This draft European Standard specifies safety requirements and test methods for laboratory benches including laboratory tables and gives recommendations for their dimensions. It applies to benches, movable tables and overbench shelves designed for use in research, educational, quality control and similar laboratories. It should be understood that fulfilling the requirements do not ensure that failure will not occur as a result of habitual misuse or after an excessively long period of service. The tests are designed to be applied to a stand-alone bench that is fully assembled and ready for use.