Tag Archives: office chair

office chair: When to replace it

An office chair, as widely seen in previous articles, is an extremely important work tool within a working day. Unfortunately, however, like all work tools, it is susceptible to breakages or malfunctions of various kinds, especially over time.

In this article, our intent is to analyze the most frequent problems and recommend the best solution, using our experience and passion. If it is possible, our advice is to repair or replace the damaged component; when, however, this is not possible, the entire chair will have to be replaced.

Grendene offers an important repair service on its products. This service is an added value that many companies do not offer. This allows the customer to keep their office chair alive and avoid purchasing a new one, saving money.

Furthermore, recovering an existing ergonomic chair also represents a great advantage for the environment. By doing so, we avoid processing new raw materials, causing a less impact on everything around us.

 

office chair

The gas column and the castors

The two components of an ergonomic office chair on which most problems occur are the gas cylinder for seat height adjustment and the castors.

It often happens that, after several years of use, a chair, adjusted to a certain height, may no longer be able to maintain the desired position and, therefore, return to its minimum seat position.

This is because the gas spring is a gas regulation instrument, which loses effectiveness over time, until it runs out completely.

It can happen, although much more rarely, that a gas column loses effectiveness even after just one year of use. In that case, you have certainly stumbled upon a defective or very low quality column.

Another component that can often present problems are the castors, as they are subject to heavy wear. In fact, the entire weight of the chair or swivel stool rests on them, plus the weight of the user.

It may happen that, due to incorrect use or an unbalanced base, they may break. We always advise you, when purchasing the chair, to find out about the type of floor you have and the type of wheel best suited to be used on it.

If your office chair also has one of these two problems, don’t despair because the solution isn’t necessarily replacing the entire chair. We advise you to contact the person who sold you the chair and ask them if they can also provide you with spare parts.

 

Ruined seat in my office chair

As manufacturers, it often happens that our old ergonomic office chairs are brought to us with tears, holes and other heavy wear on the seat, both in terms of padding and upholstery.

In many cases, the cheapest solution could be to have a new seat made to replace the damaged one. The cost will certainly be considerable, but always lower than purchasing a new chair.

Clearly this is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Our advice is always to carefully evaluate how long you have owned your chair and how much safety it can provide once the seat has been replaced.

Otherwise, you would risk spending money on the creation of a seat for a chair that could only perform well for a short time.

 

office chair

Unsteadiness when I sit

A different matter is when we talk about instability when we sit on our chair, in that case it’s good to pay attention, but let’s see why.

A sensation of instability or rocking could be the warning of a fairly significant problem, it could be a damage to the mechanism.

The mechanism, which generally connects the column to the seat, is one of the most important components of our seat.  Here there are two options:

  1. Replace the mechanism

Replacing the mechanism, if you use a chair you are particularly attached to, could be a solution. It is good for you to know, however, that this is a rather delicate and expensive component; and this could cause prices to rise.

  1. Replace the seat

The mechanism is generally the last element to wear out in chairs at the end of their life, so if you also notice some other problems, the advice is to consider changing the chair.

We at Grendene are committed to creating products that last over time and to offering an assistance service that can accompany you in the best possible way when choosing your swivel office chair.

Despite this, however fond you may be of it, we advise you to replace a seat that is already 10/15 years old; it may have already lost its ergonomics and, consequently, is affecting your health.

In any case, before proceeding with the purchase of a new ergonomic armchair, we advise you to evaluate, also with our help, the extent of the damage and the most suitable solution.

If you are interested, we invite you to follow us on our social network pages to stay updated on everything that concerns us and the office world in general.

Call center: how to furnish it in 4 steps

Furnishing a call center may seem simple and trivial, but doing it well, instead, requires a series of precautions. First of all a call center is a center made up of people and computerized systems that are responsible for managing calls forwarded or received from a company.

There are a number of choices to be made upstream of setting up a call center. First of all you have to choose whether it will be an inbound call center (operators handle incoming calls) or outbound (operators call customers to offer services or receive feedback).

Then we move on to space division. This is a very important part, as it will directly affect the operators working on it every day. Their well-being must be at the center of every choice that will be made. Usually within a call center the spaces are divided between the workstations, a relax area, a kitchen and bathrooms.

Call center’s reception

The reception is the first thing that every person sees when entering the call center; for this reason it must make a good impression and must make clear the values on which the company is based. In the reception there usually are a desk and chairs for the waiting room. We recommend our armchairs for waiting room mod. Domus and Sally, which, can give a high level of comfort, with a great aesthetic value.

Call center: working area

This area is the core of the company and should usually be a quiet, spacious, air-conditioned and bright room.

Here there is a choice that must be made upstream of the subdivision of the spaces too, that is the arrangement of the multi-functional workstations with single, double or four workstations. It should be borne in mind whether operators always have to work in isolation or sometimes they need to work together. In any case, we must respect the importance of the “living space”, which is a minimal area around our body that we do not want to be invaded and that allows us to carry out our tasks with serenity. Nowadays, there are devices that increase privacy even in open-plan offices: we are talking about partition walls and soundproof walls, which also improve sound insulation.

Call center’s working chairs

Spaces and furnishings must not cause pain in the muscles and joints. A call center operator works an average of 30 to 48 hours a week, usually sitting at his desk. For this reason, there will be a need for swivel office chairs that guarantee high standards in terms of ergonomics and comfort. Grendene’s catalog, fortunately, is well stocked at this regard. Among our proposals we recommend the office swivel chairs mod. Juke and Dynamic, which are equipped with a synchronised mechanism of seat and backrest, lumbar support and armrests adjustable in several positions, to be combined with height-adjustable desks, in order to achieve the maximum degree of the workstation customization. Remember, working in optimal conditions increases the well-being and productivity of operators.

Call center: kitchen and relax area

Other important spaces to set up are the kitchen and the relax area, which can give a break to the frenetic routine typical of these working environments.

The kitchen space helps all those operators who eat there at lunch. There is no need to set up a restaurant, all you need are: a refrigerator, a microwave, a toaster and some shelves where you can store the basic equipment.

Finally, there is also the relax area, in which operators can quietly rest both mind and body from work and have small conversations with colleagues.

Optimal would be the insertion of tables and chairs, in order to stop for a moment and comfortably sip a coffee.

Grendene recommend the community chair mod. Aris 650, in the polypropylene entire version, available in a wide range of colors. Its lines and shapes guarantee elegance and versatility: they are beautiful at sight and easy to storage.

aris-650-call-center

The new dimensional requirements for the office chairs

To ensure suitable working conditions for the protection and safety of end users, it is necessary to produce and market office chairs that comply with ergonomic principles and minimum performance and safety requirements, or with dimensional requirements.

Dimensional requirements

The dimensional requirements of the seats are defined and described in the UNI EN 1335-1: 2020 standard – Office furniture – Office work chair – Part 1: Dimensions – Determination of dimensions, the latest version of which came into force in September 2020, has introduced some important changes.

In effect, the first change introduced by the standard concerns the method of determining the measures for which ISO 24496: 2017, adopted internationally, must be taken as a reference; this standard also takes into account the thrust on the backrest, simulating the weight of a seated person leaning on it.

A fundamental aspect to reconcile the safety and comfort of the end user.

office chairs

AX: a new type of chair

A further change compared to the previous version of 2000 concerns the introduction of a new type of chair, the AX type.

There are, therefore, four types of seats (AX, A, B and C).

The AX type of chair is able to cover, unlike the other types, a wider segment of the population. It provides greater adjustment possibilities in terms of seat depth and height and maximum distance from the backrest to the front edge of the armrests.

Four Appendices

Within the new version there are four Appendices.

Appendix A which includes an explanation of the importance of the different seat settings. Appendix B provides an example of how to interpret the prospectus of dimensional requirements; the dimensions of the neckrest and headrest are indicated in Appendix C; finally Appendix D contains the measurement uncertainty.

Furthermore, UNI EN 1335-1: 2020, a standard implemented at national level, together with UNI EN 1335-2: 2018, is used as a reference standard for determining compliance with Legislative Decree 81/2008, on the subject of protection of health and safety in the workplace.

5 good reasons to choose “smart working”

What’s smart working ?

Today more than ever we hear about “smart working” but what does it consist in? “Smart working” is the new approach to work within an organization, it is a model of working characterized by the absence of hourly or spatial constraints that exploits the technology of digital tools that allow to break down physical barriers of space and time.

This way of working remotely is established through an agreement between employee and employer. Working in “smart” mode, however, presupposes a path of cultural change and an evolution of corporate organizational models.

In fact, many entrepreneurs believe that in order to apply this way of working it is essential to adopt a corporate culture based on trust, autonomy, responsibility and predisposition to change.

It is also very important to establish appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the results and objectives that have to be achieved. This way it is easy to quantify not only the business results but also those of the smart working itself.

Why choose smart working?

The first advantage concerns logistics: the worker no longer has to waste precious time on the journey from home to work, therefore avoids getting stuck in traffic and, above all, minimizes the risk of making accidents due to the haste to go to the office harming one’s health and that of others.

Second advantage, smart working allows a better balance between private and working life. This model in fact guarantees greater flexibility, as it facilitates all those workers with family and children to be more present, allowing them to pay more attention to their children, matching work duties with parenthood duties. Young people can also benefit from it as they can spend more time doing other activities, feeling more fulfilled, happy and consequently working more efficiently.

The third benefit, is related to the increase in productivity. In fact, thanks to the transition to work “for objectives” and no longer to work at “hours worked” and from the “control” to “trust” between boss and employee, workers feel more responsible and this favors an improvement in performance and objectives to be achieved, influencing positively employees’ motivation and satisfaction. 

Fourth, the smart working model inevitably creates a distance between agile worker and office dynamics.

This, wrongly, is perceived as a negative side as it does not favor the exchange of ideas with colleagues. Fortunately, however, with the technology we are all equipped with, it is very simple to overcome this obstacle. Indeed, this new way of working allows us not to be distracted or unnecessarily disturbed by our colleagues.

The last positive aspect, but not least, is that “agile” workers are guaranteed equal treatment compared to colleagues who operate in the traditional way. Therefore, protection is provided in the event of accidents and occupational diseases.

In conclusion, choosing smart working means creating value for both the worker and the company itself, as this way of working chooses to put the person at the center of the organization with the aim of converging his personal and professional objectives with those of the company, making it grow and increasing its productivity. All of this must obviously not go to the detriment of ergonomics and one’s own health. As it often happens, in fact, few people recreate, in their home, a real smart work station, preferring instead improvised workstations perhaps in the living room  or in the kitchen table using the classic four-legged chairs.

Nothing worse could be done for ergonomics, posture and for the back, which in the long run could give rise to annoying pains and aches, due to having assumed an incorrect working position over time.

What are you waiting for? Protect your spine, discover our perfect office chairs to work where, how and when you want.

 

 

 

 

 

3 simple mechanisms to adjust your office chair

There are three main mechanisms that we usually use to adjust the office chair: the lever on the right, the gas piston and the knob that regulates the rigidity of the oscillation according to the weight. In this article we will explain how they work and how to use them to best adjust your office chair.

The lever on the right

All office chairs in general have the control for adjusting the height on the right so to adjust it, lower your right arm, and with your hand, touch the lever that you find under the seat. By pulling it upwards, and lifting its weight from the seat, the seat will be raised; while, while sitting, the same action will lower the armchair.

It is essential to adjust the height in such a way that the soles of the feet rest firmly on the ground and that the knee forms a right angle.

On some types of mechanisms, the same lever can also perform another function, in addition to operating the gas piston, it activates the mechanism that makes the seat oscillate. While on other types of mechanisms this function can be operated by another lever.

The gas piston

Its function is to cushion and adjust the seat height correctly. We also remind you that regardless of the height we choose, it is advisable that the piston can always cushion when we sit down and therefore it should never be kept at the end of its stroke.

The suggestion we give you is to always leave a few centimeters of excursion so that it can perform its task correctly, avoiding continuous maintenance and terrible back pain to those who work.

The knob that regulates the rigidity of the oscillation according to the weight

Although most of us are unaware of its usefulness, this knob has an essential function for the health of our back. As it allows the office chair to adapt to our weight and to follow body movements in a fluid way. This knob is generally placed in the center of the mechanism or on the side.

So, as previously mentioned, when we unlock the mechanism, the armchair becomes oscillating and if we push our weight back with the back, the armchair will tilt according to the force that we will use that for some of us it will be too much and for others too little.

In fact, the swing must not be too free because we could easily lean backwards, but not too slow because we would no longer benefit from the benefits for the back. To adjust the rigidity of the oscillation, then simply turn the knob: screwing it to make it harder or slower; unscrewing it making it softer or stiffer. The knob activates a mechanism allowing therefore a correct lumbar support and a light pressure that forces us to keep the back straight.

 

Omega 600 office chair

Kasia 01: a modern and classy office armchair

Kasia 01 is a refined and prestigious executive armchair, expressly created to be inserted in environments where design is considered a philosophy of life. This office armchair is part of our line of armchairs particularly valuable for the finishes and characterized by new and exclusive design.
features

Description

The product is made up by a 5-star base in polished die-cast aluminum, a light but at the same time resistant and aesthetically luminous material.

It is equipped with self-braking double swivel wheels, this type of braking mechanism prevents the office armchair from sliding making “long walks” around the office.
The operation is simple: when the subject gets up the mechanism starts working by slowing down the rolling to avoid the involuntary movement of the chair, when instead the subject sits the braking mechanism unlocks permitting it to slide again. The wheels are available in two versions: rubberized and non-rubberized suitable for both hard and soft floors.

Kasia 01 is also equipped with a steel column of Ø 50 x1.5, gas height adjustment stroke 120 mm.
The internal structure of the seat and back is made of beech plywood, while the padding of the seat and back is made of flexible polyurethane.

Kasia has a height-adjustable backrest, 3D armrests made of polyurethane with a steel insert, they are adjustable in height, depth and have rotation with a soft polyurethane top.

This product is also equipped with a synchronized mechanism of the seat and backrest, lockable in several positions, with anti-return system of the backrest, with the possibility of adjusting the intensity according to the weight of the person. This device is essential for the physical well-being of anyone who sits for an extended period of time.

Kasia is available in different finishes: leather, eco-leather and different types of fabrics.
To find out more, fill out the site form.

Kasia 01 office chair

Open space office: pros and cons

From the traditional office space to the open space

The new year has begun and with it all the new projects, it is therefore time for change and renewal. Why not start this transformation from your office? Is it better to choose a traditional office or an open space?
In the past twenty years, the transformation that has taken place in the world of work and in the way of working and conceiving productivity has inevitably also influenced the environment and work spaces.
From traditional offices, we initially moved to large rooms divided into narrower spaces and then to “open space” offices or offices of large surfaces without partition walls, which are shared by colleagues. The “open space” model spread at the beginning of the 21th century and was conceived to improve relations between colleagues and foster a rapprochement between employees and office managers, help team building and promote the sharing of skills, knowledge and exchange of ideas.
Today, however, the “open space” office model has been surpassed and challenged by research results: a 2008 study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management had already highlighted how open workplaces reduced productivity and increased employee stress levels.
Another recent study by the University of Sydney has confirmed that in companies with open workspaces the main causes of dissatisfaction and frustration are the noise of electronic equipment such as printers, keyboards, scanners, bells of all kinds; the constant interruptions and the lack of privacy. Just the lack of privacy if on the one hand promotes exchanges and conversations between employees, on the other hand favors useless and time-wasting conversations.
Even another recent study demonstrates how working in barrier-free spaces reduces the rate of collaboration between employees, disadvantaging interpersonal relationships between colleagues and indeed encouraging isolation.
Many managers believe that this type of environment allows them to have superior control over their subordinates, but on the other hand, we must deal with the noise pollution that is created. The higher the noise, the lower the control capacity.

 

office

The solution and the new trend: the hybrid office

Over the years, some American companies have found some solutions to make everyone agree and by opting for office models that balance the closed and open spaces to guarantee employees the availability of different environments or “hybrid” spaces.
The transformation in the work spaces is the result of awareness of the different needs during the performance of the various work activities.
In this way, employees will no longer have their own desk but depending on the work they have to do they can independently change their work environment and opt for the space that best suits their needs.
Ideally, the hybrid office of a large company should include open spaces, private offices, meeting rooms and smaller, isolated and soundproofed spaces: in this way it is possible to meet everyone’s needs. Both when it is time for collaboration, comparison and discussion; both when you need privacy, concentration and silence.
In addition, it would be useful to have spaces dedicated to socialization such as a common kitchen or a coffee area to ensure small areas of decompression and relax during the working day. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for change, come and visit us and discover our products for your hybrid office.

Do you need more information?

For more information or to receive a quote on a particular product, contact us!