Office workers are often sat down for the majority of their day, meaning they are needing comfort and reliability when it comes to the furniture they are regularly sat working at. Many employers take a conscientious and prideful approach when designing their office spaces and will more often than not look for some of the most suited supplies and furniture to better their employee’s wellbeing and work productivity. For example, employers will sometimes make sure to look at different chairs available to find the best options for their space. Careful planning and set-up can improve the physical health of office workers, as well as increase their productivity levels.
- For a chair to be ergonomic, a backrest should be 12″ to 19″ wide.
- Include a tilt mechanism, which will allow the backrest to maintain lumbar support when you move
- Seat pan: with a 1″ space on either side, and deep enough to allow 2″ to 4″ of space between the back of the knees
- To ensure proper circulation, the seat should have a rounded or waterfall edge, which means that it will slope slightly downward to help relieve pressure on the back of the thighs.
- For ultimate comfort, select padded armrests.
- Select an extra-wide base
- locking casters to immobilize the chair. Use hard casters for carpeting and soft or rubber-coated casters on a hardwood floor
High back office chairs (known as executive chairs)
- high enough to support upper back, and both the neck and head
- relieves tension in the lower back, preventing long term strain
- pillow back style of built-in lumbar support specifically designed to relieve lower back stress
- can include waterfall seat fronts
Mid-back office chair
- offers support to the mid-to-upper back region
- pillow back style of built-in lumbar support specifically designed to relieve lower back stress
- can include waterfall seat fronts
Low back office chairs
- supports the lower-to-mid back region
- can feature tilt tension control and pneumatic seat height adjustment
Fabric office chairs
- select a heavy weight fabric that is durable and easy to clean, to extend the longevity of your fabric office chair
- Check product descriptions to see if a stain-resistant coating has been applied to the fabric
- To maximize your comfort, especially if you will be sitting in the chair for long periods of time, choose a breathable fabric
Leather office chair
- They look sleek and feel comfortable
- Leather office chairs can range from simple stitched detail, button-tufted styling, tailored leather padding to ribbed back and seat
- A leather office chair does require regular care and maintenance to keep it soft and supple
- is prone to minor wear and blemishes with daily use
Vinyl office chairs
- look like leather, but are more economical and easier to care for
- Many models offer similar details, such as button-tufted styling found in high-end leather chairs
- manufacturers provide vinyl seating with an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial coating; perfect for easy maintenance in high-use work settings or high traffic areas
Mesh office chairs
- are breathable, allowing air to flow through
- Some types of these chairs have just a mesh back, while others have both a mesh back and seat
- Sometimes the back is mesh, while the seat is perforated leather
- They are meant to conform to the body and make sitting for long periods of time more comfortable by allowing your back to breathe, thus promoting better circulation
- A mesh office chair with built-in lumbar support is considered to be ergonomic
Considerations for Purchase within Budget:
- controls for adjusting the backrest and chair height
- a waterfall seat edge
- For optimum comfort, choose a mid-back or high-back office chair with flexible or built-in lumbar support
- check the chair’s maximum weight capacity
- If the chair is intended for a computer station, choose an office chair with adjustable armrests or no arms at all. This will allow for the constant mobility associated with typing or keyboarding.
- select a fabric that doesn’t slide, shift or have a tendency to bunch up
- Adjustment controls are either mechanical or pneumatic: pneumatic office chairs, based on a system of springs and compressed air, are easier to use.
- Adjustment controls should be user-friendly and accessible while sitting in the chair.
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