CHAPTER 18 OFFICE DESIGNDr. Katie Cahill
Science 295
OFFICE ROOMS
Office landscape versus individual offices Cubicles with partitions can provide needed
privacy in the workplace Many office buildings house many different
designs; some individual offices and other open space offices
Office landscape “landscaping” a large office space to create the
appearance or an irregular terrain Use of plants for appearance and to prevent noise Disadvantages of open designs:
Lack of privacy Disruptive noise
OFFICE ROOMS
Stepwise office design1. Evaluate the needs of the people using the
office2. Identify a range of different design options to
choose from3. Evaluate the designs4. Select the final design, implement it and put it
to use Employees should be involved in all phases
to ensure that all their needs are met
OFFICE ROOMS
Evaluating different designs Construction cost Ability to expand Running costs Appeal to employees and clients Expected efficacy and effectiveness of use Time until new space is available
Flexibility via new technology Yesterday’s technology tied us to one office Now we can be flexible with location and work
schedules
OFFICE ROOMS
Looks good, feels good, makes for good work Pleasing office aesthetics create a good image
for the organization, help attract and retain employees
Job amenities create a home like appearance Coffee bars Fitness rooms Laundry and dry cleaning facilities Child care On site salons
Increases emotional ties, and job satisfaction and enhances employee performance
OFFICE CLIMATE Affects the workers health, comfort and ability to
perform The goal of office design is to provide the best
possible conditions and minimize adverse factors Climate should not be too hot/cold, warm,/dry,
fresh air without a draft Working in warm or cold
Body maintains a constant temperature of 37 degrees The body generates heat and exchanges it with the
environment To prevent heat loss we increase our amount of
clothing; to prevent overheating we release heat from our skin
OFFICE CLIMATE
Feeling comfortable Temperature difference between exposed skin
and the environment is important Deviation of the core temp by 2 degrees from
the norm decreases ability to perform Large temperature differences across different
regions of the body Energy exchanges
Energy exchange with the environment occurs in 4 ways:
1. Convection2. Conduction3. Evaporation4. Radiation
OFFICE CLIMATE Heat balance
Depends on:1. Difference in temperature between the skin’s surface and
the environment2. Magnitude of heat exchanges depends on the surface
area of skin exposed3. Humidity
Occurs when metabolic energy generated = heat exchanged with the environment
Acclimatization Mostly by dress Continuous exposure brings about a gradual
adjustment of body functions to better tolerate the climate
Achieved in about 2 weeks
OFFICE CLIMATE
Effects of heat on mental performance Mental performance decreases at room temps
above 25 degrees Brain functions are especially susceptible to heat
Good office climate First choice is AC; if not available, there are other
options: Move air swiftly through the room Stay away from warm surfaces that radiate heat Sprinkle water on the hot surfaces to cool them Rest at the hottest times of the day Dress lightly If cold, dress warmly and sit close to heat radiating
surfaces
OFFICE LIGHTING Natural light provides a “homier” feel to the
office Disadvantages to natural lighting:
Changes over time Spots near the window can be glaring Workplaces in the rear become too dark
Artificial lighting overcomes these disadvantages Lighten the office ( figure 18-2)
3 main options:1. Direct lighting – rays fall directly on the work area2. Indirect lighting – rays reflect off the ceiling, even
illumination but less efficient3. Translucent bowl – scatters the light but can cause
shadows and glare
OFFICE LIGHTING
Glare-free lighting (figure 18.3) Glare – the experience of intense light that enters
the eye and overpowers the ability of the rods and cones to distinguish shades of gray and colors
Direct – light shining directly into your eyes Indirect – light rays are first reflected and then
enter your eye Avoiding glare (figures 18.4 &5)
Reposition the workplace so that the sources are at the worker’s side
Placing lamps on the left and right avoid glare Placing lamps directly in front, overhead and
behind may can glare (figure 18.6)
OFFICE LIGHTING We need light to see
With increasing light, more rays reach the rods and cones and we can see objects more clearly
Photometry Uses measurements of incoming light (illumination)
to describe to lighting conditions Luminance, the light reflected off surfaces, is more
relevant for vision Recommended office illumination
Depends on objects to be seen and health of the eyes accommodating
Generally 500-1000 lx Table 18-2 Steps to alleviate eye problems resulting
from computer use
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Sitting at work – depends on culture Sitting still
Tiresome, but difficult to move about when our work is tied to the computer
Constantly shift positions Erect Standing and sitting
100 years ago, secretaries stood at their desks; the proper work posture eventually became erect sitting
Physiologists studying posture in the late 1800s determined that upright posture was more “balanced” than curved positions
Seats have been designed to support the upright body position
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Comfortable sitting End of the 20th century it was accepted that
people should sit whatever way was comfortable Sitting is more suitable than standing within a
small workspace in which we use our hands Sitting:
Keeps our body stable Helps us execute fine motor movements Requires less muscular effort
Office furniture must accommodate for all shapes and sizes, postures and activities
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
The human body is made for change Sitting erect for long periods can become fatiguing Figure 18.8 activation of muscles during upright and
relaxed sitting Slumping is instinctive to take tension off of back muscles
Sitting for long periods of time can:1. Compress tissue2. Decrease blood circulation3. Lead to edema in the lower body
Comfort and discomfort Subjective judgment based on physiology and
emotions(table 18.3) Use the term annoyance rather than discomfort to
avoid confusion
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Annoying seats Typical descriptors include stiff, strained, cramped,
tingling, numbness, not supported, fatiguing. Etc. Circulatory, metabolic, mechanical or emotional
events Improper design features include wrong size, too
high/low, hard/sharp surfaces, no support Comfortable seats
Typical descriptors include soft, plush, spacious, supported, relaxed, etc.
Depends on the individual, their habits, environment
Aesthetics plays a role
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Dynamic design (figure 18.9) Design should encourage free flowing
movements Links between person and task
1. Visual interface – computer screen, keyboard2. Manipulation – mouse, keys, pen, paper, phone3. Body support – seat, backrest, armrest
Design for vision Visual targets affect body position Object should be directly in front at about an
arm’s length Tilting the head and neck can lead to eye strain
and pain in the neck, back and shoulders
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Design for manipulation Our hands are usually engaged in many different
movements Motion is desirable, but within our reach envelops Figure 18.2 convenient and extended reach
envelops Design for body motion and support
Primary ergonomic goal for laying out a workstation is to facilitate body movement
Active sitting Chairs should be comfortable for relaxed and
upright seating, leaning backward or forward and for getting in and out
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Design for variety Recognition that people are diverse has finished
off the one size fits all model Major vertical anthropometrics are used for
baseline Best to have adjustable furniture for the office
Lumbar spine in relation to the pelvis Sitting and moving about the ischial tuberosities Ligaments, tendons and muscles connect the
pelvic girdle to the spine as well as the legs to the spine
Therefore the angle of the hip and knee affect the location of the pelvis and curvature of the lumbar spine
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT Seat pan variations (figure 18.4)
No single layout has found universal acceptance Pan should be short enough to not press against the
back of the knees Should be well rounded Height should be adjustable
Backrest necessary? Some orthopedists state that a backrest is not
necessary because back muscles must act to stabilize the trunk without it
Most believe it is desirable for many reasons: Carries weight of the upper body and reduces spinal
compression Helps maintain lumbar lordosis Relaxation
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Backrest shapes Preferred backrest shapes follow the curve of the
backside (figure 18.15) Concave at the bottom for the buttocks, convex
for the lumbar spine straightening for the upper back
Work surface and keyboard support Height depends on the activities Main reference points are elbow and eye height Work surface of a sit down workplace should be
adjustable Keyboard trays can be useful for high
workspaces
DESIGNING THE HOME OFFICE
Pick a chair that will provide comfort and support over long periods of time
Incorporate standing throughout the day ( on the phone)
Select a quality computer and keyboard Select a room with good lighting,
temperature control and which is quiet Well being is worth the money and effort you
spend setting up the home office Table 18.4 Ergonomic recommendations for
workstation arrangement
SUMMARY
Office designs can be open (lack of privacy and noisy) or closed; most offices incorporate a mix
Proper illumination depends on tasks, objects to be seen and health of individual’s eyes General illumination should be around 500lx
No single seated position is considered “proper” Changing postures is important Furniture should allow for changes in body posture Adjustments in seat/monitor height and
backrest/seat pan angle should be permitted Home office design allows for individual freedom
for workplace arrangements