EN 747 Bunk Bed Standard: EU Compliance Guide | Zehao
If you import, retail or dropship bunk beds into the European market, EN 747 is the safety standard behind the CE mark and the single document that determines whether your product clears EU customs, marketplaces and retailers. This guide explains what EN 747-1:2024 and EN 747-2:2024 actually require, how they differ from EN 1725, what EU buyers must ask a factory for, and how to verify a compliance claim before you place an order.
What is EN 747?
EN 747 is the European standard for the safety of bunk beds and high beds (loft beds), published by CEN, the European Committee for Standardization. It exists in two parts:
- EN 747-1:2024 — Safety, strength and durability requirements (what a compliant bed must do).
- EN 747-2:2024 — Test methods (how conformity is measured in the lab).
The 2024 edition is the current version. It superseded EN 747-1:2012+A1:2015, which was withdrawn on 30 September 2024. Any CE documentation issued today should cite the 2024 edition.
Scope of EN 747: what it covers
EN 747 applies to bunk beds and high beds for domestic and non-domestic use, including hotels, dormitories, hostels and staff accommodation. The dimensional scope is:
- internal length greater than 1,400 mm;
- maximum bed-base width of 1,200 mm;
- upper surface of the bed base 600 mm or more above the floor.
The 2024 revision sharpened the requirements across guardrails, access (ladders, platforms and stairs), shear and crush points, frame and fastener strength, stability, marking and purchase information.
What EN 747 does NOT cover
This is the point most buyers miss. EN 747 explicitly states it does not apply to bunk beds and high beds used for special purposes, including but not limited to prisons, the military and fire brigades. Those environments carry different risk profiles (anti-tamper construction, fixed fixings, higher abuse loads) that EN 747 was never written to address. If you are specifying for a correctional or high-security setting, use a dedicated project specification verified by independent load testing rather than rely on an EN 747 certificate. See our prison and correctional bunk beds guidance.
EN 747-1 vs EN 747-2
The two parts are complementary, not alternatives:
| Part | Role |
|---|---|
| EN 747-1:2024 | Defines the safety, strength and durability requirements a bed must meet. |
| EN 747-2:2024 | Defines the laboratory test methods used to prove conformity. |
A valid compliance package references both: the requirement (Part 1) and the test that proves it (Part 2).
Key safety requirements to verify
When you review a supplier's EN 747 documentation, these are the clauses that matter for a buyer:
| Requirement | What EN 747-1:2024 checks |
|---|---|
| Upper berth load | Static and dynamic load on the mattress base. |
| Lower berth load | Static and dynamic load on the mattress base. |
| Guardrails | Height, continuity and absence of climbable gaps on the open side. |
| Entrapment | Head, limb and finger gaps are limited (measured with conical probes). |
| Access | Ladder, stairs or platform strength, angle and tread dimensions. |
| Shear and crush points | Gaps between moving or adjacent parts. |
| Stability | Resistance to tipping under load. |
| Marking and instructions | Permanent label, age warning and assembly manual. |
EN 747 vs EN 1725
These are often confused but cover different products:
- EN 747 — bunk beds and high beds (raised sleeping surfaces with guardrails).
- EN 1725 — domestic bed frames and mattresses at ground level (single, double, and so on).
They are complementary. A complete bed system that includes a ground-level frame or mattress may need EN 1725 as well as EN 747.
CE marking and selling bunk beds in the EU
EN 747 is a harmonised European standard. Conformity with it gives a presumption of conformity for the CE mark, which is what lets a bunk bed be placed on the EU and EEA market lawfully. In practice, EU marketplaces and retailers will not list a bunk bed without it.
EN 747 and the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)
The EU General Product Safety Regulation (Regulation 2023/988) has applied in full since 13 December 2024. It requires economic operators to place only safe consumer products on the EU market and to keep technical documentation on file, including the applicable standards. For bunk beds, EN 747 is the reference standard in that file. In practice this means EN 747 compliance is no longer just a labelling step at the border: EU marketplace sellers must be ready to produce the test report and Declaration of Conformity on request during market surveillance. A factory that can hand you a current 2024-edition report and a DoC is materially easier to work with than one that cannot.
What EU marketplaces and retailers require from a supplier
If you sell on Amazon.de, Bol, OTTO, ManoMano, Wayfair EU or to EU furniture retailers, expect to provide:
- a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) citing EN 747-1:2024 and EN 747-2:2024;
- an independent test report from a named laboratory (for example SGS, TÜV or Intertek) showing the actual results;
- permanent product labelling — standard number, maximum load, age warning and manufacturer identification;
- age grading — EN 747 includes requirements for beds intended for children;
- a compliant assembly instruction and user manual.
How to verify a supplier's EN 747 claim
"EN 747 compliant" is easy to print on a website and hard to prove. Before you order, ask for:
- the actual test report — laboratory name, report number, date and the exact edition of EN 747 cited;
- the Declaration of Conformity;
- the labelling artwork you will receive;
- a sample or QA plan for production batches.
A self-declaration with no named lab report is not sufficient for EU compliance, and a report citing the withdrawn 2012+A1:2015 edition is out of date.
Common EN 747 documentation mistakes
These are the errors that get EU shipments rejected or delisted:
- citing the withdrawn EN 747-1:2012+A1:2015 edition instead of 2024;
- a Declaration of Conformity with no supporting test report;
- a test report for a different model than the one being shipped;
- missing age grading or a non-permanent label that rubs off in transit;
- a user manual not translated into the language of the destination member state.
Ask the factory to show you the full package — report, DoC and label artwork — before production, not after.
Zehao's position on EN 747
Our welded steel bunk beds are SGS tested to 200 kg per berth by an independent laboratory, and we supply the test report and Declaration of Conformity for EU-bound orders. For the European market we prepare EN 747-aligned labelling and can support CE documentation as part of the order. Full certificates are listed on our certifications page.
Bunk bed models suited to the EU market
For EU retail and e-commerce, our most frequently specified models are the BS-01 and BS-02 welded steel bunks, supplied KD (knock-down) for efficient container loading. Browse the full range in our metal bunk bed catalogue. For non-domestic projects such as dormitories and staff accommodation, the same EN 747 framework applies with higher durability expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Is EN 747 mandatory in the EU?
Bunk beds placed on the EU market must be safe. EN 747 is the recognised harmonised standard, so conformity with it is the practical route to a valid CE mark — in effect a market-access requirement.
Does EN 747 apply to triple bunk beds?
Yes. Each raised sleeping level is a "high bed" and the upper-berth requirements apply to every raised level.
How is EN 747 different from AS/NZS 4220 or ASTM F1427?
Different markets use different standards: the EU and EEA use EN 747, Australia uses AS/NZS 4220, and the United States uses ASTM F1427. A bed compliant with one is not automatically compliant with another.
Does EN 747 cover prison or military bunk beds?
No. EN 747 explicitly excludes prisons, the military and fire brigades. Those settings need a dedicated specification verified by project testing.
Can a China factory be "EN 747 certified"?
There is no single certificate. Conformity is shown through a test report from a named laboratory plus a Declaration of Conformity. We use independent labs (SGS) for our testing.
What is the difference between EN 747-1:2012+A1:2015 and EN 747-1:2024?
The 2024 edition is the current version; the 2012+A1:2015 edition was withdrawn on 30 September 2024. New CE documentation should cite 2024.
What load rating does EN 747 require?
The standard defines the test methods; the rated load is declared by the manufacturer and verified by testing. Our standard welded bunks are SGS tested to 200 kg per berth.
Does EN 747 limit mattress thickness?
Indirectly, yes. Guardrail effectiveness depends on the height of the rail above the top of the mattress, so the standard's geometry limits how thick a mattress you can use without compromising the safety barrier. Specify the mattress together with the bed, not as an afterthought.
Do I need EN 747 if I only sell through my own EU website?
Yes. The General Product Safety Regulation applies to how the product is placed on the EU market, not to the sales channel. A DTC store, a marketplace and a distributor all carry the same obligation to show the product is safe and standards-conformant.
Last updated: 27 September 2026.
Related: Zehao certifications and compliance · Prison and correctional bunk beds · All metal bunk beds
Frequently Asked Questions about EN 747 Bunk Bed Standard: EU Compliance Guide | Zehao
What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
Our MOQ is 50 sets per model or order, suitable for project tenders and distributor stock.
What is the production lead time?
25-30 days after receipt of the 30% T/T deposit for standard models; custom specs may extend slightly.
What certifications do your products carry?
CE, EN 747 (bunk-bed safety), ISO 9001:2015, and SGS load testing at 200 kg per berth.
What are your incoterms and payment terms?
We quote on FOB, CIF or DDP. Payment: T/T 30% deposit, 70% before shipment.
How many beds fit in a 40HQ container?
Approximately 260-540 sets depending on model and packaging (flat-pack or assembled).
Can you customize size, color and logo?
Yes - OEM/ODM: RAL color, custom dimensions, laser logo. Powder-coated steel frame; 20,000 sqm factory, 8,000+ beds/month, established 1999.
What is the load capacity per berth?
SGS load test at 200 kg per berth; designs follow EN 747 bunk-bed safety principles.
About the manufacturer
Tianjin Zehao Furniture Co., Ltd. - established 1999, 20,000 sqm facility in Hebei, China, 8,000+ metal beds per month, serving 40+ countries. Certifications: CE, EN 747, ISO 9001:2015, SGS.
