Bed legs
The bed legs form the lower end of the bed and create a connection to the floor. They should match the entire construction in terms of material and shape. There are many different types of bed legs. Basically, a larger footprint offers greater stability.
Headboard / footboard
In addition to the bed legs, the headboard can increase the stability of a bed if it is designed to be floor-to-ceiling. The same applies to any foot part that may be present.
In some bed models – often metal beds – the bed legs are also an integral part of the headboard and possibly the footboard.
If you choose a bed with a headboard and want to set it up freely in the bedroom, you should definitely inquire in advance whether the bed you prefer is suitable. Many bed frames with headboards are designed in such a way that the headboard is placed directly against a wall and thus additionally stabilized. In such bed models, headboards with a fabric cover are often not fully covered, so that the back of the headboard is less visually appealing.
How beds are burdened
Beds are generally exposed to different loads. First of all, each bed frame has to bear its own weight. Correct statics of the bed frame construction must be given accordingly. In the case of industrially manufactured beds and beds from professional craftsmanship, you can basically rely on the fact that all structural requirements are met.
The bed equipment in the form of a mattress and spring base (slatted frame or insert box) acts with its weight as an additional static load that the bed frame construction or the bed frame has to carry. How high this load is depends on the weight of the components selected for the bed equipment and their size. The mattress and slatted frame in the standard format of 90 × 200 cm quickly weighs around 30 kg. If you choose a high latex mattress or a motorized adjustable slatted frame, 100 kg or more can be achieved.
If the bed is in use, just lying on the bed is also a static load: the body of the person lying down or the weight of the user exerts pressure on the surface of the bed. The mattress and spring base work together to counteract this pressure. With a sleeping pad tailored to the user, this takes into account his or her special anatomical requirements as well as lying habits and ensures that the body is positioned correctly from an ergonomic point of view.
The body lying on the side clearly forms two focal points: one in the area of the shoulders and one in the area of the hips / buttocks. The mattress compensates for this optimally due to its construction. It can be clearly seen that the lower layer of the mattress core (gray) is almost no longer exposed to any concentrated, punctiform stress. The load not already taken up by the mattress is passed on almost over the entire surface to the spring base and from there to the bed frame / bed frame.
If you sit on the side of the bed, the bed is exposed to a special static load, as the weight is only concentrated on a small area. Since even a low weight can generate a lot of pressure on a small area, this aspect should not be disregarded when selecting and using a bed.
As soon as the user or users move in bed – e.g. to change their sleeping position, the bed is dynamically loaded. In these moments, the load is no longer evenly distributed over the surface and there are more heavily stressed areas that change more or less quickly depending on the speed of movement. This kinetic energy is also known as kinetic energy. Here too, the mattress absorbs some of the energy. The rest of the energy is absorbed by the spring base and passed on to the bed frame.
If children jump through the bed, there is a special dynamic, punctual load. The same applies if, as an adult, you step slowly over the bed or even crawl, which can be the case, for example, if a double bed is built into a niche and a partner always has to cross one half of the bed to get to his side of the bed .
Any kind of load on the bed finally reaches the bed legs via the bed frame, which are in contact with the floor and transfer the absorbed energy to it.
What distinguishes a stable bed
A stable bed consists of a solid bed frame made of stable materials, which are connected to one another in such a way that loads can be optimally absorbed and passed on. Ideally, all elements of the bed frame should be connected to one another using screw connections. The use of threaded inserts makes an additional contribution to stability – especially when the bed is repeatedly set up and taken down, for example when moving.
The size of the bed or the lying surface can also play a role in its stability. In particular with a higher body weight, it can make sense to switch to a bed with a comfort width of 120 cm or 140 cm instead of a standard single bed measuring 90 × 200 cm or 100 × 200 cm. On the larger area, the pressure effect and thus the load is significantly lower. In addition, a wider bed offers more freedom of movement, which also has a positive effect on sleeping comfort and the quality of sleep.
