Contract specification
Contract Hospitality Furniture: What to Specify
The word contract is not a substitute for a specification. The project must still define application, expected use, materials, dimensions, finish, required testing, quantity, warranty expectations, and delivery conditions.
Get help with this project →Contract specification worksheet
Build evidence into every contract furniture line
Document application, dimensions, materials, performance evidence, warranty, and approval status instead of relying on “commercial grade.”
| Starting line | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest-room seating | ||||||||
| Public-area seating | ||||||||
| Dining chair or stool | ||||||||
| Table or work surface | ||||||||
| Casegoods | ||||||||
| Outdoor furniture |
Primary-source anchor
Performance and sustainability standards are separate claims
BIFMA maintains category-specific safety and performance standards and a separate ANSI/BIFMA e3 furniture sustainability standard. Specifications should name the evidence required for each claim.
Read the BIFMA source →Name the application
A product is not suitable in the abstract. State where it goes, who uses it, how often, and how it is maintained.
Request exact evidence
Name the standard, edition, test report, certification, warranty, or material documentation the project requires.
Preserve replacement paths
Record component availability, field repair options, finish matching, textile continuity, and warranty procedure.
Direct answers
What a project-ready decision should establish.
- 01
Contract is not a complete specification
The project still needs application, dimensions, construction, materials, finishes, upholstery, quantity, performance requirements, warranty, maintenance, and delivery conditions.
- 02
Request only the evidence the project needs
Testing and compliance language should identify the applicable requirement, the responsible reviewer, and the document that closes it.
- 03
Separate catalog configuration from full custom work
Finish and upholstery choices may fit a standard product process. Dimensional, construction, hardware, and interface changes need a defined drawing, sample, prototype, and approval path.
Common scopes
Orders this worksheet supports
Supplier directories
Apply the guide to a qualified supplier set.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions
Is all hospitality furniture custom?
No. Projects commonly combine configurable catalog products with fully custom pieces.
Who sets performance requirements?
The project team should identify applicable code, brand, owner, design, and operational requirements. The supplier should confirm what the proposed product supports.
Project request
Send the furniture list, even if it is incomplete.
Share quantities, property type, location, target timing, and any drawings or references you already have. The sourcing team will identify the next useful questions.