The Association
Expertise and Commitment
The German Interior Business Association (IBA), based in Wiesbaden, is the industry association for the holistic design of office work. The IBA represents office furniture manufacturers in Germany and Europe. Together with its members, the IBA is committed to improving the quality of work. With the IBA Forum, the association operates the largest expertise platform for all aspects of work design. As the conceptual sponsor of ORGATEC, the IBA also provides fresh impetus at the leading international trade fair for the future of work. The association celbrated its 100th anniversary in 2023.
IBA Forum
Inspiration and expertise platform
The IBA Forum is the largest knowledge platform for new work, innovative working environments and sustainable workplace design. With inspiring ideas, sound expertise and diverse perspectives, we support our members in making the most of the potential offered by digitalisation and knowledge work. We promote exchange and cooperation within the industry in order to actively shape the working world of tomorrow together – attractive, sustainable and innovative. The IBA Forum connects work, spaces and people and offers a comprehensive platform for forward-looking work concepts.
Visit the IBA Forum here.
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OFML – Standard for modern office planning
Product configuration and planning from a single source
Setting up offices and configuring products requires expertise and the right tools. That is why OFML was developed as a uniform data standard for all office furnishing products. Almost all office furniture manufacturers in German-speaking countries provide OFML data for their products. This standard is also accessible to companies outside the association and to other industries. The range of international OFML data from other countries is growing steadily. OFML is a registered trademark of the Industrieverband Büro und Arbeitswelt e.V. (IBA).
Our free OfficePlanner is also based on OFML data.
Find out more now!
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ORGATEC I Work Culture Festival
Wherever Whenever
From 27 to 30 October 2026, the Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival will once again bring together decision-makers and visionaries from around the world at ORGATEC in Cologne, the leading international trade fair for modern working environments. In two halls, the IBA and its members will join forces with industry pioneers, innovative companies and leading minds from architecture, design, HR, technology and real estate to shape the working world of tomorrow. In lectures, panel discussions, workshops, experience rooms and exhibitions, professionals from all over the world will explore what will be possible in office work in the future.
The IBA is the conceptual sponsor of ORGATEC. We support Koelnmesse in planning and content development. Discover the highlights of 2024 here on the festival page and start looking forward to the next Work Culture Festival.
Save the date!
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LEVEL Certifications
Sustainability standard for office and contract furniture
Transparency in sustainable practices.
In order to more clearly illustrate the sustainability efforts of the European office and contract furniture industry, the FEMB sustainability standard with level certification was developed in 2010, primarily for the European market.
Level is the first European certification for office and contract furniture that comprehensively covers all relevant aspects of sustainability and the circular economy.
Find out more here!
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Quality Office
The seal of approval for high-quality products and expert advice
Quality Office is the only certificate that combines high-quality products, expert advice and tailor-made service – for perfect office furnishings. Only certified products and consultants carry the Quality Office logo. Quality Office Products for certified products and Quality Office Consultants for certified expert advisors. All certifications are based on the ‘Quality Criteria for Office Workplaces L‑Q 2022’ guidelines, which define requirements for modern office workplaces and consultants. We are one of the five recognised institutions on whose experience the guidelines are based.
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DIE VERBANDSGESCHICHTE
History – a brief excerpt
The first written document of our association dates back to November 1923. It was created as an association of wooden office furniture manufacturers within the German Wood Industry Association. Early topics included quality standards for office furniture, freight rates, trade fair issues and the export of furniture. In 1984, the wooden office furniture manufacturers joined forces with the steel furniture manufacturers to form the Association of the German Office Furniture Industry. In 2000, seating furniture manufacturers joined, creating the bso Verband Büro‑, Sitz- und Objektmöbel e. V. (Association of Office, Seating and Contract Furniture). In 2016, it was renamed Industrieverband Büro und Arbeitswelt e. V. (IBA) (Industry Association for Office and Work Environments). The current name reflects the industry’s broad view of the future.
