The following real examples are taken from a single office chair catalogue with some 37 office chairs on offer.
Chair A:
Picture shows a regular padded seat & back, on 5 castors, height adjustable armrests included in price.
Features noted in catalogue:
- Variable seat angle
- Weight control
- Internal Lumbar support
- Adjustable back height
- Basic back tilt
- Moveable seat depth
- Fire retardant, medium
Manufacturers dimensions (in mm) Pros & Cons
| Back height 520 | Will come up to shoulder level on small/ average EEs, shoulder blade on tall EE |
| Back width 600 | Wider than usual. Comfortable for broader physique |
| Seat Depth 420-580 | Variable seat depth is the sign of a sliding seat, necessary for Tall EEs. Adds to purchase price vs regular chair |
| Seat width 460 | Narrow, not suitable for large physiques |
| Seat height adjustment 490-550 | Standard range, will suit all height groupings |
Chair B:
Picture shows a mesh back chair with padded seat, on 5 castors, height adjustable armrests included in price.
Features noted in catalogue:
- Variable back height
- Variable seat height
- Internal Lumbar support
- Back tilt synchronous mechanism (also called a ‘floating back’)
- Fire retardant, medium
Manufacturers dimensions (in mm) Pros & Cons
| Back height 560 | Tall mesh back. No mention of external lumbar support |
| Floating Back | This addition turns a very basic chair into a highly comfortable chair for prolonged use, especially for EEs reporting low back pain. |
| Seat Depth 430 | Extremely shallow, not suitable for EEs over 165cm in height |
| Seat width 480 | Average seat width, many prove too wide for tiny physiques |
| Seat height adjustment 500-620 | Ideal if using with a footrest |
Chair C:
Picture shows a mesh back chair with padded seat, on 5 castors. Armrests extra, both fixed & height adjustable available.
- Features noted in catalogue:
- Variable seat angle
- Adjustable seat height
- External adjustable lumbar support
- Synchronous back tilt
- Fire retardant, medium
- Arm rests Fixed (cheaper) & Height adjustable (more expensive)
Manufacturers dimensions (in mm) Pros & Cons
| Back height 520 | Has external lumbar support, a moveable plastic piece attached to the back frame. The adjustability of this rigid support is instead of a height adjustable chair back & works fine except as this piece commonly goes missing, it is suggested that some replacement lumbar support pieces are requested from the supplier at time of purchase & stored for later requirements |
| Back width 445 | Not suitable for a broad physique |
| Seat Depth 500 | Too deep for a small EE |
| Seat width 480 | Too wide for a tiny physique |
| Seat height adjustment 450-530 | May not go high enough for either small EE with footrest or tall EE > 180 |
| Armrests | Always purchase adjustable armrests to ensure best usage |
NB:
Only one of these samples mentions ‘weight control’ but does not specify weight guidelines. None of the above chairs are suitable for a heavy individual.
The choice between the padded seat back and mesh back is a personal preference (or architect’s brief). Mesh back chairs were initially designed for hot weather use, in expectation of keeping EEs cooler. In modern airconditioned offices, this is unnecessary. Some EEs report the mesh bounce or ‘trampoline’ effect as very comfortable and allows for minor variations in posture throughout the day, which is to be encouraged.
Head supports are rarely required in an office setting but may prove more useful in WfH, especially for those who attend many online meetings daily. A headrest may offer extra head & spinal support in listening mode.
