If you are specifying a height adjustable desk for a new office or a global rollout, “feels ergonomic” is not enough. Many organizations require desks to meet recognized standards for height range, worksurface geometry, and anthropometric fit. In Europe, that usually means EN 527. In North America, it is often called BIFMA G1. Understanding what these documents require—and how to translate the numbers into a spec—helps you choose a standing desk that fits more people with fewer exceptions, while keeping procurement and risk teams happy.

Why standards matter

• Consistent fit: Standards translate anthropometric data into workable height ranges, clear knee zones, and reach guidelines that suit most users without adjustment accessories.

• Procurement clarity: When your RFQ cites EN 527 or BIFMA G1 height ranges, vendors must provide measurable data, not marketing claims.

• Fewer exceptions: When desks and accessories meet baseline geometry, you spend less on one-off fixes for very tall or very short users.

A quick map of the standards landscape

• BIFMA G1 (North America): “Ergonomics Guideline for Furniture Used in Office Work Spaces Designed for Computer Use.” It provides recommended seated and standing worksurface heights and design guidance to fit the 5th to 95th percentile adult population.

• EN 527-1/-2/-3 (Europe): Defines dimensions, safety, strength, and stability for office desks. For sit-stand, EN 527 calls out minimum and maximum worksurface heights and clearances.

• ISO/EN overlaps: EN standards reference ISO anthropometric data. BIFMA G1 aligns with similar population ranges but uses U.S. datasets and terminology. The practical result: the recommended height bands largely agree.

What “good” height ranges look like

The worksurface height range is the number that most affects daily comfort. It should cover short users without shoulder shrugging and tall users without reaching.

• Typical targets that work across both frameworks:

• Minimum (seated): 560–620 mm (about 22–24.5 inches) at the worksurface.

• Maximum (standing): 1,150–1,270 mm (about 45–50 inches) at the worksurface.

These bands, paired with a monitor arm, let most adults achieve neutral elbows near 90 degrees whether seated or standing. A height adjustable desk that reaches a true 22–24 inches on the low end and 47–50 inches on the high end will fit far more people without keyboard trays or platforms.

What to require in your RFQ

• Range at the worksurface: State minimum and maximum heights in both millimeters and inches, measured at the top surface with levelers set for a nominal floor. Ask vendors to confirm whether their range includes or excludes glides and typical desktop thickness.

• Three-stage lifting columns: Specify three-stage columns to achieve the longer stroke length needed for those ranges and to maintain overlap (stiffness) at standing height. This is your best defense against wobble.

• Dual motors: Insist on dual-motor drive with synchronized legs via Hall sensors. It keeps motion smooth and aligned and reduces current spikes under load.

• Long feet and a reinforced crossbar: Include long, gusseted feet and a deep, closed-section crossbar for pitch and yaw control. Standards focus on fit, but stability is what users feel.

• Knee and toe clearance: Keep the underside clear. A clean “knee zone” reduces the risk of pinches during motion and meets the spirit of both guidelines. Mount power strips in a rear cable tray, not under knees.

How to validate height claims

• Measure at the worksurface: Use a tape from the finished floor to the top of the desk, not to the top of the lifting column. If you use thick tops (30 mm), ensure your low target still lands in the band.

• Level at standing height: On carpet or floating floors, levelers set while seated can mask slope. Level at the standing preset to catch real variance.

• Include real loads: Check lift speed and noise at ear height under a normal setup—desktop, monitor arm, dock, and a cable tray. Mid-40s dB(A) and 30–45 mm/s under load are credible performance targets.

Anthropometry in practice

Standards are built on 5th to 95th percentile data. Translate that into a field-ready plan:

• Monitor arms are nonnegotiable: Height range covers elbows, not eyes. A monitor arm lets users set the top third of the screen at or slightly below eye level regardless of posture.

• Keyboard trays are targeted tools: If a desk cannot reach 560–600 mm at the surface (common with thick tops), a tray with slight negative tilt brings keys to elbow height for shorter users without lowering the entire desk.

• Presets drive adoption: A readable desk controller with memory presets turns a compliant range into daily use. Encourage users to save Sit and Stand on day one.

Surface and geometry details that help

• Depth: 600–760 mm (24–30 inches) depth supports an arm’s-length viewing distance and reduces “edge crowding.” Deeper tops also help pitch resistance when paired with long feet.

• Edge profile: A small radius or waterfall front reduces forearm pressure. Sharp square edges can meet dimension rules and still feel harsh.

• Grommets and cutouts: Place brush grommets near rear corners, not in the knee zone. Avoid cutouts that interfere with crossbars or lift columns.

Clean power and cable management support compliance

Neither BIFMA nor EN 527 wants tails across aisles or cables catching at knees.

• One power drop: Power everything from a surge-protected strip mounted inside a rear cable tray, then route a single trunk down a vertical cable chain. No daisy-chained strips.

• AC/data separation: Keep bricks and mains on one side of the tray and route DisplayPort/HDMI, USB, and LAN on the other. This improves signal integrity and reduces hum.

• Service loops: Leave small slack loops at monitor arm pivots and at the control box. Tight cables are the top cause of anti-collision false stops and display flicker during lift.

Testing stability alongside fit

Standards cover geometry and safety, but you should test feel:

• Corner push test: At full height, a stable standing desk damps quickly when you nudge a front corner. If it ripples, re-torque the crossbar in a star pattern, move monitor arm clamps closer to a leg, and verify long feet match top depth.

• Noise under load: Spot-check mid-40s dB(A) at ear height while lifting. End thumps suggest ramp tuning or loose hardware.

• Anti-collision up and down: Test with a foam block under the edge (down) and a padded shelf above (up). Fix cable drag before changing sensitivity.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

• Confusing column stroke with worksurface range: Stroke length at the column does not equal surface range. Confirm floor-to-top numbers.

• Two-stage legs for mixed-height teams: Two-stage columns rarely hit both low and high targets with the stiffness you want. Favor three-stage to widen fit and feel steadier.

• Ignoring desktop thickness: A thick top raises the minimum. Ensure your low end still lands in the band or add trays for shorter users.

• Treating standards as paper-only: Fit ranges help, but stability is what people feel. Long feet, a reinforced crossbar, and dense desktops (25–30 mm) matter as much as millimeters on a spec sheet.

A spec you can paste into your RFQ

• Height range at worksurface: 560–620 mm minimum; 1,150–1,270 mm maximum (22–24.5 in; 45–50 in)

• Columns and drive: Dual motors; three-stage lifting columns; synchronized via Hall sensors

• Structure: Reinforced closed-section crossbar; long, gusseted feet matched to top depth; dense 25–30 mm top (matte)

• Performance under load: Lift speed 30–45 mm/s; noise mid-40s dB(A) at ear height; anti-collision up and down

• Ergonomics accessories: Monitor arm with integrated channels; optional keyboard tray for shorter users; edge radius or waterfall front

• Cable management: Rear metal cable tray; surge-protected strip; vertical cable chain; AC/data separation; service loops; single power drop

Standards like EN 527 and BIFMA G1 give you clear height targets and geometry that serve most people well. Meeting those numbers without wobble is a design choice: dual motors, three-stage lifting columns, a reinforced crossbar, and long feet under a dense top, plus a clean cable plan and a readable desk controller with presets. Do that, and your height adjustable desk will meet the letter of the standards and the ergonomic intent—quiet, stable, and easy to use every day.

• Explore EN 527- and BIFMA-aligned standing desks, three-stage lifting columns, long-foot frames, and cable management kits at Venace: https://www.vvenace.com

Contact us: tech@venace.com