| Introduction | | | | The long and the short and the tall |
| The driving force behind seating specification in Europe | | | | Although standards are based around the shapes and |
| continues to be the Display Screen Equipment (DSE), | | | | sizes of around 95 per cent of the population, this can |
| Health and Safety Regulations for desks and chairs | | | | cause problems when dealing with those outside of |
| used with computer workstations. The Health and | | | | the agreed size distribution, still a fairly large number of |
| Safety Executive states that equipment such as | | | | people. Another issue with the anthropometric data |
| desks, chairs, monitor arms and laptop holders should | | | | that legislation is based on is that it is based on |
| comply with BS EN ISO 9241 Part 5. | | | | historical data. Some of it dates back to the days of |
| The DSE regs have been with us a long time but the | | | | the early 1980s and the groundbreaking work of a |
| issue has changed in recent years thanks to new | | | | man called Stephen Pheasant. This may not take |
| technologies such as flat screen monitors which have | | | | account of the changing shape of the population. |
| changed the shape and size of workstations and new | | | | Anthropometrics can also vary wildly from country to |
| working practices which mean people are not as desk | | | | country. The Netherlands now has the tallest average |
| bound and static as they once were. | | | | in the world with young men averaging over 6ft tall. In |
| There is also a different approach to ergonomics | | | | contrast, average male height in Vietnam and North |
| which has meant the driving force is far less the fear | | | | Korea remains comparatively small at 5 ft 4 in and 5 ft |
| of litigation by employees and more about wellbeing, | | | | 5 in respectively. |
| productivity and attracting and retaining staff. | | | | In the short term, populations can change shape even |
| One thing that hasn't changed is that good ergonomics | | | | more quickly. Most notable is the way in which the |
| starts with a good chair. | | | | British population is getting bigger. According to recent |
| Making it comfortable the basics | | | | statistics, around 42 per cent of men and 32 per cent |
| Chairs should satisfy the needs of a very high | | | | of women are now classed as overweight, compared |
| percentage of users for personal preference, comfort | | | | to just 6 and 8 per cent respectively in 1980. |
| and fit. Standards tend to be based around | | | | Making it green |
| anthropometric data for around 95 per cent of the | | | | Many chairs now make bold claims about their green |
| population. | | | | credentials with some claiming to be 95 or more per |
| The best chairs are those that encourage and support | | | | cent recyclable. As usual with environmental claims |
| small posture changes throughout the day in response | | | | you should dig a little deeper in to what this actually |
| to the needs of different tasks. This will reduce | | | | means. In particular be aware that because chairs are |
| discomfort, muscle fatigue and long term health | | | | usually made up of many different materials, |
| problems | | | | separating them all out for recycling can be difficult and |
| There is a basic set of adjustments that are essential | | | | expensive. Always ask a manufacturer how they |
| to minimise discomfort in the upper body, back and | | | | support recycling. There should ideally be a |
| legs and encourage good breathing | | | | management scheme in place for you to take |
| Additional adjustments can enhance the chair's ability | | | | advantage of. Be careful when choosing materials. |
| to meet those needs | | | | There may be other standards and schemes that will |
| People need effective training to avoid discomfort and | | | | guide your decision. One example is TCO labelling, |
| health problems. People should not only know how to | | | | which you've probably seen on your own monitor |
| adjust their chairs be encouraged to change posture | | | | screen but may have ignored. TCO Certification is a |
| frequently, they should also be aware of the need for | | | | series of product certifications for office equipment |
| movement and breaks | | | | commonly associated with computer monitors but later |
| Because seating adjustments can be so sophisticated | | | | TCO revisions also define standards for computers, |
| now with a great deal of variation, try to choose a | | | | keyboards, printers, mobile phones, and office furniture |
| chair with intuitive controls to encourage people to | | | | since 2004. TCO covers not only ergonomic principles |
| adjust it | | | | but also environmental issues and the use of materials. |
| Adjustments | | | | There are also organisations who may be able to |
| The days when chairs would just spin around and go | | | | advise and help including The Green Works at |
| up and down are long gone. Now the following | | | | Making it inclusive |
| adjustments are all either standard or common: | | | | Inclusivity is not just about disability, although Under the |
| Seat height | | | | Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA) all furniture in |
| Seat tension | | | | areas of public access should be suitable for use by |
| Seat tilt | | | | disabled persons. |
| Seat depth | | | | There may also be other groups of people to whom |
| Back height | | | | you need to offer special consideration. These include |
| Back rake | | | | people both above and below the 95 per cent |
| Back lock | | | | distribution range used to determine standard |
| Lumbar support | | | | ergonomic needs and pregnant women whose |
| Armrest height | | | | ergonomic needs clearly change quickly and |
| Armrest width | | | | dramatically and for whom discomfort can become a |
| Armrest pivot | | | | major issue. |
| With all this variety it is perhaps unsurprising that many | | | | Standards |
| people don't know how to adjust their chairs properly. | | | | As well as the range of British and International |
| Research by the Center for Workplace Health | | | | standards detailed below, it may be worthwhile looking |
| Information in the US has found that under half of | | | | at other examples of excellence when buying seating. |
| people always adjust their chairs for their own | | | | One is the TCO standards mentioned above but |
| comfort. Ask the manufacturer about the help they | | | | another is FIRA's Ergonomics Excellence Award |
| can offer to help your people adjust their chairs | | | | which claims to identify products that meet and |
| properly. Most chairs will have an instruction label | | | | exceed the requirements of the general standards. A |
| attached but good firms will also offer help with | | | | list of award holders can be accessed through the |
| training, interactive advice on their websites and other | | | | askFIRA web site. |
| support. | | | | Strength and stability |
| The elements of comfort | | | | According to BS 5459-2: 2000 operators' chairs must |
| A properly adjusted chair should mean a user can | | | | comply with test requirements for use by people |
| achieve the following basic elements of comfort: | | | | weighing 150kg for up to 24 hours a day. Otherwise |
| Both feet can be placed flat on the floor | | | | chairs tested to BS EN 1335-2:2000 must comply with |
| The seat should not put pressure on the back of the | | | | the test requirements for use by people weighing 110kg |
| legs when the user leans back | | | | for up to 8 hours a day. |
| The user can sit in contact with the back at all times | | | | FIRA has also recently introduced a new standard |
| The backrest can support the chosen posture with | | | | (FIRA 0055: 2005) which aims to provide seating for |
| even pressure on all points of the back | | | | people weighing up to 200kg (approximately 31.5 |
| The seat tension should be properly adjusted | | | | stone) |
| depending on the persons height and weight | | | | All items other than operators' chairs should comply |
| If available, a lumbar support should be adjusted to the | | | | with BS EN 13761: 2000 and should not overturn when |
| correct height for the user | | | | tested in accordance with BS EN 1022: 2005 |
| Armrests should be adjusted to suit the user | | | | Finishes |
| The seat tilt should be set, if possible, at the most | | | | Non-metal surface finishes should comply with FIRA |
| comfortable angle for the task in hand, preferably | | | | Standard 6250:2005 Specification Materials (Interior) |
| without the user sliding forward in the seat. | | | | Table 2 Finish Performance the Horizontal surfaces |
| The back rest should also be adjusted to the correct | | | | Severe. |
| height and angle depending on the preference of the | | | | The finishes on metal items should comply with FIRA |
| user | | | | standard 4000: 2006 Specification furniture materials: |
| Optional headrests can provide additional support for | | | | interior - Surface finishes applied to metals. |
| the head and neck | | | | Woven textile fabrics should meet the requirements of |
| Nothing to do with the chair, but make sure the user | | | | BS 2543:2004 for general contract upholstery. |
| moves around. A simple discipline like standing to make | | | | Coated fabrics should meet the requirements of BS |
| calls can make a big difference | | | | ISO 7617-1: 2001 Part 1 for PVC coated knitted fabrics |
| Mechanisms | | | | and BS 5790: Part 2, 1995 = ISO 7617-2:1994 for PVC |
| The standard for chairs in Europe is the synchronized | | | | coated woven fabrics for contract applications. |
| movement. With a synchronised mechanism when the | | | | Leather should meet the requirements of BS EN |
| seat moves by one degree, the back moves by two | | | | 13336:2004 for general contract applications. |
| degrees. An alternative is to have a knee-tilt | | | | Flammability |
| mechanism with an individually adjustable back so the | | | | Any urethane foam as a filling used should be |
| shape of the seat is tailored for the individual and | | | | 'combustion modified'. Foams shall satisfy the test |
| lumbar support remains constant. In most of Europe, | | | | contained in Schedule 1 Part 1 of the "Furniture and |
| we tend to be driven by the German market which | | | | Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. |
| favours the synchronous mechanism and maintains | | | | Combinations of upholstery and filling should comply |
| the status quo. In individual markets such as | | | | with the standard for a medium hazard as defined by |
| Scandinavia where demands and market conditions | | | | BS 7176:1995. |
| are different the demand is more often for a knee tilt | | | | Filling materials |
| mechanism. | | | | Filling material of urethane foam type should meet BS |
| Accessories | | | | 3379:2005, Class V for seats, Class S for backs. |
| As well as the basic chair, many manufacturers will | | | | Ergonomics and Health & Safety |
| allow you to customise their chairs with a range of | | | | Chairs should meet BS EN ISO 9241-5: 1999, Part 5 |
| accessories including: | | | | Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual |
| Head rests | | | | display terminals (VDT'S); Workstation layout and |
| Different types of castors and glides | | | | postural requirements. |
| Different arm rests | | | | Office chairs should also satisfy BS EN 1335-1: 2000, |
| Coat hangers | | | | Part 1 Office furniture - Office chair: Dimensions and |
| Ergonomic accessories | | | | determination of dimensions. Visitors chairs should also |
| Finishes and fabrics | | | | comply with the dimension standards specified in BS |
| Although mesh chairs have become increasingly | | | | EN 13761: 2002, Office furniture - Visitors chairs. |
| popular over the past ten years or so, most chairs are | | | | Contract, meeting and reception seating Strength and |
| still specified with fabric covered foam upholstery. | | | | stability |
| There is an agreeably wide selection of fabrics to | | | | When tested in accordance with BS 4875-1:2001, |
| choose from a number of suppliers. If you can always | | | | chairs should comply with either Test level 4 or 5. Test |
| try to specify a fabric from one of the major, | | | | level 4 is where rough treatment and careless handling |
| reputable manufacturers who not only have better | | | | occur. Test level 5 applies to seating intended for |
| quality materials but will also offer a wide, well | | | | severe use. When tested to BS 7945:1999 chairs |
| designed range. | | | | should not overturn. |
