Reference number  
DRS 425:2019  
© RSB 2019  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
425 
 
1st edition  
2019 -mm-dd 
 
Furniture — Storage units —Functional 
sizes, stability, strength and durability for 
storage units  
 
  DRS 425:2019  
ii                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 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 425:2019  
iii                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Types of storage units  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  2 
5 Dimensions of office storage units  ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
5.1 Kitchen worktop  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
5.2 Drawers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
6 Requirements for ironmongery  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
7 Requirements for stability, strength and durability of storage units  ................................ ...... 3 
7.1 Stability test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 
7.2 Strength and durability test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
8 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
8.1 Adhesive label  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  4 
8.2 Data sheet  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 4 
8.3 Care and maintenance  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  4 
9 Inspection methods  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  5 
 DRS 425:2019  
iv                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 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 425 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 54, Timber, Furniture and engineered wood . 
Committee membership  
The followi ng 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 425:2019  
v                ©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 425:2019  
vi                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 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 timber, standardize d 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 dynamics 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 balance in wood market  there is a dire need to improve and ensure quality of domestic 
wood products.  
This Standard is one of the  series standards  on furniture in Rwanda. The series currently consists of the 
following:  
DRS 413:2019 Furniture — Quality and grading of wooden furn iture ( 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, durability 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 durability  
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  
 DRS 425:2019  
ICS 97.140  
 
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  Furniture — Storage units — Functional sizes, stability, strength and 
durability for storage units  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda S tandard specifies the basic functional sizes for office storage units. This standard include s 
requirements for stability, strength and durability . Requirements for materials, design, construction or quality  are 
not covered by this standard . 
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 applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 7170 , Furniture — Storage units — Test methods for the determination of strength and durability  
ISO 7171 , Furniture — Storage units — Test methods for the determination of stability  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
Storage unit 
Piece of furniture for storing something  
Example  A shelf, a cupboard  
3.2 
Cupboard  
piece of furniture with a door and typically shelves used for storage   
2                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 3.3 
Drawer  
Box-shaped storage compartment with two sides, front and back, bottom members without a lid, made to slide 
horizontally in and out of a desk, chest, or other piece of furniture.  
3.4 
Shelf  
Flat long board  or rigid material, fixed horizontally in a frame or in cupboard that provides a surface for the 
storage or display of objects  
3.5 
Pedestal  
Piece of furniture with a chest of drawers  or rectangular cabinet containing drawers  
NOTE  A pedestal can be  called  side bed desk.  
3.6 
Ironmongery  
Any metal fixing or fitting used on furniture that penetrate the material, provide security, provide movement a nd 
used for safety.  
NOTE  Fixings that  penetrate the material , include screws, bolts and nails. Those that provide security include 
locks and latches; those for movement are hinges whereas those for safety include handles, fasteners, ball catches and 
overhead door closers.  
4 Types of storage units  
The types of office storage units covered by this standard include:  
a) Shelves;  
b) Cupboards;  
c) Drawers;   
3                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 d) Pedestals . 
5 Dimensions of office storage units  
5.1  Kitchen work top 
The height of a kitchen work top shall be in the range of 870 mm to 1000 mm . 
5.2  Drawers  
Table 1 presents the minimum dimensions of drawers.  
Table 1: Minimum dimensions of drawer s and shel ves 
 
Type of storage  Minimum internal dimensions of usable space   
mm 
Length  Width  Height  
Horizontal storage  420 330 120 
Suspended filing  420 330 270 
 
6 Requirements for i ronmongery  
When a storage unit is standing on a level concrete floor, catching and locking devices , including latch rods for 
stationery cupboards , shall operate smoothly. No part of the storage unit should  deform when operating  the 
ironmongery . 
7 Requirements for stabi lity, strength and durability of storage units  
7.1  Stability test  
Stability test for storage units shall be co nducted in accordance with ISO 7171 . 
7.2 Strength and durability test  
Strength and durability test for storage unit shall be conducted in accordance with  ISO 7170 .  
4                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 8 Marking  
8.1 Adhesive label  
Each storage unit shall bear the fo llowing information on indelible  and legible adhesive label stuck to the back 
of the storage  unit or to the inside surface of the left side face.  
a) Manufacturer's name, trade name or trademark;  
b) Model identification number; and  
c) Batch identification number.  
d) Maximum load carrying capacity  per shelf/drawer  
8.2 Data sheet  
Each storage unit shall have an accompanying data sheet. The information on the sheet shall be printed in the 
largest typefa ce practicable and expressed as simply as possible. The following information shall be provided:  
a) The manufacturer's name, trade name or trademark;  
b) The model identification and the batch identification;  
c) A list of the materials used in the manufacture of the  storage unit;  
d) If the storage unit is to be assembled or installed by the purchaser, full instructions , including diagrams , 
indicating exactly how the storage unit is to be assembled or installed;  
e) If the storage unit has adjustable shelves, instructions o n how to adjust them shall be provided . 
8.3 Care and maintenance  
Information concerning care and maintenance of the storage unit shall be provided  by the manufacturer and 
delivered together with the datasheet . The following information shall be given:  
a) If the use of certain cleaning materials could cause permanent damage to the storage unit, a warning 
to this effect, and the action to be taken to avoid this possibility;  
b) The recommended method of cleaning exposed surfaces;  
c) The correct methods to be used fo r major cleaning operations; and  
d) Any rec ommended maintenance procedures   
5                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 9 Inspection methods  
Each storage unit shall be v isually examine d for compliance with the requirements of this standard for which 
tests to assess compliance are given in Clause 7 .  
6                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 
 Bibliography  
[1] RS ISO 21887, Durability of wood and wood -based products — Use classes  
[2] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization  — School furniture handbook, 1979  
 DRS 425:2019  
ICS 97.140  
 
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved