21/03/2011
The made-to-measure office chair;
…Why bother?
Office chair ergonomics…
…a very brief history
According to certain sources, one of the earliest innovators of the office chair was
Charles Darwin, who put wheels on the chair in his study in order to get to his specimens
more quickly
From the mid-nineteenth century, office chairs were then designed to increase
productivity in ‘clerical’ employees, enabling them to sit at their desks for longer periods
In the 1970’s ergonomics became an important design consideration. Office chairs
evolved to be more comfortable and also adjustable.
However, one major factor still gets largely overlooked today…
….People and their infinite range of sizes!
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21/03/2011
Your dimensions…
…and why they matter!
•
What constitutes a ‘regular’ sized person?
•
How much do you interact with your office chair?
•
Would you wear shoes that didn’t fit you?
“there is now a wealth of evidence based on research into
ergonomics in the workplace over the past 40 years suggesting
that a huge number of musculo-skeletal disorders can be eased
or potentially even avoided by using a correctly fitting office
chair”
The very basis of Ergonomics centres around ‘fit’ between humans and the objects we
interact with
Which is why, at Ergochair, nine years ago, we decided it was time to start measuring
people in order to fit the office chair around them
Templates and start points…
Your key measurements:
1) Thigh length
2) Shoulder height
3) Lumbar height
4) Hip width
5) Knee height
6) Back Width
These 6 key measurements are the perfect start point to
evaluating specification of ‘best possible support’
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21/03/2011
Templates and start points…
…& How we use them:
1) Seat depth – optimum support to thigh length
2) Backrest height – check thoracic support
3) Lumbar support - coincides with the individual
4) Seat pad width and armrest width
5) Seat height in relation to desk height
6) Backrest Width – no squeezing!
Ensuring that the basic size of the chair template conforms to the
individual is vital... Using these dimensions, the chair is ‘Cut to Fit’
Setting the standard…
The Adapt® benchmark:
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21/03/2011
Adapt & personalise…
®
…in line with your needs
Adapt & personalise…
®
Neck support required – extra memory foam
Inflatable thoracic support
- as indicated.
Bottom of
cell to be 350 mm
above seat height
Custom-make armrest
pads to 300 mm x 200 mm
wide
Seat height to achieve 540 mm
from floor
Reduce back width to 410 mm
Set lumbar cell at 230 mm
above seat height
Reduce seat depth to 410 mm
plus include additional layer of
memory foam
…a sample specification
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21/03/2011
…your chair journey
Installation
Build
Design
Measurement
Technical & Credentials:
…a well established,
trademarked UK brand
…we’re an ISO
accredited
company
…in addition, we’re
recognised by:
…our products are tested to
BS5459; Part 2: 2000 and
backed by our 5 year
warranty
…we are members of the
Posture & Mobility Group
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21/03/2011
Advice & Support:
• We work alongside many Occupational Therapists,
Ergonomists & Physiotherapists and we have UK wide
coverage.
• For more information, advice & support on how to
specify an Adapt® chair talk to any of our product
experts at:
www.ergonomics.co.uk
or
[email protected]
or
0845 345 0898
Advice & Support:
• We offer an advice-line service for individual cases:
Tel: 01454 329210 Ergochair Ltd, Bristol
My contact details are:
Jo Jones – Director, Ergochair Ltd
Tel: 01454 329210 or 07970 686201
Email: [email protected]
www.ergochair .co.uk
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