Peace of mind that your cabinetry is tested and trustworthy.
Cabinets undergo extensive testing to achieve the ANSI A161.1 Quality Certification Seal, proving that they are worth choosing for every home. The tests include overall structual integrity, operation of the drawers and doors and durability of the cabient finish.
Cabinets undergo extensive testing to achieve the ANSI A161.1 Quality Certification Seal, proving that they are worth choosing for every home. The tests include overall structual integrity, operation of the drawers and doors and durability of the cabient finish.

The structural tests are meant to verify the strength of cabinets.
For seven days, in a laboratory environment, we load cabinet shelves and bottoms with 15 pounds of weight per square foot. Technicians monitor the cabinetry for signs of joint separation or other failures of the cabinets or their mounting systems. Other weight tests include gradually loading 600 pounds into mounted cabinets, simulating the stress on a heavily loaded cabinet, and dropping a three-pound steel ball onto cabinet bottoms from six inches above the surface, replicating dropped cans.
Shelves and bottoms
All shelves and bottoms are loaded at 15 pounds per square foot. Loading is maintained for seven days to ensure that there is no excessive deflection and no visible sing of join separation or failure of any part of the cabinets or the mounting system.
Wall Mounted Cabinets
Mounted wall cabinets and wall hung base cabinets are gradually loaded to 600 pounds without any visible sign of failure in the cabinet or the mounting system.
Base Joints
To test the strength of base-front joints, a load of 250 pounds is applied against the inside of cabinet-front stiles for cabinet with drawer rails, or 200 pounds is applied for cabinets without drawer rails, to ensure reliable front joints that will not open during stress in service or during installation.
Drop Test
To test the ability of shelves, bottoms and drawer bottoms to withstand the dropping of cans and other items, a three-pound steel ball is dropped from six inches above the surface. After the test the drawer must not be damaged and must operate as before the test with no visible sign of joint separation or failure of any part of the cabinet or mounting system.
For seven days, in a laboratory environment, we load cabinet shelves and bottoms with 15 pounds of weight per square foot. Technicians monitor the cabinetry for signs of joint separation or other failures of the cabinets or their mounting systems. Other weight tests include gradually loading 600 pounds into mounted cabinets, simulating the stress on a heavily loaded cabinet, and dropping a three-pound steel ball onto cabinet bottoms from six inches above the surface, replicating dropped cans.
Shelves and bottoms
All shelves and bottoms are loaded at 15 pounds per square foot. Loading is maintained for seven days to ensure that there is no excessive deflection and no visible sing of join separation or failure of any part of the cabinets or the mounting system.
Wall Mounted Cabinets
Mounted wall cabinets and wall hung base cabinets are gradually loaded to 600 pounds without any visible sign of failure in the cabinet or the mounting system.
Base Joints
To test the strength of base-front joints, a load of 250 pounds is applied against the inside of cabinet-front stiles for cabinet with drawer rails, or 200 pounds is applied for cabinets without drawer rails, to ensure reliable front joints that will not open during stress in service or during installation.
Drop Test
To test the ability of shelves, bottoms and drawer bottoms to withstand the dropping of cans and other items, a three-pound steel ball is dropped from six inches above the surface. After the test the drawer must not be damaged and must operate as before the test with no visible sign of joint separation or failure of any part of the cabinet or mounting system.
Drawers are tested to operate with loading during normal use.
Few families will open and close cabinets as frequently – or as vigorously – as we do during our certification testing. But that’s the point. After we test, you know your ANSI-certified cabinetry will keep pace with your active lifestyle.
Weight Test
To test the ability of drawers and drawer mechanisms to operate with loading during normal use, drawers are loaded at 15 pounds per square foot and operated through 25,000 cycles. The drawers must then remain operable with no failure in any part of the drawer assembly or operating system, and drawer bottoms must not be deflected to interfere with drawer operation.
Structural Strength
To test the ability of the drawer-front assembly to withstand the impact of closing the drawer under normal use, a three-pound weight is dropped 8 inches against the drawer assembly. After 10 drops, there must be no evidence of looseness or structural damage to the drawer-front assembly that impairs operation.
Few families will open and close cabinets as frequently – or as vigorously – as we do during our certification testing. But that’s the point. After we test, you know your ANSI-certified cabinetry will keep pace with your active lifestyle.
Weight Test
To test the ability of drawers and drawer mechanisms to operate with loading during normal use, drawers are loaded at 15 pounds per square foot and operated through 25,000 cycles. The drawers must then remain operable with no failure in any part of the drawer assembly or operating system, and drawer bottoms must not be deflected to interfere with drawer operation.
Structural Strength
To test the ability of the drawer-front assembly to withstand the impact of closing the drawer under normal use, a three-pound weight is dropped 8 inches against the drawer assembly. After 10 drops, there must be no evidence of looseness or structural damage to the drawer-front assembly that impairs operation.

Doors are tested to withstand daily use.
How do you avoid the shoddy look of loose or unaligned cabinet doors that often occurs over time? You buy certified cabinets. ANSI-certified cabinetry continues to operate flawlessly with no signs of damage or looseness.
Stress Test
Doors are opened and closed through a full 90-degree swing for 25,000 cycles. At the test's conclusion, the door must be operable, the door-holding device must hold the door in the closed position, hinges must show no visible signs of damage, connections between cabinet-and-hinge and door-and-hinge must show no sign of looseness.
Load Test
65 pounds of weight is applied on the door. The weighted door is slowly operated for 10 cycles from 90 degrees open to 20 degrees open and returned to the 90-degree position. The door must remain weighted for 10 minutes, after which the door and hinges must show no visible signs of damage or looseness
How do you avoid the shoddy look of loose or unaligned cabinet doors that often occurs over time? You buy certified cabinets. ANSI-certified cabinetry continues to operate flawlessly with no signs of damage or looseness.
Stress Test
Doors are opened and closed through a full 90-degree swing for 25,000 cycles. At the test's conclusion, the door must be operable, the door-holding device must hold the door in the closed position, hinges must show no visible signs of damage, connections between cabinet-and-hinge and door-and-hinge must show no sign of looseness.
Load Test
65 pounds of weight is applied on the door. The weighted door is slowly operated for 10 cycles from 90 degrees open to 20 degrees open and returned to the 90-degree position. The door must remain weighted for 10 minutes, after which the door and hinges must show no visible signs of damage or looseness

The finish tests create the cumulative effects of years of normal kitchen conditions.
Because the finish of your cabinetry is one of its most visible features, we test it to make certain it’s manufactured to withstand potentially abrasive substances. ANSI exposes cabinetry to such stain threats as vinegar, grape juice, coffee, alcohol and even mustard for varying amounts of time. The result? Cabinets that earn the ANSI certification seal show no discoloration that can’t easily be polished away.
Spill Test
Exterior exposed surfaces of doors, front frames, drawer fronts and end panels are subjected to vinegar, lemon, orange and grape juices, tomato ketchup, coffee, olive oil and 100-proof alcohol for 24 hours and to mustard for one hour.
Stain Test
A cabinet door edge is subjected to exposure to a standardized detergent formula for 4-24 hours depending on door type.
Because the finish of your cabinetry is one of its most visible features, we test it to make certain it’s manufactured to withstand potentially abrasive substances. ANSI exposes cabinetry to such stain threats as vinegar, grape juice, coffee, alcohol and even mustard for varying amounts of time. The result? Cabinets that earn the ANSI certification seal show no discoloration that can’t easily be polished away.
Spill Test
Exterior exposed surfaces of doors, front frames, drawer fronts and end panels are subjected to vinegar, lemon, orange and grape juices, tomato ketchup, coffee, olive oil and 100-proof alcohol for 24 hours and to mustard for one hour.
Stain Test
A cabinet door edge is subjected to exposure to a standardized detergent formula for 4-24 hours depending on door type.
Temperature tested to prove they can handle the inevitable temperature hazards in your kitchen.
After sweltering in a humid, 120-degree hotbox for 24 hours, how do ANSI-certified cabinets respond? Beautifully. With no discoloration or blistering, your certified cabinets prove they can handle the inevitable temperature hazards in your kitchen.
Heat Test
A cabinet door is placed in a hotbox at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity for 24 hours.
Cold Test
A cabinet door is placed in a hotbox at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity for one hour, removed and allowed to return to room temperature and humidity conditions, and then placed in a coldbox for one hour at -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
After sweltering in a humid, 120-degree hotbox for 24 hours, how do ANSI-certified cabinets respond? Beautifully. With no discoloration or blistering, your certified cabinets prove they can handle the inevitable temperature hazards in your kitchen.
Heat Test
A cabinet door is placed in a hotbox at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity for 24 hours.
Cold Test
A cabinet door is placed in a hotbox at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent relative humidity for one hour, removed and allowed to return to room temperature and humidity conditions, and then placed in a coldbox for one hour at -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Trust the ANSI certification
You deserve the comfort that comes with knowing your cabinetry will take whatever life dishes out.
You deserve the comfort that comes with knowing your cabinetry will take whatever life dishes out.