'Real-life' UK kitchen study findings to be announced

The first three-year study into the use of kitchens in real UK households has been completed, with the key findings, highly relevant to the UK kitchen industry, set to be presented at a seminar in September.

The project aimed to establish how drawers, doors and lift systems in kitchens in the UK are used over time by installing monitors and sensors in 20 households. The results of the study will influence the design, manufacture and installation of kitchen furniture fittings in the future.

Dr. Peter Beele, Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) International’s Technical Development Manager, said: “This study is the first three-year study of its kind in the UK and will help us gain an in-depth understanding of how kitchens are used in comparison with the rest of the Europe. Information about how a family treats a kitchen is of vital importance to design, manufacture and installation. This data will help identify trends in the way family life is changing and enable us to look at areas that would benefit from improvement and innovation.”

The project was funded by FIRA and carried out in collaboration with Blum UK, an Austrian fittings manufacturer, which has been conducting worldwide studies of kitchens for the past twenty-five years.

The findings of the project will be presented by the Furniture Industry Research Association at a seminar on 12 September at The kbbreview Kitchen Conference, the only networking and seminar event dedicated solely to the UK kitchen industry.

Beele added: “The results of the study will be of particular interest to kitchen and kitchen component designers and manufacturers. We are really excited to find out what impact this will have on future kitchen planning and manufacture.”

A geographical spread of kitchens incorporating all parts of the UK was chosen. FIRA Service Technicians, trained by Blum, fitted the designated kitchens with monitoring equipment, including sensors and 6-digit counters to determine:

• Loads applied to doors and drawers
• Cycles of doors, drawers and lift systems throughout a kitchen’s lifetime
• Changes in use over time (i.e. moves towards full extension, changing storage options etc.)

The results will be focused primarily on the following cabinet areas of the kitchens:

1. Cutlery - main

2. Daily used crockery

3. Daily used glassware

4. Daily used mugs/cups

5. Pots and pans

6. Waste disposal (if fitted)

7. Consumables - tins/jars/packets

8. Utensils - spatulas/whisks/fish slicers/ can openers etc.

9. Cling film, foil, bags etc

10. Pet food

The study is the outcome of the 60th Anniversary Design and Innovation Competition held in 2009 by the Furniture Industry Research Association. Blum UK won the competition and received support for a £20,000 project, the results of which would enhance the competitiveness of the industry as a whole.

Established 64 years ago, the Furniture Industry Research Association was set by the industry for the industry. It provides invaluable technical support to the entire furniture supply chain and funds projects for the benefit of the industry.

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