Analysis to Improve the Strength of Beds Due to the Excess Weight of Users in Slovakia

Abstract

Good quality sleep is a prerequisite for regenerating the human body, hence, beds should be optimized for specific group of users, taking into consideration their size or age. Current research studies show similar trends in adult populations around the world, where increases in height as well as in weight can be observed. Not only the ergonomics but also the safety of beds, which is determined by the quality and dimensions of structural elements, must be taken into account in bed design. Designing the structural elements for users with a high body weight is presented in the paper. The properties of a bed’s structural elements, which ensure comfort as well as the safety of a bed are affected by the excess weight of users. New requirements for cross sections, suitable materials and construction of structural elements were set in accordance with the standard EN 1725:1998. Also, an analysis of stresses was done using the finite element method (FEM) and the calculation of allowable stresses related to a user weighing 150 kg. The results of our research provide complete standards and regulations associated with the safety requirements of bedroom furniture for users with a weight more than 110 kg to ensure that the manusfacture of quality products in Slovakia.

1. Introduction

High quality and uninterrupted sleep is essential for the well-being of any individual, an is needed to regenerate parts of the brain. Changes in sleep duration depend upon age. Children need to sleep 10 to 14 h a day on average. The average sleep duration of adults is 6 to 8 hours and at higher ages, people report shorter sleep duration. The quality of sleep and relaxation is affected mainly by the quality of bed.

Of all the factors that impact sleep quality, external factors can especially be changed. The “sleep system” includes the mattress, bed base and pillow, and it is an essential component of the sleep environment. As such, it has the highest demands placed on it. The combination of the elements mentioned above determines the overall behavior of the sleep system in terms of body support and thermal regulation, both of which should be adapted as much as possible to personal needs, preferably in an objective way [1]. The bed itself is created by the frame, legs or base, mattress and headboard. The bed frame is an essential part of the bed construction and it determines the size and shape of the bed. The solidity of the bed is associated with the ability to support the correct curvature of the spine while sleeping on the back, side or stomach [2,3,4,5]. A bed that is too small to allow users to turn from a supine to a side lying position increases the difficulty of mobilizing patients. Subsequently, the risk of musculoskeletal injury to caregivers can increase along with the risk of pressure injuries to users. The comfort of users is also reduced [6].

In terms of anthropometry, the length, width and height of the lying area are the most important bed parameters. The length and width affect the size of the lying area, whereas the height of the bed provides comfort when sitting on the edge or getting up. The general requirements for bedroom furniture defined in terms of anthropometry, physiology and hygiene are as follows: the bed size must fit the human measurements and changes in sleeping positions during sleep. In terms of ergonomics, product dimensions are generally created by the sum of the size of an individual plus additional factors (each separately), so, for the width of the bed we get P99 + room for turning left and/or right and for different positions. For these reasons anthropometric information should be used in the design of bedroom furniture (and other furniture), and may improve well-being, health, comfort and safety [mm].

Secular trends in human growth are a global phenomenon [7,8]. Since the early 19th century, the army has played a major role in research into trends in human physical growth [9]. Hauspie et al. [10] studied secular trends in Europe over the last decades of the 20th century and found increases in height of 3 mm/decade in Scandinavia with increases of 30 mm/decade in some countries of Southern and Eastern Europe. Data gathered since 1990, have reported a plateau in some countries, for example, in the Netherlands [11], and in Norway and Finland. In other countries, especially in Belgium, Spain and Portugal, the height of the population has increased at a constant rate of about 2–3 cm over each decade since 1990 [12]. With the exception of some countries, the increase in the height of adult populations can be observed all over the world. This is confirmed by the results of research studies conducted in countries all around the world: (i) in the USA and in North America [13,14,15], (ii) in Northern Europe [16,17,18], (iii) in Southern and Southeastern Europe [19,20,21,22,23], (iv) in Western Europe [24], (v) in Asia [25,26,27,28,29], (vi) in Australia [30] and (vii) in Africa [31,32].

Weight gain is reported as well. Population-based studies measuring the body weight of the adult population are based on BMI (body mass index). Categories are selected according to the rules associated with the determination of the BMI: 25 kg/m² < 30 kg/m² (overweight), > 30 kg/m² (obese), and > 35 kg/m² (severely obese). In many countries, weight has continued to increase as part of global obesity epidemic [33,34,35,36,37,38]. In 2015, the BMI value of one third of all inhabitants in the USA was higher than 30 [39]. Based on data from 369 national and 591 local research studies [40], the trends in BMI changes throughout the world from 1980 to 2008 were defined. Another study used 450 national studies to determine the trends in childhood obesity and excess weight from 1990 to 2020 [41]. Data from both studies, as well as many others, show overall weight gain in recent decades [42,43,44,45,46].

From the viewpoint of a user with a high weight, there are very few scientific publications about appropriate furniture dimensions [47,48,49] including the dimensions for beds and the bed’s components [50]. Some are based only on the weight of users. The use of wider beds is recommended in case of patients weighing more than 159 kg [51]. Other authors [52] suggest the use of special beds for users who weigh more than 147 kg or with a BMI score higher than 55 kg/m². A scientific study [6] determined how much space individuals occupy when turning from supine to side lying (Figure 1) as predicted by their anthropometric attributes (i.e., waist circumference). The relationship between anthropometric attributes and the space occupied when turning was then used to establish guidelines for selecting an appropriate hospital bed width based on the size of the users. The findings from this study suggest that, when lying in the centre of a 910 mm wide hospital bed, a patient with a BMI greater than 35 kg/m² would have insufficient space to be turned in either direction without lateral repositioning. Furthermore, a patient with a BMI greater than 45 kg/m² would have insufficient space to be turned at all, even if repositioned to one edge of the surface before being turned.

Two other ways to determine the width of bed can be found in scientific papers [53,54]. Prokopec [53] determined the width of lying area b according to the shoulder width (Bi-deltoid width) extended by 50% and two standard deviations. Each human individual changes their sleeping position many times during the night. Therefore, the minimum width of a bed must be extended by 20–25%. The final width of the bed lying area is determined according to the formula (where w—average shoulder breadth, and s_x—standard deviation of the average):

$$b=1.5·w+2·s_x+0.25\left(1.5·w+2·s_x\right)$$

(1)

The second way used to determine the bed width [2] is based on the sleeping position on the back with relaxed arms (Figure 2), where elbow span is considered to be the maximum width. Therefore, the width of the lying area has to be extended by 25%. The basic width resulting from the aforementioned calculation is 85–95 cm.

Various types of bed bases have been developed to support mattresses. The most commonly used bed bases are rigid bases, slatted bases, spiral bases and box springs. A slatted base consists of a frame on which slats are fixed perpendicular to the cranio-caudal direction. Slats are traditionally fabricated in solid wood or laminated wood [1,55,56,57]. Slats made of solid wood are attached to the frame separately using screws, or slats are loosely laid. Slats made from laminated wood are attached to the frame separately by means of synthetic slat suspension. Extensive space for further experimental research in furniture design is offered using wood composite materials [58,59,60]. The ergonomic design of sleep systems (i.e., the mattress, bed base and head cushion) aims to optimize bed properties to achieve maximum recovery during sleep. This is very important for the health of users with excess weight.

Various simulation tools can be used by furniture makers and designers in the process of designing optimum construction for specific users. The most frequent method applied in the literature to calculate the stress and strain in wood furniture is the FEM (finite element method) [61,62,63,64]. Critical stress points can be determined using this method. The literature shows agreement between the data collected by calculation and experimental testing [65,66]. The studies by Gustafsson [67,68] are considered interesting because of their structural analysis of furniture using modern software tools.

Furniture design of all types of furniture (bedroom, seating furniture, cabinets, tables and multi-functional furniture) has to correspond with the dimensions and weight of current as well as future populations. Valid standard EN and Slovak laws are currently based on a human body weight of 110 kg. At the present time, overweight users are not taken into consideration in the process of designing and making furniture construction in Slovakia. For furniture makers, this problem must be resolved on an individual basis. Therefore, the need to put the principles associated with furniture design and construction for users who weigh more than 110 kg into practice, is considered to be essential. For that reason, we consider this paper beneficial and supportive of the innovation required in this area. A wider group of users will be able to use the furniture due to its functional properties, and this innovation in furniture making will also help to lead the furniture industry towards sustainability.

Therefore, the aim of the paper is to define up-to-date mechanical properties (especially strength) for single bed construction for users with excess weight in Slovakia, mainly bed bases and bed frames. The research is aimed at using a calculation method based on limited states and evaluating it by simulating the FEM in the ANSYS program.

2. Analysis Approach

2.1. Experimental Subjects

Research on the secular trends in human growth have been carried out in the Slovak Republic since 1993. The sampling unit consists of the Slovak adult population. 71.816 male respondents were used to analyze secular trends in Slovak men from 1993 to 2017. The data were collected from the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and other available sources [69,70,71]. Third-degree polynomials were used to analyze the trends (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

The current average shoulder breadth in the adult male population is 47.87 cm ± 6.06 cm. Following the data, the calculated width of bed b is according to (1) 104.91 cm (Figure 3).

Regarding the weight of users, an increase in the average weight of the Slovak male population of more than 6 kg has been observed over the last 25 years. In 2017, the weight of more than 113,000 Slovak men was higher than 110 kg. Moreover, the weight of 11% of these men was more than 130 kg. Regional and national estimates of BMI in other European countries show that the situation is very similar (Figure 5) [72,73]. Following the BMI data, 400,000 men in Slovakia suffered from obesity and 90,000 suffered from severe obesity in 2017. The weight of approximately 46,000 men with severe obesity was more than 110 kg [74,75,76,77].

2.2. Static Load Test of Beds

Following these findings, it can be concluded that individual parameters of bedroom furniture are not consistent with the standards and do not meet the needs of the current population. Therefore, these standards need to be updated. Modification of the standard dimensions requires cooperation from designers, furniture makers, anthropologists, ergonomists as well as doctors. Only the cooperation of a team of multidisciplinary professionals can produce changes in the manufacturing of furniture that supports the development of a healthy population. For the reasons mentioned above, the use of 110 kg in current standards associated with the load bearing capacity of beds (EN 1725:1998) [78] is considered inadequate. Following the weight analysis of men in Slovakia and other European countries, and to improve the existing standards it is necessary to up-to-date the standards to include people weighing over 150 kg. Similarly, standard bed sizes of 800 mm and 900 mm are not considered to be adequate and it seems advisable to use a bed width of 1050 mm as the standard.

Mechanical properties, especially the strength, of furniture are evaluated using tests mentioned in European standards. Experiments and testing are usually carried out using real constructions with real dimensions to simulate situations where changes in structure as well as breakages can occur. In addition, structural analysis with reduced size and material is conducted to evaluate the construction of the furniture. Although the structural analysis of most furniture is a complex process requiring considerable technical skill and involving substantial numbers of tedious computations, assumptions about the structural behavior of the furniture can often be made. The difficulty of analysis is reduced significantly. In the case of frame construction, for example, it is often assumed that slender members that can only carry modest bending loads owing to their geometry, may be treated as though they were pinned at each end when, in fact, they may be fixed. This assumption substantially reduces the amount of time required to analyze a frame and the accuracy of the solution is usually only affected in a minimal way [79].

Furniture can be customized to individual needs to implement space management. Aesthetic, ergonomic and safety are the main criteria in furniture design. A significant number of benefits can be gained during the development phase. This study involves designing the dimensions of the structural elements of a bed for users with high body weight. Standards associated with testing beds take into account an individual weight of 110 kg. Therefore, static and cyclic loading conditions during testing are based on the weight of 110 kg. However, the question is, what will happen to the construction when the weight of the user is more than 150 kg, as this means changing the loading conditions?

Modeling the bed-load was based on the standard EN 1725:1998. Distribution of stresses and deformations in structural elements corresponding to the vertical static load test of the edge (Figure 6a) and the strength of the lying area in case of static loading (Figure 6b) were evaluated. The diameter of the circular plate used during the plate bearing test was 200 mm.

In general, bed tests are based on the weight of individuals of 110 kg. The following forces are used to describe the load. F = 1200 N (Figure 6b) is used for the vertical static load test of the edge and F = 1400 N is used for testing the strength of the lying area (Figure 6a). The stresses and deformation associated with a user weight of 150 kg are not defined in the standards. Therefore, the values corresponding to the weight of users of 150 kg were set using the linear extrapolation as follows: F = 1800 N (Figure 6b) for the vertical static load test of the edge and F = 2100 N for testing the strength of the lying area (Figure 6a).

2.3. Designing in Accordance with the Limit State

2.3.1. Strength of Elements

The standard stress of material varies linearly across the thickness. The maximum value of compression is on one side and an equal maximum value of tension is located on the other side of the thickness and passes through zero at the mid-plane. When designing the support beam, the following conditions must be met for (2) and (4):

$${\sigma }_{t,0,d}\le f_{t,0,d}$$

(2)

where:

• σ_t,0,d—design tensile stress parallel to grains
• f_t,0,d—design tensile strength of timber parallel (perpendicular) to grains, at which

$$f_{t,0,d}=k_{mod}·\frac{f_{t,0,k}}{{\gamma }_M}$$

(3)

where:

• f_t,0,k—typical tensile strength of timber parallel to grains (for spruce wood f_t,0,k = 24 MPa, for beech wood f_t,0,k = 42 MPa)
• γ_M—partial safety factor, γ_M = 1.3 for wood and wood materials
• k_mod—modification factor dealing with the impact of the time of applying the load and the moisture content on the strength of material k_mod = 1.10 for immediate load [55]

$${\sigma }_{c,0,d}\le f_{c,0,d}$$

(4)

where:

• σ_c,0,d—design compressive stress,
• f_c,0,d—design compressive strength, at which

$$f_{c,0,d}=k_{mod}·\frac{f_{c,0,k}}{{\gamma }_M}$$

(5)

where: f_c,0,k—typical compressive strength parallel to grains (for spruce wood f_c,0,k = 27 MPa, for beech wood f_c,0,k = 34 MPa).

Further, σc and σT denote compressive and tensile normal stresses, respectively. For strength, typically coniferous sawn timber is graded to strength classes C40 or D70, which means the sawn timber almost without defects. This corresponds with the values calculated from the average strengths (using elements with no defects) provided that the number of elements is higher than 30 and the coefficient of variation is 20%.

2.3.2. Element Bending

The bed sideboard is also used to test for fitness for use in terms of deformation. The afore-mentioned deformation meets the condition that the bend of a beam is y_max < L/333, while L is the length of a beam. The condition associated with the reliability of bending is expressed as):

y_max < y

(6)

2.4. Methodology for Static Loading Testing of Bed Slats

The width and length of the lying area are essential in terms of evaluating the strength and deformation of structural elements (w × l). The width of the lying area results from the ergonomic requirements for the lying area. We opted for the basic size of 800 mm and two sizes suitable for users with excess weight, w = 900 mm and 1050 mm. The bed base was designed in accordance with the standard EN 1725:1998. The bearing slat cross section is (b × h) 95 × 20 mm, the distance between slats is 65 mm. The support beam of the bed slats is made of Norway spruce sawn timber. According to the standards, the bed slats with a width more than 1000 mm must be supported. Bed slats were supported with spruce prisms measuring 20 × 45 mm, which means that 20 mm is the width used to support the bearing slat. Following the analysis of anthropometric data associated with the excess weight and dimensions of users, two extended lengths of bed base, L₁ = 900 mm and 1050 mm were used. The bed sideboard is designed from beech wood sawn timber. The standard minimum cross section of the sideboard (b × h) 25 × 200 mm, l = 2000 mm was used for load testing. Stresses and deformations were evaluated using the FEM software.

In terms of safety specifications for furniture, the strength of the lying area must be evaluated. As mentioned, the evaluation was carried out using the FEM software ANSYS. Figure 7 shows the load applied. Two wood species commonly used in bed making were analyzed—Norway spruce and European beech [80,81]. Material constants associated with these wood species are mentioned in

Table 1. Material constants used in the calculation using the FEM.

Material constants for Norway spruce (Picea abies L.)
Young’s Modulus (MPa)			Poisson’s Ratio			Shear Modulus (MPa)
Ex	EY	EZ	µXY	µYZ	µXZ	GXY	GYZ	GXz
13,650.2	789.6	289.6	0.028	0.363	0.012	573.0	53.4	474.0
Material constants for European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Young’s Modulus (MPa)			Poisson’s Ratio (-)			Shear Modulus (MPa)
Ex	EY	EZ	µXY	µYZ	µXZ	GXY	GYZ	GXz
16,670.0	1130.0	630.0	0.044	0.33	0.027	1200.0	190.0	930.0

Source: [82].

.

A 3D volume model with orthotropic wood properties taken into consideration was used in the analysis of the support beam by means of the ANSYS program. A Cartesian coordinate system was used to simulate the phenomenon. Direction X is along the grains, direction Y is perpendicular to the grain radial, and direction Z is perpendicular to the grains tangential. A material is defined by its material constants (Table 1 and

Table 2. Design strength of timber f_0,d (MPa).

	Tensile Stress ft,0,d Along the Grain	Compressive Stress fc,0,d Along the Grain	Density ρ0 (kg/m3)
Picea abies L.	20.30	22.85	392.0
Fagus sylvatica L.	35.53	48.32	684.0

Source: Authors´ compilation.

). Every element has to be assigned a particular material. The element type was 3D element SOLID 95 with 20 nodes. The boundary conditions applied in this simulation are the same as in experimental tests, according to the standard EN 1725. They are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8. These conditions are: symmetry boundary conditions, restriction of the displacement in the support (UX = UY = UZ = 0), and loading applied at the top surface of wood beam.

2.5. Methodology for Static Loading Testing of Sideboard

The vertical static load test of the edge was carried out in accordance with the static scheme shown in Figure 8 and the load was applied on the bed sideboard. The cross section of the bed sideboard of 25 mm × 200 mm with a length of 2000 mm was simulated as an orthogonally anisotropic material, that is, beech wood ρ = 684 kg·m⁻³, and the material constants are mentioned in Table 1. The direction along the grain is described by the x-axis and the radial direction perpendicular to the grain is described by y-axis. The tangential direction perpendicular to the grain is described by z-axis.

3. Results

The evaluation of the strength of the bed base was based on the design tensile strength f_t,0,d and a compression strength of f_c,0,d along the grain for the wood species of Norway spruce and European beech, as mentioned in Table 2.

The values for the stresses measured on the spruce support beam of the bed slats collected using the FEM method are shown in

Table 3. Values of stresses in the spruce support beam of the bed slats at standard and higher load.

Size/Material (mm)	Load 1400 N		Load 2100 N
	Tensile Stress σt,0,d (MPa)	Compressive Stress σc,0,d (MPa)	Tensile Stress σt,0,d (MPa)	Compressive Stress σc,0,d (MPa)
95 × 20/800 Picea abies L.	17.95 passed	22.08 passed	32.64 failed	40.14 failed
95 × 20/900 Picea abies L.	24.02 failed	29.574 failed	36.03 failed	44.361 failed
95 × 20/1050 Picea abies L.	28.021 failed	24.021 failed	42.031 failed	51.031 failed

Source: Authors´ compilation.

.

When the load is 1400 N, the length of the support beam of bed slats is 800 mm. However, when the load is higher, 2100 N, the beam tension exceeds the compressive strength by 75% and the tensile strength by 60%, so, it cannot be used. A beam measuring 900 or 1050 mm is not fit for use when the load is normal or higher, that is 2100 N. When the load is normal, the tension of the beam with a length of 900 mm exceeds the compressive strength by 18% and tensile strength by 29%.

Changes in materials and structure must be incorporated into the design in order for standard bed slats to be used with excess weight. In terms of material changes we think beech wood is stronger and therefore, it is more suitable for this purpose. In terms of changes in structure, we propose that the beam be supported in the centre, the place with the highest stress concentration (Figure 2b). The stress values gathered using the FEM method are shown in

Table 4. Values of stresses in the support beam of bed slats at standard and higher load after changes in structure or material.

Size/Material	Load 1400 N		Load 2100 N
	Tensile Stress U σt,0,d (MPa)	Compressive Stress σc,0,d (MPa)	Tensile Stress σt,0,d (MPa)	Compressive Stress σc,0,d (MPa)
95 × 20/800 Picea abies L. supported beam			17.196 passed	25.907 failed
95 × 20/900 Picea abies L. supported beam	15.072 passed	16.138 passed	22.608 failed	24.207 failed
95 × 20/1050 Picea abies L. supported beam	18.301 passed	18.73 passed	27.452 failed	28.096 failed
95 × 20/900 Fagus sylvatica L. unsupported beam	23.908 passed	28.49 passed	35.009 passed	41.719 passed
95 × 20/1050 Fagus sylvatica L. unsupported beam	27.923 passed	32.81 passed	41.885 failed	49.885 failed
95 × 20/1050 Fagus sylvatica L. supported beam			26.862 passed	27.184 passed

Source: Authors´ compilation.

and are compared to the design strength of timber f_0,d according to Table 2.

The calculated values show that the beam must be supported in the centre in case of normal load and the length increased to 900 mm and 1050 mm. When the mentioned change in structure cannot be done, beech wood should be used as a material. When the load increases to 2100 N, which corresponds to a user weight of 150 kg, a beam of beech wood fits for the length of 900 mm, even though the tensile stress is equal to the design strength of timber f_0,d. In the case of the length of 1050 mm, only a supported beech beam can be used. The development of stresses in suitable beams is shown in Figure 9.

In some cases, not only safety but also material expenditures were taken into account. Therefore, a choice has to be made between the use of Norway spruce material recommended by the standard EN 1725:1998 or European beech. In the case of the Norway spruce wood, if the support beam of bed slats is 1500 mm and the applied load is 2100 N, a cross section of 95 mm × 24 mm has to be used; this means the cross-sectional area increases by 20%. The maximum compressive stress σ_c,0,d = 21.41 MPa and tensile stress σ_t,0,d = 20.743 MPa (Figure 10) corresponds to the design strength of spruce sawn timber [83] (Table 2).

Table 5. Evaluation of stresses and deformations in the bed sideboard.

	Length of the Beam l = 2000 mm
	F = 1200 N	F = 1800 N
Tensile stress σt,0,d (MPa)	3.2535	4.8802
Compressive stress σc,0,d (MPa)	4.4929	6.7394
Deformation y (mm)	1.4707	2.2061

Source: Authors´ compilation.

shows the normal stresses and deformations of a bed sideboard with a length of l = 2000 mm in the case of normal and increased load.

Development of normal stresses (y-axis) along the length of the cross section (x-axis) is shown in Figure 11. The bed sideboard with the standard cross section of 25 mm × 200 mm, made from the beech wood is suitable for use in terms of normal and increased stresses. The maximum values of normal and shear stress were not exceeded in the process of simulation. The design tensile strength of beech wood along the grain is f_t,0,d = 35.53 MPa and the design compressive strength of beech wood along the grain is f_c,0,d = 18.32 MPa. Calculated values show that the edge of bed described by the sideboard is fit for the load resulting from the excess weight of a user of 150 kg.

The bed sideboard is also fit for the use in terms of deformation. The maximum deformation with the increased load is y_max = 2.2061 mm. The deformation meets the condition that the bend of a beam is y_max < L/333 while L is the length of a beam. In our case, y = L/333 = 2000/333 = 6.006 mm, which means the condition y_max < y is met. The development of the deformation of the bed sideboard is illustrated in Figure 12.

4. Discussion and Conclusions

An increase in weight of the population in the Slovak Republic (as well as in other countries) has occurred recently. For example, the 95th percentile for weight has increased from 102 kg to 110 kg (more than 130 thousand men weigh more than 110 kg) over the last 25 years in Slovakia. Not only weight but other anthropometric data, such as height, shoulder breadth, and waistband width has increased as well. The design of furniture of all types (bedroom, seating furniture, cabinets, tables and multi-functional furniture) has to correspond with the dimensions and weight of current as well as future populations. Structural proposals for safe beds are based on standard dimensions and weight; which results in beds measuring 80 cm × 200 cm and 90 cm × 200 cm for the users weighing up to 110 kg. Following our analysis, these parameters are considered to be inadequate. We propose that the size of beds should be extended to 105 cm × 200 cm with a load capacity up to 150 kg. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing standards for testing beds; new standards for people weighing over 150 kg must be developed. In the case of a support beam with a length of more than 1000 mm, it must be supported. This should also be included in suggestions for the construction of safe beds. Our research shows that the spruce beam for bed slats with a length of 800 mm without support fits for use with a normal load (the 1400 N corresponds with the users’ weight of 110 kg). Spruce beams of 900 mm and 1050 mm cannot be used when the load is normal, which is inconsistent with the suggestions for the construction of safe beds. In the case of spruce beams and increased load (2100 N corresponds with the weight of 150 kg), no length of spruce beam is fit for use (800 mm, 900 mm, 1050 mm). Changes in material and structure must be designed in order to use standard bed slats by users with excessive weight. In terms of material changes, we think beech wood, which is stronger in comparison to commonly used spruce wood, is more suitable for use. Following the results of our research, we can state that the beech beam, with a length of 900 mm and 1050 mm, is fit for use with normal load with no support. In case of changes in structure and the normal load, a spruce beam of 900 mm and 1050 mm, can only be used when supported in the centre. The results show that the spruce beam must also be also supported in the case of the standard bed width of 800 mm when the weight of the user is 150 kg. The stress in the slats extend the design strength f_0,d by 13%. Only bed slats made of beech wood supported in the centre can be used when the width of bed slats is 1050 mm, which means it is suitable for users with excess weight. If the beech sawn timber cannot be used to make the bed slats, the slats made of spruce with dimensions of 95 × 20 mm must be replaced by those higher in cross section. In our case, when the load is 2100 N and the length of the bed slats is 1050 mm, a cross section of 90 × 24 mm, and of course supported, must be used.

Following the results of the research, it can be concluded that changes in the material and dimensions of the supporting construction parts of beds must correspond with the requirements of overweight users. Moreover, the standards associated with the safety requirements of bedroom furniture for users who weigh more than 110 kg must be created in Slovakia.

In the future, we suggest expanding this research into other products that have to carry increasing body weight like (airplane) chairs, surgery tables, toilet seats, etc., similar to the research into chairs [48]. In addition to that, anthropometric measurements and the dimensions of furniture for current generation must be updated regularly. Modification of the standard dimensions for furniture requires interdisciplinary collaboration between anthropologists, ergonomists, developers and health professionals. This is the only way that a multidisciplinary approach can deliver results in the production of health-conscious consumer products.

A wider group of users will be able to use the furniture due to its functional properties, and more innovation in furniture making will help to lead the furniture industry towards sustainability. Sustainability, that is, development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs includes attention to natural and physical resources (the planet), but also attention to human and social resources (people), in combination with economic sustainability (profit) [84,85,86,87,88,89,90]. In this way, we will achieve the sustainability of standards and their timeliness.