Choosing the right office furniture chairs

When you consider how many hours over the course of their careers your staff will be sitting on their office furniture chairs, it's obvious how important it is that they have a good one.

"An office chair should be comfortable for the person sitting on it, and meet their needs in terms of the work they do," says Robert Crivellaro, Director of Furniture 35. "And considering that people come in all shapes and sizes, there needs to be a large range of chairs to choose from."

The perfect fit

Discomfort is the bane of any office worker. But any good office chair will have facilities to adjust them to fit individual needs. The very best ergonomic chairs have adjustable:

• seat height
• lumbar (lower back) support height
• seat tilt  
• back angle.

Many also have contoured seats and backs to fit the shape of the user's body.

Carrying the load 

Most office chairs come with their load-bearing capacity clearly labelled. This measures the load ability of the gas valves that allow the chair to move up and down.

The capacity of many chairs may seem high, but it takes into account the fact that people tend to adjust their position and weight, and also flop heavily into their seat when they sit down. So a person weighing 65 kilograms should choose a chair with a weight-bearing capacity of over 100 kilograms. 

A world of chairs

The width and height of the chair should be determined by the size of the person who is going to use it. Other details come down to personal preference: some people might prefer a wide seat, while others might prefer no armrests. 

Chairs come in a variety of materials, from fabrics like wool to vinyl and leather. Fabrics with a mesh weave tend to be better in warmer environments because they allow the passage of air, while leather and vinyl provide a soft, smooth texture.

As for colour and style, it's entirely up to you. See what fits in with the rest of your office furniture and decor, and what prices suit your budget.

Benefits of a good office chair

Your office staff will be sitting in their chairs for much of their working life, so it pays to get them good ones. Benefits of choosing a quality office chair include:

• comfortable, happy and productive staff
• fewer injuries and associated lost working hours
• compliance with OH&S standards
• chairs matched to the rest of the office.

Checking for quality

Robert recommends examining the quality of the frames and adjustment mechanisms in the office chairs before making a purchase.

"The mechanisms are more likely to break in cheaper chairs because they use cheaper parts in them," he says.

Chosen carefully, good office furniture chairs will last for years, so talk to a trader and see how they can help to get your business sitting pretty.