15 years
Do you have Photoshop installed? I've got a sketch in .psd...
Why not 'save as' a jpeg and put it here for us all to see and discuss?
Bunk Bed supplier
The Ideal Hostel
Not sure where to post this so i'll start here.
Anyone have a great bunk bed supplier that has bunks with curtains and possibly lights built into them?
Apparently no one manufactures such things in the states and we'd like to do better than Ikea bunk beds.
While on the topic of Ikea, has anyone got a track record with their bunk beds. We just installed a few but i'm not sure how durable they will be. Anyone?
- Comments
15 years
Why not 'save as' a jpeg and put it here for us all to see and discuss?
I've got a better idea... just downloaded a free furniture designer software.
I make a 3D model with all measurements included and then share the result! ;)
15 years
I simply use Powerpoint or Corel for design work. In this case Powerpoint would be better as more people have the programme, but it is much more difficult to use.
I would have thought 2D would be sufficient to agree ideas and for the supplier.
Mr 'Hostels', sir - do you have anywhere that we can put a few files to share around and view?
15 years
do you have anywhere that we can put a few files to share around and view?
If the forum software won't let you upload them as attachments, you can email files to me and I'll upload them to the server over FTP.
15 years
The bunks will have to comply with as many national regulations as we can find. I have a copy of The Bunk Beds (Entrapment Hazards) (Safety) Regulations 1987 for the UK. I also have Fair Trading (Safety Standard) Bunk Beds) Regulations 2002 plus the 2008 amendments for Australia.
I have some of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission mandatory requirements for bunk beds 2000 but not all of it. Can someone please check if it is on-line in full or check at a local library.
Are people aware of any other regulations?
15 years
I now have the US regulations - darn me if they don't run to 29 pages of fine print - the result of too much litigation I would guess!
Without boring you all, a quick summary.
The same bunk can be designed & manufactured to comply with both the UK & US regulations. The only differences would be in timber/lumber standard sizes and in mattress standard sizes. A simple conversion for IKEA's US unit.
An adjustment would have to be designed for the Australian market. They require that the top bunk guard rails are 260mm minimum above the mattress (US 130mm min. UK no rules). This would entail higher corner posts and an extra rail.
Before putting 'pen to paper' I would appreciate any more legislation that people know about.
Hostels - can you get back to IKEA to ask them about this matter - they must be aware of the law in all countries that they supply. If we design to the US regulations would this standard be acceptable throughout most of their world?
15 years
WOW. I'm shocked. You could simply send them a copy of sleeptite's bed...
Sorry, it would not comply with the US regulations on child entrapment.
15 years
Whilst we are waiting for IKEA can we see if we can find a consensus?
Wood seems more popular, something like the Mydal pictured but a lot stronger. Our wooden bunks are now 15 years old and they have got another 15 years in them at least; purpose made and very strong.
The standard Ikea mattress size seems to be 200 x 90cm, this looks reasonable. Wooden slats to support the mattress would be preferable to a board to allow the mattress to breath, agreed.
If someone has a Mydal bunk could they perhaps post here some timber sizes for comparison purposes?
I do not think that an attached reading light and an electrical outlet would be permitted in most places as they would contravene electrical safety standards. I’m no expert on this – can someone confirm please? On a similar note coat hooks would not be permitted in some countries – child entanglement rules – Ria, you will just have to keep fitting them yourself!
A shelf at the head of the bed would be a good idea but where should it be placed? If it was inside the bunk I would have thought it dangerous, but if it goes outside the bunk then the overall size of the unit increases. I have just finished making bed head storage boxes, pictured, as an alternative to a shelf.
Also in the picture you can see the new and old fixing method, the new fixings are much stronger and no squeak! Maybe shelves and boxes could be optional extras. As could a lower bunk curtain rail and curtain.
15 years
Whilst we are waiting for IKEA can we see if we can find a consensus?
Wood seems more popular, something like the Mydal pictured but a lot stronger. Our wooden bunks are now 15 years old and they have got another 15 years in them at least; purpose made and very strong.
Indeed, even the cheapest, pinewood lasts ages if it has the right dimensions for the projected gross load... but the basic problem is none of the known suppliers focuses on adult bunk beds... including our weight and height. It's still a virgin territory...
The standard Ikea mattress size seems to be 200 x 90cm, this looks reasonable. Wooden slats to support the mattress would be preferable to a board to allow the mattress to breath, agreed.
If someone has a Mydal bunk could they perhaps post here some timber sizes for comparison purposes?
I think the 200x90cm (6'7"x2'11"1/2) mattress is the standard everywhere. We use around 12-15cm thick ones (5-6"), fits well.
Mydal's dimensions:
The standard frames are 6cm wide and only 2cm(!) thick, the only exception is the vertical bed frame (this has the biggest gross load overall, the second most breakable item, first one is the mattress holder), which is 4cm. I think 4-5cm would be strong enough if they wouldn't use small pieces glued together instead. The total width is 96cm, the mattress space is about 201x92 cm.
If you need any further specifications, just let me know! ;)
I do not think that an attached reading light and an electrical outlet would be permitted in most places as they would contravene electrical safety standards. I’m no expert on this – can someone confirm please? On a similar note coat hooks would not be permitted in some countries – child entanglement rules – Ria, you will just have to keep fitting them yourself!
We use KVART mountable lights... like the one here:
We have mounted outlets next to every bed in the wall, at least I could plan that extra when we had to rewire the property. Otherwise you could use some extension cords, which you may hide in cable protectors near the floor.
A shelf at the head of the bed would be a good idea but where should it be placed? If it was inside the bunk I would have thought it dangerous, but if it goes outside the bunk then the overall size of the unit increases. I have just finished making bed head storage boxes, pictured, as an alternative to a shelf.
Also in the picture you can see the new and old fixing method, the new fixings are much stronger and no squeak! Maybe shelves and boxes could be optional extras. As could a lower bunk curtain rail and curtain.
The fixing looks great...
I guess it's better to publish my scratch as I couldn't work with the planning software. The demo only allowed 10 items to use and I wouldn't want to purchase it for 200EUR only for this operation! :D
Maybe if someone has AutoCad and willing to draw it from the draft, we could be wiser... ;)
It is not much different from Mydal, although height problems are resolved and a third frame is installed (why would we only give privacy to the bottom bunks?). Otherwise it is planned from thicker materials, purposed to last longer.
A small shelf (15cm) could work on the head side if it's no more than 20-30cm lower from the top. An edge (1cm enough I guess) would be useful on the back side, so small items wouldn't fall to the other side.
I've recently put such shelf on this model, according your recommendation.
There's also a drawer-locker at the bottom, although it's much higher than the one's I've seen so far...I've adjusted this one according to our locker sizes a mid-large backpack (80l) should fit in easily.
The estimated cost I've got from the carpenter for the first model is about 3-400EUR (~$500USD) excluding shipping. We might be able to make a sample model as soon as I dump all the crap out from the garage...in couple of months. I'm sure the mass production would result even cheaper products.
Any recommendations?
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