool offers maximum freedom of movement with many changes of posture and, in the version with casters and backrest, complies with DIN EN 1335.
Why the Occupational Health and Safety Act recommends ergonomic office chairs
And if you look at it closely, occupational health and safety law practically requires employers to use ergonomic office chairs like the Aeris Swopper, because they correspond to the latest findings in ergonomics research.
Because the basic obligations of the employer are laid down in Section 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act :
" The employer is obligated to take the necessary occupational safety and health measures, taking into account the circumstances that affect the safety and health of employees at work. He must review the effectiveness of these measures and adapt them as necessary to changing circumstances. In doing so, he must strive to improve the safety and health of his employees. "
"Changing circumstances for improving safety and health protection" include new findings and technological advancements – for example, in office chairs. This ensures that employees are not stuck with outdated standards.
How Aeris ergonomic office chairs contribute to health protection
One such technological advancement with health-promoting effects is the unique Aeris 3D technology. In its development, Aeris consistently focused on human needs, not standards. People want to be able to move intuitively and freely in all directions.
The Aeris Swopper office stool makes exactly that possible, offering you maximum freedom of movement and numerous changes in posture. It follows you and your body, not the other way around, thus supporting your intuitive movements.
Conventional ergonomic movement technologies, such as synchronous mechanisms, allow movement in a maximum of two dimensions. While this enables movement, it is unfortunately limited, predetermined, and offers little flexibility.
Numerous studies on the Aeris Swopper summarize the positive effects of the 3D technology developed by Aeris on fitness, health and performance.
Active sitting on ergonomic office chairs from Aeris has a similar effect on the body as brisk walking. The muscles are constantly exercised and all organs – including the brain – are better supplied with nutrients and oxygen.
And all this happens naturally while you work, without having to actively do anything. This creates a completely new feeling of well-being with less fatigue and more energy. Plus, you burn more calories too.
