NPR 1813 is the Dutch practice guideline that describes how office furniture and workplace accessories should be used to create a safe and healthy work environment. The guideline was revised in May 2025 and replaces the 2016 version. NPR 1813:2025 provides guidance on the European standards NEN-EN 1335 (office chairs), NEN-EN 527 (work tables and desks) and NEN-EN 16139 (conference chairs), and is intended for purchasers, office designers, advisors and end users.

In this article you will read what NPR 1813 contains, why the guideline is important for the Dutch working population, which furniture and accessories belong in which workplace, and how to set up your work environment according to current standards.

Why is NPR 1813 specifically needed for the Netherlands?

The Dutch working population differs anthropometrically from the European average. Dutch people are not only taller, but the spread between the smallest and largest employees is greater. An office chair that meets the European standard NEN-EN 1335-1 (even the most adjustable Ax type) therefore does not support a significant portion of Dutch workers correctly.

To address this, NPR 1813 sets additional requirements for office chairs on three critical dimensions:

• Seat depth (b): minimum adjustment range 380 – 480 mm (European: 425 – 450 mm)
• Seat pan depth (c): minimum 440 mm (European: 380 mm)
• Width between adjustable armrests (z): minimum range 360 – 510 mm (European: 410 – 510 mm)

An NPR 1813 office chair is a type A chair according to NEN-EN 1335-1, supplemented with these three larger dimensions. This allows the chair to fit a much larger portion of Dutch workers, from the smallest P5 woman to the largest P95 man.

Important note on measurement methodology: for these three dimensions, the old measurement method from NEN-EN 1335-1:2000 is maintained. The NPR 1813 project group evaluated the new measurement method in ISO 24496:2021 as insufficiently robust (too much variation between different assessors). Tolerance on these dimensions: 5 mm (measurement on upholstered parts).

The four types of office chairs according to NEN-EN 1335-1

Since the 2020 revision, the European standard distinguishes four types of office chairs, ranked from most to least adjustable:

• Type Ax, newest category, largest adjustment range of all types
• Type A, same adjustment options as Ax, but smaller adjustment range
• Type B, fewer adjustment options and smaller range than Ax and A
• Type C, fewest adjustment options, most limited range

For long-term office and home work in the Netherlands, NPR 1813 recommends a type A chair with additional NPR dimensions. The type Ax chair sounds attractive due to its largest adjustment range, but requires two different gas springs, which the project group considered undesirable for the Dutch market.

Which furniture belongs in which workplace?

NPR 1813 distinguishes between different workplace types. The right choice depends on two factors: the type of workplace and duration of use (less or more than two hours continuously).

Flexible workplace

Workplaces where employees work for longer than two hours in a row, often shared by different people. The furniture must be easily adjustable by every user.

• Chair: NEN-EN 1335 type A + NPR 1813
• Desk: NEN-EN 527-1 + NPR 1813 sit/stand

Points of attention: peripheral equipment must also be adjustable, think of a monitor arm for height and distance, and a document holder for different tasks.

Landing workplace

A quick drop-in workspace in an open area, for short work (less than 2 hours). Often used by different people throughout the day. The ergonomic requirements are lower than for long-term use, but optimization does increase productivity.

• Chair: NEN-EN 1335 type Ax or type A (or type B based on expert advice)
• Desk: NEN-EN 527-1 + NPR 1813, or NEN-EN 527-1 type a

Focus workplace

For tasks requiring high concentration and/or privacy, for example a phone call room or quiet area. Particularly essential in open-plan offices.

When used for longer than two hours, the same furniture recommendations apply as for the flexible workplace. Additionally, this space requires extra attention to:

• Position relative to other spaces and passageways
• Acoustic quality of the space
• Materials, colours and accessories that dampen visual and acoustic stimuli

Individual assigned workplace

Used by one and the same person. The furniture must be optimally tailored to this user, their tasks and activities.

• A user who works extensively with paper documents needs more storage space than someone in a "paperless office"
• For users over 55 years old, additional workplace lighting is often desirable
• In specific situations, a saddle stool or standing support may work better than a standard office chair

Chair and desk recommendations for long-term use: NEN-EN 1335 type A + NPR 1813 (chair) and NEN-EN 527-1 + NPR 1813 sit/stand (desk).

Home workplace

Often the most intensively used workplace, more than two hours continuously, stationary screen work. The home workplace therefore deserves maximum ergonomic attention, despite space limitations.

• Chair: NEN-EN 1335 type A + NPR 1813
• Desk: NEN-EN 527-1 + NPR 1813 sit/stand (strongly recommended)

Meeting and conference workplace

For discussions where participants are bound to a fixed seating position. For meetings shorter than 2 hours, a NEN-EN 16139 conference chair or even a standing solution without a chair can be chosen. For longer meetings, an office chair (type A, B or C) or NEN-EN 16139 conference chair is appropriate.

Lounge workplace

An armchair or sofa for informal discussion. Limited adjustability and therefore suitable only for short-term use.

Mobile workplace

Working with a laptop or tablet in non-furnished locations (train, airport, kitchen table). Important advice: working on a laptop without additional accessories is limited to a maximum of two consecutive hours per day. For longer use, a laptop stand with external keyboard and mouse is required.

Recommended dimensions for the Dutch office chair

A good office chair for Dutch workers meets the dimensional requirements of NEN-EN 1335-1 and the additional NPR 1813 dimensions on the three critical dimensions. Below are the main dimensions (in mm):

The three bolded rows represent the difference between a "standard" European office chair and an NPR 1813 chair. These are the three dimensions on which a Dutch chair scores higher.

Recommended dimensions for the office desk

For desks and work tables, NPR 1813 refers to NEN-EN 527-1, with on a few points additional or different requirements for the Dutch market (in mm):

The higher upper limit (1300 mm) ensures that even the tallest Dutch people can work comfortably while standing. The maximum elbow height when standing for the P95 man is 1274 mm, plus 30 mm allowance for footwear, rounded to 1300 mm.

Safety and liability

Beyond ergonomics, NPR 1813 also emphasizes safety. Safety requirements for office furniture are set out in:

• NEN-EN 1335-2 for office chairs
• NEN-EN 527-2 for tables and desks
• NEN-EN 16139 for conference chairs

These requirements fall into three categories: general safety (no sharp edges, no pinch hazards, no contamination risks), stability (no unwanted tipping) and strength (minimum load capacity and service life). Products are tested on the specific variant that comes to market; a change in dimensions therefore requires a new safety test.

Product liability rests with the manufacturer. In the case of revitalization (constructive changes to existing furniture), liability shifts to the party making the changes. The leading European reference is the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).

Workplace accessories that make a difference

NPR 1813 lists in Appendix C a range of accessories that significantly improve workplace ergonomics. The main ones:

Monitor arm, Adjusts screen height, distance and viewing angle. Prevents unnecessary neck bending. Position the top of the screen at or just below eye level; viewing distance approximately an arm's length.

Laptop stand, Required for more than two hours continuous laptop use. Always combine with an external keyboard and mouse. For small laptop screens, an external monitor is better.

Document holder, Positions documents readably between keyboard and screen. Reduces static muscle tension in neck and shoulders. Good design: adjustable in height and angle, stable, at least as large as the most frequently used documents.

Footrest, For situations where the work table is too high and cannot be lowered further. A dynamic footrest encourages foot and leg movement, beneficial for circulation. Requirements are in DIN 4556.

Headset, Enables hands-free phone calls while allowing the user to take notes at the same time. Good design applies no pressure to the ears and has a positionable microphone. Wireless offers more freedom of movement.

Cable management, Safe (with strain relief) and organized cable storage. Must not restrict the adjustability of the workplace and peripheral equipment.

CPU holder, Places the computer case under the work surface. Free work space, easier to clean, protection from dust. Pay attention to adequate leg space (see NEN-EN 527-1).

Input devices (mouse and keyboard), Limit mouse use by utilizing function keys and alternate between right-handed and left-handed mice. A compact keyboard helps to move hands easily. For shared use: easy-to-clean material.

Workplace lighting, Supplement to general lighting where needed. A good desk lamp is adjustable in any desired position, has a shielded light source and no fire hazard.

Implementation: furniture alone is not enough

Under the Working Conditions Act, employers are responsible for a safe and healthy work environment. Purchasing the right furniture is only part of this. The other part is providing employees with information on how to use this furniture optimally.

When replacing office furniture, renewed information is required, as this is a significant change in working conditions. The supplier provides product instructions; the employer ensures maximum return on investment with this.

NPR 1813 refers to Horsten's 5W model for risk factors in screen work:

• Work tasks
• Work times
• Work pressure
• Workplace
• Work methods

Good user instruction:

• focuses on teaching skills, not just providing information
• lets the end user actually experience and try out the product
• takes place at the user's own workplace for maximum benefit
• is repeated regularly
• pays attention to how the chair, desk, screen and accessories work together, a correctly adjusted chair loses its value with an incorrectly adjusted work surface

Frequently asked questions

Which chair is suitable for a Dutch employee who sits at a desk for longer than two hours a day? A NEN-EN 1335 type A chair that also meets the additional NPR 1813 dimensions for seat depth (b), seat pan depth (c) and width between armrests (z).

What is the difference between a NEN-EN 1335 chair and an NPR 1813 chair? An NPR 1813 chair is a NEN-EN 1335 type A chair with larger dimensions on three critical measurements, tailored to Dutch anthropometry. This allows the chair to fit a larger portion of the Dutch workforce, both the smallest women and the largest men.

Is a sit-stand desk required? Not required, but strongly recommended for jobs heavily focused on screen work. Standing and semi-standing are seen as variation from sitting, not as a complete replacement.

Does NPR 1813 also apply to the home workplace? Yes. Many of the recommendations are also applicable to home workplaces, and ergonomic attention is particularly important there because the home workplace is often used most intensively.

How long can you work on a laptop without accessories? A maximum of two consecutive hours per day. For longer use, a laptop stand in combination with external keyboard and mouse is required.

What is an NPR 1813 desk? A desk that meets NEN-EN 527-1, with on some points broader or stricter requirements: a higher maximum for standing desks (1300 mm instead of 1250 mm), a thinner work surface at the seating edge (max. 50 mm) and a uniform maximum of 80 mm at 500 mm from the seating edge.

This article is based on NPR 1813:2025 nl, issued by the Royal Dutch Standardization Institute (NEN). The full guideline is available via nen.nl.