FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS 1911  
First Edition  
2018-mm-30  
 
 Reference number 
FDUS 1911: 2018 
© UNBS 2018  
  
Furniture — Wooden shelving cabinets (adjustable ty pe) — 
Specification   
 FDUS 1911:2018 
ii © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself c onfer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all n ecessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2018   
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no  part of this publication may be reproduced or util ised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, inc luding photocopying and microfilm, without prior wr itten 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala 
Uganda 
Tel: +256 417 333 250/1/2 
Fax: +256 414 286 123 
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  FDUS1911:2018 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved  iii
 Contents Page  
Foreword .......................................... ................................................... ................................................... ............ iv  
1 Scope ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... ... 1 
2 Normative references .............................. ................................................... ........................................... 1  
3 Materials requirements ............................ ................................................... .......................................... 1  
3.1  Wood particleboard ................................ ................................................... ............................................ 1  
3.2  Veneered particleboard............................. ................................................... ......................................... 1  
3.3  Plywood ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... . 2 
3.4  Blockboards ....................................... ................................................... ................................................. 2  
3.5  Solid wood components ............................. ................................................... ....................................... 2  
3.6  Adhesive .......................................... ................................................... ................................................... . 2 
3.7  Wood screw ........................................ ................................................... ................................................ 2  
3.8  Mirror ............................................ ................................................... ................................................... .... 2 
3.9  Paints, enamels polish and varnish ................ ................................................... ................................. 2  
4 Dimensions and tolerances ......................... ................................................... ...................................... 2  
4.1  Dimensions ........................................ ................................................... ................................................. 2  
4.2  Tolerances ........................................ ................................................... ...................................................  4 
5 Fabrication ....................................... ................................................... ...................................................  4 
5.1  Components ........................................ ................................................... ................................................ 4  
5.1.1  Sides ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... .... 4 
5.1.2  Backs ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... ... 4 
5.1.3  Top, bottom and the shelves ....................... ................................................... ...................................... 4  
5.1.4  Shelf brackets .................................... ................................................... ................................................. 4  
5.1.5  Doors ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... ... 4 
5.1.6  Edges ............................................. ................................................... ................................................... ... 5 
5.2  Joinery ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... ... 5 
6 Assembly .......................................... ................................................... ...................................................  6 
7 Additional accessories ............................ ................................................... .......................................... 7  
8 Loading ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... .. 7 
9 Finish ............................................ ................................................... ................................................... .... 7 
10  Performance requirements of finish ................ ................................................... ................................. 7  
10.1  General ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... .. 7 
10.2  Resistance of the surface to dry heat ............. ................................................... ................................. 8  
10.3  Resistance of the surface to wet heat ............. ................................................... ................................. 8  
10.4  Resistance of surface to marking by liquids ....... ................................................... ............................ 8  
10.5  Resistance of surface to mechanical damage ........ ................................................... ........................ 8  
11  Information to be supplied by the purchaser ....... ................................................... ........................... 8  
12  Packing ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... .. 8 
13  Marking ........................................... ................................................... ................................................... .. 8 
Bibliography ...................................... ................................................... ................................................... ............ 9  
 FDUS 1911:2018 
iv © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a par astatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327, of the Laws  of Uganda, as amended.  UNBS is mandated to co-
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Stan dardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentar ius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried o ut through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards  in a given field or area and consists of key stake holders 
including government, academia, consumer groups, pr ivate sector and other interested parties.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Com mittee are widely circulated to stakeholders and th e 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standard s 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by  the National Standards Council. 
The committee responsible for this document is Tech nical Committee UNBS/TC12, Furniture.   FINAL DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD FDUS 1911:2018 
 
© UNBS 2018  – All rights reserved  1
 Furniture — Wooden shelving cabinets (adjustable ty pe) — 
Specification  
1 Scope 
This Final Draft Uganda Standard covers the require ments for materials, sizes, construction and finish  of 
adjustable wooden shelving cabinets with hinged doo rs . 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents referred to in t he text in such a way that some or all of their con tent 
constitutes requirements of this document. For date d references, only the edition cited applies. For u ndated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced do cument (including any amendments) applies. 
ISO 9089, wooden screw-specifications 
ISO 13609, Blockboards and batten boards for genera l use-Specification. 
ISO 19210, Adhesives -- Wood adhesives for non-structural appl ications  
ISO 25537,Mirror, specification 
US 839, Particleboards — Specification  
US ISO 4211, Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to col d liquids  
US ISO 4211 (all parts), Furniture — Tests for surfaces  
US ISO 12465, Plywood for general purpose use- spec ification 
3 Materials requirements 
3.1 Wood particleboard  
Wood particleboard required for the manufacture of wooden shelving cabinets shall conform to US 839, a nd 
shall either be the fiat-pressed single-layer or fl at-pressed 3-layer type. Wood particleboard used fo r wooden 
shelving cabinets which require baking paints or en amel finishes shall be manufactured with only BWR t ype of 
adhesives, such as, phenol formaldehyde. 
3.2 Veneered particleboard 
Veneered particleboards for both interior and exter ior grades can be used where cabinets are to be fin ished 
with air-drying paints or varnishes. Where oven bak ing paints" enamel or varnishes 'are to be used, on ly 
exterior grade veneered particleboards shall be use d. FDUS 1911:2018 
2 © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
 3.3 Plywood  
Plywood, used in the manufacture of wooden shelving  cabinets shall conform to US ISO 12465. Any of the  
three grades, namely, BWR, WWR and CWR of plywood m ay be used for cabinets which are to be finished 
with air drying paints, enamel or varnishes. Where cabinets are finished with oven-drying paints, enam el or 
varnishes, only BWR grade of plywood shall be used . The plywood used shall not be inferior to Type B. I n 
case veneered plywood is used, it shall conform to US ISO 13608  
3.4 Blockboards 
Blockboard used in the manufacture of wooden shelvi ng cabinets shall conform to ISO 16893 and shall be  of 
Grades 1 or 2, Where air-drying finishes are adopte d and Grade 1 only where oven-drying finishes are 
adopted in the manufacture of cabinets. 
3.5 Solid wood components 
Any of the species of timber recommended for furnit ure and cabinet making shall be used in the manufac ture 
of wooden shelving cabinets. The wood used shall be  seasoned timber with the required moisture content    
3.6 Adhesive 
Adhesive used for joinery work shall conform to ISO  19210. 
3.7 Wood screw 
Wood screws shall conform to ISO 9089. 
3.8 Mirror 
Mirror shall conform to ISO 25537. 
3.9 Paints, enamels polish and varnish  
These shall conform to the relevant Uganda standard s, wherever they exist for air-drying as well as st aving 
finishes . 
4 Dimensions and tolerances  
4.1 Dimensions  
The overall dimensions of shelving cabinets shall b e as given in Table 1 (see  Figure 1). FDUS  1911:2018 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved  3
 
 
 
Table 1 — Overall dimensions of shelving cabinet  
S/No. Dimensions 
mm Small size Large size 
i Height 1 280 1 980 
ii Width  760 910 
iii Depth 430 480 
 
The minimum clearance required for shelving, cabine ts to be put into recesses or openings. Where requi red, 
shall be as follows: 
a) for top of cabinet:    20; 
b) for each side of cabinet:  10; and 
c) for depth of cabinet:   5. 
 FDUS 1911:2018 
4 © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
 4.2 Tolerances 
The overall dimensions specified in 4.1 shall not v ary by more than ± 5 mm . 
5 Fabrication 
5.1 Components 
The wooden shelving cabinets shall be first made in  component forms and assembled from the components 
as given in 5.1.1 to 5.3.3. 
5.1.1 Sides 
The sides shall be made from wood particleboards, v eneered particleboards, plywood, or blockboard as 
specified in Clause 3 having a thickness of 20 mm ±  1 mm and shall be prepared for joinery and fixture s as 
required. The width of the side shall correspond to  the width of the top. The side shall extend betwee n the 
extreme surfaces of the top, the bottom and the bac k. For front, it may extend to full front where doo rs are to 
be inside with front bordered construction or be sh ort. 
5.1.2 Backs 
The backs shall be made from manufactured board. Ve neered particleboard, plywood or blockboard as 
specified in Clause 3 and shall be of thickness not  less than 10 mm ± 1 mm. It shall be one piece pane l 
prepared for joinery. The width of the back panel s hall correspond to the length of the top panel and the length 
shall extend between the extreme surfaces of the to p and the bottom shelves. 
5.1.3 Top, bottom and the shelves  
The shall be made from wood or wood particleboards,  veneered particleboards, plywood or blockboard as 
specified in Clause 3 and shall be of thickness 20 mm with a tolerance of ± 1 mm. For loads higher tha n as 
given in Table 2, the thickness of the shelves shal l either be increased to 25 mm or a suitable additi onal 
bracket shall be provided to support the shelf in t he centre from the back of the cabinet. The length of the top 
and the bottom shall cover the width of the cabinet  adjusted for the joinery and shall cover the depth  including 
the thickness of the door and allowance for joinery  work. The depth of the shelves shall be equal to t he clear 
depth of the cabinet after fixing the doors in posi tion. 
5.1.4 Shelf brackets 
The shelf brackets shall be prepared for supporting  shelves. The brackets shall·be made of either meta l sheet 
not less than 1 mm - 6 mm thick or solid wood reape rs with dowel pins fixed on to them. The bracket sh all be 
so designed and constructed that the shelf is secur ely supported and adjustment inside the bracket can  be 
effected easily. 
5.1.5 Doors 
5.1.5.1  The door shall be made of wood particleboard, vene ered particleboards, plywood or blockboards 
as specified in Clause 3 and shall be of thickness 20 mm with a tolerance of ± 1 mm. The doors shall b e 
prepared to fit the size of the cabinet and any of the following two methods shall be used: 
a) door fixing recessed with the side, top and bott om front form as border and hinges fixed on inside 
surface of sides; or 
b) door fixing on the full front with the hinges on  the sides front edge. 
5.1.5.2  Dimensions of the side and the door shall be adjus ted to suit any of the method in 5.1.5.1(a) or 
(b). FDUS  1911:2018 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved  5
 5.1.5.3 The doors shall be in 2-leaf construction with reba te cut at the centre meeting. The rebate shall 
be 20 mm. Where lipping is provided, the depth of t he lipping at the place of the rebate shall be not less than 
20 mm. The rebate shall be splayed type . 
5.1.6 Edges  
The edges of the sides, the shelves, the bottom, an d the top of the doors shall be prepared either by internal 
lipping, external lipping or filling with suitable wood putty or other suitable material to give prope r finish and 
ability to stand for wear of the edges and take nec essary fixtures. The components shall also be given  filler 
and undercoat paint so as to be ready for final pai nt and finishing treatment. 
5.2 Joinery 
The joinery of the sides to the top and bottom shal l be either by splined-miter joint, interlocked mit er joint or 
straight miter joints fixed by screws driven angula rly or supported by wood strip, or by butt joint wi th or without 
dowels or half lapped joining. The joints shall be well secured by glue and suitable wood screws, for tight and 
strong fit . Typical details of joints are shown in Figure 2.  
 
  
  FDUS 1911:2018 
6 © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
   
  
5.2.1 The back shall be fixed on the sides, top and botto m by straight butt joint recessed by half lap cut a nd 
secured by glue and wood screws. Alternatively, it shall be fixed by double half lapped joint or strai ght butt and 
secured by glue and wood screws. In the latter case , adjustment shall be made in the width of sides, t op and 
bottom. 
5.2.2  The sides of the cupboard shall be prepared with b racket holding recesses for adjustment of brackets 
for shelves. The shelves shall be adjustable and se curely supported on all the four corners. The brack ets shall 
be so designed and constructed that the shelf is se curely supported and that the adjustment of the bra cket 
can be effected. Alternatively, metal strips on eac h corner of the inside of the two sides with holes every 50 
mm of height for taking brackets of shelves shall b e provided. 
5.2.3  The doors shall be fixed to the sides internally o r externally and by use of either continuous (piano ) 
hinges or three-number hinges, each 75 mm long and to suit the width of fixing edge, by use of suitabl e wood 
screws. The cabinet may be right door first opening  or left door first opening as desired by the purch aser.  
The door other than the first opening door shall ha ve bolts fixed on its inner side at the top and bot tom to fix it 
to the top and bottom components. The door shall be  provided with suitable drawer locks on to be first  
opening door and suitable lock plate on the other d oor. The lock shall be internally fixed and the key  hole 
provided in the door shall have escutcheon plate. T he door shall also be provided with suitable drawer  door 
handles. 
 
5.3.1  The clearance around the door between the sides, t op and bottom shall be not more than 1·25 mm. 
5.3.2 The hinges shall conform to relevant national stand ards   
5.3.3  Pedestals shall be made from solid wood 100mm high  and 65  mm wide and shall be screwed on to 
the bottom securely by use of suitable screws drive n to the bottom of the pedestal in length not less than 
50mm and spaced not more than 150  mm apart. 
6 Assembly 
The various components shall be assembled by means of glue and screws securely fixed under pressure. 
Before driving screw, pilot hole shall be driven in to the wood panel and the screw shall be dipped in glue 
before driving in . FDUS  1911:2018 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved  7
 7 Additional accessories 
The following additional accessories may be provide d, if so desired by the purchaser: 
a) hanging rod made of mild steel or aluminum tubular pipe with a wall thickness of not less than 160 
mm and 20 mm in diameter. This shall be nickel or c hromium plated or anodized in the case of 
aluminum and fitted to the sides of the cabinet len gth wise with suitable brackets. The rod may also 
be of wood turned to 20 mm diameter ; and  
b) mirror of not less than 5 mm thick. It shall be of sizes 1 250 mm x 300 mm or 400 mm x 300 mm as 
specified in ISO 25537 and shall be of plate glass.  Mirror shall be fixed with suitable fixtures with or 
without beading . 
8 Loading 
The maximum static loads, uniformly 'distributed an d applied on the shelves may not exceed those given  in 
Table 2. The loads may be taken as a guide in order ing shelves . 
Table 2 — Safe distributed loads for shelves for sh elving cabinet 
S/No. Width  
mm Depth 
mm  Load 
N 
i Height 1 280 1 980 
ii  760 910 
iii Depth 430 480 
 
9 Finish 
9.1  Wood panel components shall be given a coal of pri mer paint and filler. Wood putty shall be applied t o 
all the surfaces requiring filling.  After preparin g the surfaces, two coats of enamel or paint" that is one under-
coat and one finishing coat shall be given. Alterna tively, the surfaces may be stained and polished. T he 
finishing coat shall be synthetic air-drying enamel  or stoving enamel for wood work. The enamel or pai nt shall 
be of exterior type and of a finish and colour as r equired by the purchaser. In case of stoving enamel s or 
paints, the components of the finished cabinets sha ll be stored at suitable temperature and for suitab le time as 
advised by the manufacturer of the enamel. 
9.2 The finish shall be smooth uniformly applied and f ree from visible defects. It shall be well based an d 
shall not readily chip or flake. The dry film thick ness shall be not less than 0·10 mm.  
9.3 All other components shall be finished in colour a s agreed to between the purchaser and the 
manufacturer. 
10 Performance requirements of finish 
10.1 General 
Every shelving cabinet shall be checked for good wo rkmanship and shall be free from any stain and warp . FDUS 1911:2018 
8 © UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved
 10.2 Resistance of the surface to dry heat  
The surface of the wooden cabinet shall be tested f or resistance to dry heat in accordance with US ISO  4211-
3. 
10.3 Resistance of the surface to wet heat 
The surface of the cabinet shall be tested for resi stance to wet heat in accordance with US ISO 4211-2 .   
10.4 Resistance of surface to marking by liquids 
The surface of the test sample shall be tested in a ccordance with US ISO 4211.   
10.5 Resistance of surface to mechanical damage 
The surface of' the test sample shall be tested for  impact, cross-cut and scrape test in accordance wi th US 
ISO 4211-4.    
11 Information to be supplied by the purchaser 
The purchaser shall supply the following informatio n to the supplier along with the order:  
a) whether lock is required or not; 
b) whether locker is required or not; 
c) number of adjustable shelves required; 
d) colour of finish; and 
e) where alternative methods of construction and fi nish arc specified, they shall be clearly stated in  the 
order. 
12 Packing 
12.1  All the component parts shall be packed in such a way that no damage is caused to them during transit . 
12.2 The purchaser may require the cupboard to be suppl ied in knocked down condition, in which case, the 
manufacturer shall prepare the components fully for  quick joining and shall supply complete details an d 
instructions for fixing. 
13 Marking 
All wooden shelving cabinets shall be legibly and i ndelibly marked with the following: 
a) name, address/ trade mark of the manufacturer; 
b) name of the product; and  
c) country of origin.   
  
·.  FDUS  1911:2018 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved  9
 Bibliography 
IS 4116,  Furniture: wooden shelving cabinets (adjustable ty pe) — Specification  FDUS 1911: 2018 
© UNBS 2018  – All rights reserved  11
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be ma rked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below .  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those lic ensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conj unction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation t o a product is an assurance that the goods comply w ith the 
requirements of that standard under a system of sup ervision, control and testing in accordance with th e 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bu reau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda  
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 FDUS 1911 : 2018  
 
ICS nn.nnn.nn 
Price based on nn pages 
© UNBS 2018 – All rights reserved