Office furniture
In this article we are going to focus on understanding what we should take into account when buying the office furniture. Although many times we practice the purchase of the office team quickly, the truth is that we should first take into account a number of technical aspects.
According to a friend who works in the sale of office equipment and furniture from Montiel Office furniture tells us… «We must ask ourselves and always know how the desk, the chairs, the footrest or others should be office furniture from a technical aspect, both to work better and more efficiently, and to avoid future health problems ».
So that we have an idea of the importance, an important brand of office equipment launched an ergonomics study that found that around 85% of office employees experience lumbar back complications after the age of 50. They are lighter or more acute, of course we have to take note!
The chairs, office tables, shelves or cabinets, counters, partitions and desks They are necessary so that all workers can carry out their daily work. Therefore, it is essential to do a technical review as a guide on the choice of furniture for offices, regardless of whether several people work or it is for oneself … What are the office furniture that we should buy?
Furniture functions according to type of tasks
It is necessary to know the benefits that the furniture must have in relation to the type of job; Be a position ofManagerial, technical, administrative or customer service) and daily tasks.
The following diagram clarifies concepts to have a global vision of the work furniture according to position - task and its benefits:
Now we already recognize the most recommendable aspects and globally according to the type of job. But … What about our health?
Postulate risks derived from a bad habit
The postural risks in the office They originate mainly from two causes; the first is for adopting bad postures and the second for always maintaining the same posture. In both cases, there is a direct relationship between postural problems and their causes due to; the furniture, the organization of the environment and the organization of work.
How can we check, some of the postural problems may be derived by the office furniture and its regulation. For this reason, buyers are increasingly demanding furniture designed with ergonomic criteria to minimize poor posture and improper movements.
Although we are always thinking about the risks ofergonomics in officesIt is applicable both for the home with that small work corner, as well as for business centers, coworking spaces, academies, conference rooms, training rooms … etc.
It is very important to recognize that in the long run we can have health problems if we do not adopt corrective and effective measures to feel good in the company.
How to choose your office desk
A office desk It must be functional and have enough space to be able to work in a certain order. Today, most workstations require space for a computer and various accessories, so the office table It will have to be wide enough to contain them and, in addition, have space to place folders and different papers.
In the work table features Should have:
- Must have a sufficient dimensions in order to allow the placement of work material and equipment.
- The table top should be matte with the simple objective of avoiding reflections.
- The table color should be light with the intention of reducing the contrasts between the furniture, the environment and the work team.
- The Table materials should not transmit heat or cold (They should be materials with low thermal transmission)
- If they are used office tables with integrated wing. The wing should not be used as a main support to avoid the adoption of forced postures at work.
The office table and the work space that is required can be tested in the following table derived from the UNE Standard where it advises us and provides ideas on the work surface dimensions:
It is also recommended that it contain several drawers for storing materials and documents, so that it can be easily accessed if needed at any time. In some cases it may contain a hidden keyboard tray, although the reality, many workers are not quite convinced by this system.
Let's remember that there are several storage systems and large collections inwardrove Y chest of drawers external to the desktop with good design and that are very functional.
Office chairs: how to buy the right one
This is possibly one of the most important points when we practice the purchase of office furniture, although in reality, many times we forget it. We have armchairs or armchairs, waiting chairs, community chairs, chairs for the office, auditorium, waiting… etc. A wide range of products, but the basis of usability and ergonomics is almost the same for all cases.
The market offers us to provide the spaces with an important range and sampling of elements to sale of office furniture with new elements, which are reasonably higher prices or the alternative of equipping an office with second hand furniture. They are relatively cheaper Second Hand Office furniture and also already offer price guarantees, so it is an interesting option for those who want to acquire more accessible equipment.
The current trend in the office furniture is that we spend more and more hours sitting, either in the office or in our home office. So taking care of our body is not only about a healthy life, but there are other factors that directly affect health and among them, it is worth highlighting and responding correctly to … What is the best chair for the office?
A good seat must always adapt to the shape of a user and in the following graph we can test how to sit properly:
The best office furniture they will allow postular variations through suitable systems that we can block the position according to our need to sit down.
Characteristics of office chairs
If we want to choose the best chair for an office we are going to have to take into account the movements that it can provide us, and that thanks to them we will better preserve our health. In the following video we can see what qualities should an office seat have:
How to summarize the previous video, the movements that everything must have ergonomic seat are:
- Height adjustment of the chair.
- It must have an adequate degree of resistance and consistency.
- Seat depth mobility.
- A good oneergonomic chair You must have adequate mobility on the armrest, both vertically and horizontally.
- It must have the possibility of a lumbar adjustment.
- It is recommended that you have a mechanism to control the inclination of the seat and backrest.
- It is recommended that the base, in the case of a mobile chair, have five support points.
For choose a good armchair think above all about comfort. The office chairs They are used throughout the day, so they must be ergonomic, that is, they respect the natural shape of the spine and its position.
The The back of the chair should be high and occupy a large part of the back. As to whether the chairs will have wheels or will be fixedThis will depend on the preferences of each user, but the wheels can provide freedom to the person who uses them. Of course, they must be able to adjust in height and, if possible, in the backrest as we have seen previously.
For added convenience, in the buying chairs for an office We should take into account the armrests, since they are an element that allows to avoid later back pain and shoulders, and also facilitates the rest of the body.
What upholstery should the office chair have
Obviously, depending on the type of upholstery, the price of the chair will increase or decrease, it is not the same leather upholstery (Semi-skin) what a synthetic upholstery; fabrics, polypropylene, recycled … etc, although it should be noted that today we can already find technological fabrics with excellent qualities at consistent prices. It more importantly, it must be breathable and designed for continuous use.
What color should i choose
Companies have catalogs and a long office furniture list They cover a wide range of colors, so we will have no problem choosing the most suitable color. What we should take into account when selecting the color is that it is in accordance with the environment and interior design that has been practiced in the office.
Let us remember that a harmonious environment influences worker productivity!
The footrest of the chair
Although at first glance it may seem like an item that "is left over" and that it is not necessary to buy, it does have its importance in the office ergonomics. The reality is different in certain circumstances, that is, although it is not a mandatory element in the workplace, it is very suitable when once the height of the chair is adjusted and we are comfortable, the feet do not reach the ground.
In the following diagram we can test the basic characteristics - dimensions that everything should have footrest for office:
What characteristics should the footrest have:
- It must have sufficient dimensions to allow the correct positioning of the feet, as well as the change of position during work.
- It must be ensured that the surfaces are slippery, both the foot support area and the base.
- It must have an adjustable inclination in order to facilitate the mobility of the legs.
Important aspects in the workspace
The adaptation of the workplace to the daily work is a necessity, although previously we have delved into the measurements of chairs and tables, now we would like to address some useful tips for the workplace Y how should we sit in the office.
The height of the chair should be adjusted according to the position of the body with respect to the work table. The following outline highlights important aspects:
The risks and general preventive measures on the way we sit can be verified in the following table and what are the angle range that we should adopt:
The ergonomics in the office It is essential and having a reference to the desk table will lead to a better way of working and being more efficient, apart from preventing possible injuries.
Office furniture to order
The furniture for storing documents and shelves can be from simpler to more complex models, but always remembering that if they are closed we better protect the documents from dust.
It is not worth buying the bestoffice shelving by occupying the wall, preferably paintings or other objects, to an element that receives the dust. We remind you that we have an excellent article that details office decoration with practical tips and ideas and multiple examples.
Although they are objects that can give a touch of joy to the office, it must be remembered that the colors must always be matte to avoid reflections and preferably light.
In interior design, low shelves are used a lot to create different environments and work areas. To be careful with the type of edge to avoid more than one displeasure. Color does matter and for that we can read more from our article that analyzes its importance.
It is preferable to buy a piece of furniture that is at ground level or that is at an adequate clearance to be able to wipe a cloth, than those in between. If they have wheels we can change without any problem, so it is a plus.
Today we have manufacturers who design cheap office furniture They are literally impressive and technically great, so we have a great catalog to choose from in the store. Remember that harmony and order always help greater efficiency at work.
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