Buying an NPR office chair: what should you look for?

A good office chair is indispensable for a healthy workstation, but the choice is vast and the jargon comes at you from all sides. Below is what it really comes down to, and what you are better off ignoring.

What NPR 1813 is — and what it is not

NPR 1813 is a Dutch Practice Guideline from NEN. It ensures that a chair is suitable for virtually the whole Dutch working population, whatever their height or build. The current version is NPR 1813:2025 and it replaces the 2016 one.

Note one thing: it is a guideline, not a quality mark. There is no NPR certificate and no body that certifies chairs to NPR. A supplier who speaks of an “NPR-certified chair” usually means that the chair complies with the recommendations in the guideline. In that case simply press for the figures — that is what it comes down to.

What you should look at

• Adjustment range, in centimetres. Seat height from–to, seat depth, backrest height, armrests. This is the most important question you can ask, and the only one a salesperson cannot talk their way around. Since 2020 the European chair standard NEN-EN 1335 has had the type Ax: chairs with a wider adjustment range than types A, B and C. At a hot desk where people from 1.60 to 1.95 m sit in the same chair, that is the difference between a proper fit and making do.
• Mechanism. A synchronised mechanism lets the backrest and seat move together and is the minimum for daily use.
• Upholstery and foam. Enough foam thickness and a fabric that can take eight hours a day. This determines whether a chair still sits well after three years.
• Warranty. Five to ten years is normal for business use. A short warranty period says something about what the manufacturer expects itself.

Our range

Have a look at the NPR 1813 office chairs or the broader collection of ergonomic office chairs. Torn between two models? Ask us for the adjustment range of both and you will see straight away which one suits your team.

Testing in the showroom

Comfort is personal, and half an hour of trial sitting says more than a specification sheet. In our showroom in Moordrecht the chairs stand side by side. A visit is by appointment, so that there is time for advice.