ASSIGNMENT 2FURNITURE AND PRODUCT DESIGN

DETAILED REPORT ON A OFFICE CHAIR

SUBMITTED BYN LALITH ADITYAY11AP0117B.ARCH 3/5ANUCAP

OFFICE CHAIR -

• CHAIR IS A SEPARATE SEAT FOR ONE PERSON, TYPICALLY WITH A BACK AND FOUR LEGS.

• THE CHAIR IS OF EXTREME ANTIQUITY AND SIMPLICITY, ALTHOUGH FOR MANY CENTURIES AND INDEED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS IT WAS AN ARTICLE OF STATE AND DIGNITY RATHER THAN AN ARTICLE OF ORDINARY USE. 

OFFICE CHAIR AT GLANCE-

• AN AVERAGE PERSON MAKES 53 CHANGES TO HIS OR HER TORSO POSITION IN AN HOUR WHILE SITTING IN A CHAIR ACCORDING TO 2001 STUDY OF DESK BOUND OFFICE WORKERS.

• THE DESIGN OF THE CHAIR SHOULD BE SUCH THAT IT IS STABLE, YET PROMOTE DYNAMIC, ACTIVE, NATURAL MOTION ALLOWING SITTING IN ANY POSITION.

• THE CHAIR SHOULD SUPPORT YOU IN WHATEVER POSITION YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE.

• IT SHOULD BE SIMPLE, NATURAL AND EASY, INTUITIVE AND ENJOYABLE TO USE.

WHAT WE LOOK IN AN IDEAL OFFICE CHAIR…

• EXPLORED AND APPLIED THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES.

• OFFICE SEATING NEED TO GO BEYOND THE ASSUMPTIONS AND APPROACHES OF TRADITIONAL CHAIRS.

• THE CHAIR SHOULD BE WONDERFULLY SOPHISTICATED, ELEGANT, COMFORTABLE, INVITING AND REMARKABLY SIMPLE AND NATURAL TO USE.

• THE CHAIR WILL SUPPORT YOU IN ALL THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES COMPRISING YOUR WORK DAY: FROM SITTING AT A COMPUTER TO TALKING ON THE PHONE TO INTERACTING WITH OTHERS; FROM TURNING OR REACHING TO BENDING OR STRETCHING.

1976 1980 19841849

1971 197920081998

19941984 2008 2010

TIMELINE

Head Rest

BACK REST

ARM REST

SEAT

HEIGHT CONTROLLER -

KNOBS

5 ARM STAND

ROTATING WHEEL

COMPONENTS

ADJUSTING KNOBS• A RANGE OF 16 - 20.5

INCHES OFF THE FLOOR SHOULD ACCOMMODATE MOST USERS.

• THIGHS SHOULD BE HORIZONTAL, LOWER LEGS VERTICAL.

• FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR OR ON A FOOTREST. RANGE, 347 TO 525MM

SEAT HEIGHT

• It is measured from the front edge of the seat to the lumbar support region of the backrest.

• If the seat depth is excessive, small people will not be able to sit back far enough to get the benefit of the backrest. A seat width of 17-20 inches suffices for most people and should be deep enough to permit the back to contact the lumbar backrest without cutting into the backs of knees.

• The front edge should be rounded and padded – “ A WATERFALL EDGE”

SEAT DEPTH

• Bucket-type seats must be avoided. The seat should swivel easily.

• Minimum width of 450mm is required. This gives a little extra space above the 97.5th percentile hip width for Indian women of 445mm.The 97.5th percentile hip width for Indian males is less than this (417mm).RANGE : 380 to 480mmPURPOSE : TO PROVIDE COMFORT

AND SAFETY.

HEADREST-HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE CUSHIONED FOR COMFORT

EFFECT : RELAXED POSTURE THAT HELPS RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON YOUR POSTURAL MUSCLES WHICH CAN DECREASE FATIGUE AND INCREASE COMFORT.

HEAD REST

PROVISION FOR FORWARD SLOPE OF THE SEAT, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10 DEGREES, IS USEFUL TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE THIGHS WHEN WORKING WHILE LEANING FORWARD.

BUT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, A CHAIRWITH THE SEAT ANGLE FIXED AND HORIZONTAL IS PROBABLY BEST. THE SEAT SLANT SHOULD BE ADJUSTABLE (0 TO 10DEGREES).

SEAT SLOPE

THE BACKREST SHOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE BACK.  A MINIMUM OF 12” IS RECOMMENDED FOR WIDTH.

  SEAT BACK HEIGHT PREFERENCE VARIES DRAMATICALLY FROM USER TO USER. LUMBAR SUPPORT, THESE COMMONLY RANGE FROM 6” TO 10” IN HEIGHT.  IN THAT CASE, THE LUMBAR SUPPORT SHOULD BE CENTERED AT L 3-4 VERTEBRAE.   A LUMBAR SUPPORT SHOULD ALSO HAVE AT LEAST 4” OF ADJUSTABILITY TO ALLOW CENTERING IN THE BACK. 

IN FULL-LENGTH DESIGNS, BACKRESTS SHOULD BE CONTOURED TO FIT THE “S” SHAPED CURVES OF THE SPINE, NOT ENTIRELY FLAT OR STRAIGHT. 

BACK REST

  ERGONOMIC ARMRESTS ARE OPTIONAL FEATURES.

ARMREST USERS REPORT ENHANCED PERFORMANCE INCLUDING LESS FATIGUE, INCREASED COMFORT, AND BETTER ENDURANCE WITH SUSTAINED COMPUTING. 

ARMRESTS SHOULD BE PLACED AT LEAST 18.5” APART AND MADE OF SOFT OR PADDED MATERIAL. 

AN ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED ARMREST SHOULD BE ADJUSTABLE VERTICALLY AND NOT IMPAIR CIRCULATION DUE TO DIRECT PRESSURE TO CONTACT AREAS BUT DISTRIBUTE THAT LOAD OVER BROAD AREAS COMFORTABLY.   ARMRESTS SHOULD ADJUST BETWEEN 2” AND 4” VERTICALLY TO ACCOMMODATE USER’S PREFERENCE.

ARM REST

AN ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED CHAIR HAS A SOLID, SAFE, AND STABLE 5-POST CHAIR BASE.  IT SHOULD BE MADE OF STRONG MATERIALS TO SUPPORT UP TO FIVE TIMES THE BODY WEIGHT. 

THE CHAIR BASE SHOULD ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH QUALITY CASTERS TO PERMIT EASY MANEUVERING ON OFFICE FLOOR SURFACES. 

BASE

LEATHER

CUSHION

WIRE MESH LEATHER

SEAT MATERIAL

A CHAIR SEAT AND BACK SHOULD BE PADDED ENOUGH TO ALLOW

COMFORTABLE CIRCULATION. IF A SEAT IS TOO SOFT, THE

MUSCLES MUST ALWAYS ADJUST TO MAINTAIN A STEADY POSTURE,

CAUSING STRAIN AND FATIGUE. THE SEAT FABRIC SHOULD

"BREATHE" TO ALLOW AIR CIRCULATION THROUGH CLOTHES

TO THE SKIN.INFERENCE :1.)CHAIR AFFECTS THE WORKING EFFICIENCY AND THE PHYSIQUE OF ALL.

2.)SOFT CUSHIONY SEAT AND ARM REST PREFERABLE.

3.)ALL THE COMPONENTS – ARM REST, BACK REST, FOOT REST MUST BEADJUSTABLE.