Reference number  
DRS 424:2019  
© RSB 2019  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
424 
 
1st edition  
2019 -mm-dd 
 
Furniture  — Specifications for bedsteads  
 
  DRS 424:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2019  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 424:2019  
iii                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved  Contents  Page 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and defi nitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Types  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
5 General Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  2 
5.1 Materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  2 
5.1.1  Timber  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  2 
5.1.2  Moisture Content  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
5.1.3  Defects  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  2 
5.1.4  Other Materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  2 
5.1.5  Adhesives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 3 
5.1.6  Fittings and Fasteners  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
5.2 Construction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
5.2.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
5.2.2  5.2.2 Joints  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 3 
5.3 Dimensions and sizes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
5.4 Workmanshi p and Finishing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4 
6 Requirements for strength and durability ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
6.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
6.2 Test procedures for strength and durability  ................................ ................................ .............  5 
7 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  5 
8 Packing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  5 
 DRS 424:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adop ted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 424 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 54, Timber, furniture and engineered wood.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Timber, furniture and engineered 
wood  (RSB/TC 54) in the preparation of this standard.  
Action pour le Development de l`Artisanat au Rwanda (ADARWA)  
Association pour la défense  des droits des consommateurs au Rwanda  (ADECOR)  
Association pour la Promotion des Artisans du Bois  (APROAB)  
GiZ Eco—Emploi  
Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) — Kitabi 
Kalka and Partners Ltd  
MANUMETAL  
MASS DESIGN  
Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MINICOM)  
National Industrial Research and development Agency (NIRDA)  
New Forest Company (NFC)  
REAL Contractors  
Rwanda Education Board (REB)  
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)  DRS 424:2019  
v                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved  Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA)  
Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA)  
Rwanda Wood Association  
STRAW Tech  
University of Rwanda — College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine ( UR — CAVM)  
University of Rwanda — College of Science and Technology (UR — CST)  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) — Secretariat  DRS 424:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction  
Despite the Rwandan growth trend, the wood sector has not been implemented as required to produce high 
quality wood products and vigorous competitive market. The quality of wooden furniture is highly affected by 
the quality of ti mber, standardized production chain, quality control mechanism and grading rules. The lack of 
aforesaid factors results into market dominated by poor quality wooden furniture, compromised safety and unfair 
competition at the market.  
The emerging market dyn amics show that consumer’s preferences have gradually shifted from furniture made 
by local timbers to the imported ones, which  is considered as a limiting factor to the development and growth of 
the wood economy in Rwanda.  
To ensure a positive trade balanc e in wood market there is a dire need to improve and ensure quality of domestic 
wood products.  
This Standard is one of the  series of standards  on furniture in Rwanda. The series currently consists of the 
following:  
DRS 413:2019 Furniture — Quality and grading of wooden furniture ( Under development ) 
DRS 424:2019 Furniture — Specifications for bedsteads (Under development ) 
DRS 425:2019 Furniture — Storage units — Functional sizes, stability, strength and durability for storage units 
(Under development ) 
DRS 426:2019 Furniture — Chairs and tables for educational institutions — Functional sizes, strength, durability 
and stability  for seating and tables (Under development ) 
Furniture — Chairs and tables for home furniture — Functional sizes, strength, durabil ity and stability for seating 
and tables (Under development ) 
Furniture — Tables — Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability (Under 
development ) 
ISO 7170:2005 Furniture — Storage units — Determination of strength and durabilit y 
ISO 7171:2019 Furniture — Storage units — Test methods for the determination of stability  
ISO 7173:1989 Furniture — Chairs and stools — Determination of strength and durability  
  
1                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved  Furniture — Specifications for bedsteads  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda S tandard specifies the basic functional sizes for bedsteads. This standard also includes  
requireme nts for strength and durability.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited app lies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS ISO 24294 , Round and Sawn Timber – Vocabulary  
ISO 16415 , Non-structural timber grading requirements  
ISO 19833, Furniture – Beds  – Test methods for the determination of sta bility, strength and durability  
ISO 19209:2017, Adhesives -- Classification of thermoplastic wood adhesives for non -structural applications  
DRS 413:2019 Furniture — Quality and grading of wooden furniture (Under developm ent) 
3 Terms and definition s  
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in  RS ISO 24294 and the following apply.  
3.1  
bedstead  
Framework of a bed on which the mattress and bedclothes are placed  
3.2 
bunk bed  
Type of  bed in which one  bed frame  is stacked on top of another, allowing two or more beds to occupy the floor 
space usually required by just one  
NOTE  Bunk beds are commonly used in  hostels and school dormitory .  
2                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 3.3 
workmanship  
The degree of skill with which a product is made  
4 Types 
The bedsteads covered by this standard include the following types : 
i) Single Bed  
ii) Medium Bed  
iii) Double Bed  
iv) Queen Size Bed  
v) King Size Bed  
vi) Bunk Bed  
5 General Requirements  
5.1 Materials  
5.1.1  Timber  
Timber to be used for bedstead production shall be one of the renowned timber  species listed in RS xbb : 2019: 
Round and sawn timber - Nomenclature of timbers. Perishable timber species shall be accepted when such 
timber is treated against fungal and insect  infestation with a non -leachable preservative as directed by the 
manufacturer and approved by the the authority in charge of environment protection.  
5.1.2  Moisture Content  
All wood used shall be dried to a moisture content of between 12 and 19% at the time of delivery as complete 
assemblies. However, actual moisture content should correspond to the one  expected during service . 
5.1.3  Defects  
Lumber used for bedstead production, shall be free from decay, wane, compression failure, fungal growth, brittl e 
heart, stains, insect attack, pitch pocket or streaks, borer holes, dead knots, splits, checks, cracks and warp 
such as twist, bow, spring and cup.  
 
The lumber shall meet the permissible defects specified in clause 6 of DRS 413.  
 
5.1.4  Other Materials  
Other ma terials such as plastic, fabric, glass, metal, leather and foam may be used in combination with timber.   
3                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved  5.1.5  Adhesives  
Adhesives used shall be compatible with the wood preservative applied and shall not be expired at the time of 
application. The adhesive use d shall be one of the adhesive accepted by ISO 19209:2017, Adhesives -- 
Classification of thermoplastic wood adhesives for non -structural applications.  
 
The mixing and preparation of adhesives shall follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  
 
5.1.6  Fittings and Fasten ers 
Fittings such as castors, railings, knobs and handles may be made of wood, plastics or metal. Brass, stainless 
steel, aluminium hinges and screws may be used as fasteners . 
 
5.2 Construction  
5.2.1   General  
Bedstead components shall be smooth and well plan ned to finished dimensions using appropriate cutting tools 
and free of natural defects as listed in 5.1.3 . 
 
5.2.2  5.2.2 Joints  
Use of nails as joints is not recommended; instead dowels of the same species, colour and strength are 
preferred. Corrosion resistant sc rews made from stainless steel or galvanized metal may be used.  
 
The joint type should be carefully chosen so as to enhance maximum strength. The joints shall be mortise and 
tenon, dowel, bridle or brace plate made of wood or metal or a combination of both . 
 
All surfaces should be planed to a smooth finish in such way as to bring all members into contact exactly over 
the whole area of the joint before fasteners are applied. Joints should be fastened securely without damaging 
the timber.  
 
5.3 Dimensions and size s 
Beds must be designed to provide support to all parts of the body in a comfortable way. Beds can be 
constructed with legs or without legs.  
Figure 1 and Table 1 give dimensions for various categories of beds.   
4                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
  
Figure 1:  Beds for Domestic Use  
Table 1 –Dimensions for different bedsteads  
Dimensions  (mm)  Single  Medium  Double  Queen  King  Bunk  
Minimum head /foot board height, H  140 140 140 140 140 140 
Minimum width of side rails, SW,  140 140 140 140 140 140 
Minimum  bed slat/in -lays width, HW -5, 900 1200 1400 1600 1800  750 
Minimum bed slat/in -lays length, BL,  1950 1950 1950 1950 1950 1950 
Minimum Height between upper and lower 
bed base            800 
 
NOTE: Bunk bed is known as double decker  
5.4 Workmanship and Finishing  
Exposed edges and protruding parts shall be rounded and free from sharp edges. Other materials such as 
reconstituted wood products, metal, glass and plastic may be used.  
 
Such materials shall be smooth, even textured, and free from overlap and blemish.  Sanding shall be done to 
achieve smoot h surface before  spraying a wood finish . 
6 Requirements for strength and durability  
6.1 General  
Every bedstead shall be checked for good workmanship and shall be free from  any defect including stain and 
warp.  
 
5                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved  6.2 Test procedure s for strength and durability  
When tested for strength and durability in accordance with the requirements of ISO 19833 , bedsteads shall 
comply with the requirements of this standards.  
7 Marking  
All wooden bedsteads shall be marked  legibly and indelibly with  the name, address or recognized tra de-mark , 
name of the product, timber species used, lot number and country of origin.  
8 Packing  for transportation  
8.1 All the component parts shall be packed after wrapping with water -proof material in such a way that no 
damage is caused to them during trans it. 
8.2 The purchaser may require the wooden battens to be supplied in knocked down condition, in which case, 
the manufacturer shall prepare the components fully for quick joining and shall supply the purchaser with 
complete illustrated details and instructions for assembly and pack the components in wooden crates .  
6                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] GS 982: 2009, Furniture – Specifications for bedsteads.  
[2] GS 983: 2009, Furniture – Specifications of furniture components . 
[3] ISO 9098:1994 , Bunk beds for domestic use – Safety re quirements and tests – Parts 1 & 2  
[4] FDUS 1918:2018 , Furniture — Wooden beds for use with mattress — Specification  
[5] BS EN 747 – 1: 1993, Bunk Beds for Domestic Use .  
  
ICS 97.140  
 
 
©RSB 2019 - All rights reserved