Office Furniture

Purchasing modern office chairs

Buying the correct office furniture is of great important as many people sit for eight hours of more per day, and great care should be taken in selecting the right office chair model. Comfort is the key, where comfort is combined with ergonomic features to provide execellent supportive seating.

Office Furniture - Seating Design Features

Seat

The modern office furniture chair needs to adjust in height to meet the needs of a range of users. The size of the seat needs to be wide enough to seat big people comfortably and deep enough to support the legs of tall people, but not so deep that shorter workers cannot use the backrest. The surface of the seat should not be hollowed or deeply shaped, as this makes it harder to get up or change position.The front edge of the seat needs to be rounded-over and well padded to prevent it digging into the thighs.

Backrest

The best office desk chairs need to have backrests which give firm support to the lower and the middle part of the back. Height adjustment is recommended unless the backrest is high and provides complete support for the back. There should be adequate space for the buttocks, this is usually achieved by leaving a gap between the seat and the backrest. Backrests which tilt with the worker, or whose angle can be adjusted, can improve comfort by providing support for the back in a range of working positions.

Armrests

For most jobs armrest are not essential on office task chairs. They can restrict arm movement, although for many jobs they can provide comfort. They should be set back from the front edge of the seat, or be adjustable to allow the chair to be drawn up close to the work surface. The height of armrests should not be too low or too high to cause discomfort.

Footrests

Any worker who cannot easily place their feet flat on the ground, when using the seat adjusted to the correct working height, needs a footrest. This should be large enough to allow for foot movement. Adjustable footrests of a selection of heights are preferred. Free standing footrests should not be so light that they move accidentally.

Swivel Chair Mobility

Swivel-action computer desk chairs provide flexibility when the worker needs to conduct a variety of tasks and move from one location to another. Ensure that chairs with castors do not slide away too easily when the user gets up or sits down. This is a common problem when they are used on hard floors, or with chairs with a high or tiliting seat. Different types of castors are available for different floor types , such as hard floors and carpented floors. In certain situations glides are safer to use than castors. Ensure that the correct ones are chosen to meet workplace needs.Some seating is designed so that a brake is applied when the chair is sat on, or when the user gets up.

Adjustability

The commonest adjustments included in seating design for ergonomic office chairs are seat height, backrest height and tilt. In some chairs the seat and backrest can tilt forward together, this feature can reduce neck discomfort and also improve the workers reach over the work surface. Backrests should be adjustable backwards and forwards and a seat slide should be provided for adjustment to the length of the persons legs. Armrests can be designed to be adjustable to aid work that requires a steady arm position, and provide for a better match between the needs of the user, their workstation and the task.

Upholstery and Office furniture

Chair covers need to be non-slip, easy to clean or wash, and of a fabric which breathes (permeable to moisture). Good quality, durable covers will aid comfort and prolong the service life of the chair. Moulded armrests can be a good alternative to the upholstered sort.
Chairs with removable covers are useful in dirty and dusty environments because they can be washed and cleaned regularly. Alternatively, PVC-covered or moulded plastic chairs can be used since they may be easily wiped down or spot cleaned, although they are less comfortable to sit in for long periods particularly in warm or humid atmostpheres, or in very warm or cold conditions.Designer office chairs are generally leather upholstered or have mesh backs and seats.

Chair bases

Five star chair bases good stability and reduce the chances of an office chair tipping over. The base castors give easy mobility and fall into two categories

• hard wheel castors are good for carpets or solid floors, whereas
• soft wheel castors suit hardwood floors.