Flack following a flat-pack fad

Despite various problems, flat-packs remain popular

Assembling flat-pack furniture is getting the British in a flap, according to new research.

The study by the University of Derby found more than 40% of those who tried to assemble this kind of furniture lost their temper before finishing the task.

Researchers also found hundreds of people seek medical help for injuries caused by self-assembly furniture.

The study involved 1,295 interviews and revealed 67% of those questioned admitted getting into difficulty.

Medical attention

The instructions were misread or misunderstood by 33% and 13% damaged the item before they finished putting it together.

Researchers also found 52% (about 23 to 24 million) of the interviewees had assembled self-assembly furniture in the last two years, 41% admitted getting frustrated or angry whilst doing so, and 8% injured themselves and needed medical attention.

But despite these problems, flat-packs remain popular - with 49% saying they found it satisfying to finish the job.

Dr Miles Richardson, Programme Leader for the MSc Health Ergonomics at the University of Derby, developed the study which was conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

"Although there has been plenty of anecdotal evidence that people can find assembling self-assembly products difficult, the level of errors and accidents has been unknown until now," he said.