TechArchive

This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000

Bewildering was the array of objects that began to appear on the market four or five years ago. Desks with worktops that adjusted at the touch of a button, chairs in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes, storage systems that were positively extra- terrestrial, and an even more mind-boggling collection of “optional extras”.

The reason for all this activity was EC directive 90/270/EEC, governing the use of VDUs in the office. The guidelines that preceded it were so vague that manufacturers were put into the position of having to outguess the EC to safeguard their entire product ranges from becoming obsolete overnight.

Predictably, when the directive was published, it was by no means as extreme as people were expecting. What it did was ensure that companies investing in computer equipment also provided their staff with adequate and appropriate working areas to enable them to do their jobs properly. This is a particular issue for design and drawing offices, not least because the computer systems they use are often large. In the past, companies have sometimes been tempted to economise by installing computers on existing desking systems, and this has resulted in cramped, unproductive working conditions.

As with the majority of EC directives, this one is really common sense: for each computer or workstation, employers must provide a working area that has a sufficiently large, low-reflectance working surface to allow a flexible arrangement of the screen, keyboard, documents and related equipment. This has now been mandatory for all new furniture since January 1993, and from 1 January 1997, all office furniture that does not comply will have to go.

What has been the effect of the EC regulations? One result has been to make employers far more aware of the conditions in which their staff work. This is certainly in their own interests: eye strain, cricked necks and bad backs can severely reduce productivity. Companies are now far more prepared to install new furniture to house their computer systems than they were three years ago.

The effect on the furniture itself has been more subtle. Once manufacturers understood that the “all-singing, all-dancing” workstation was not what the EC regulations demanded, they began to concentrate on improving existing designs. There are distinct advantages to using a height-adjustable desk. However, the directive leaves it to individuals to decide what suits their individual needs.

One change is in the huge range of optional extras now available. Today, most suppliers offer cable trays, fixed and mobile pedestals, digitiser/menu tablet insets, processor cradles, arm and foot rests, screens and lighting systems.

The advent of the “intelligent building”, has by no means eliminated the problem of trailing wires. Cable ducting has long been available as an attachment to desking systems. The latest innovation is an elevating cable tray that fits into the rear of the desk, giving users access to wiring without having to clear their worktops first.

The main change, however, has been the increased emphasis on the “workstation” itself – the desk and its attachments. Having gone through a whole series of permutations, the furniture industry is now concentrating most of its efforts on this. Scientific design techniques are producing increased leg room and mobility. A wider range of finishes is available, with more attention to non-glare surfaces that minimise eye strain. Desks are also becoming larger: they are now available, not just in the standard 725mm, but in 850mm, 1 metre or even larger depths.

The modular furniture system is also becoming an important feature of today’s office. Desks, tables, workstations, reference units and storage facilities can be assembled in “runs” to fit any size or shape of office, making the most economical use of the space available. New items can be clipped into position as required – a particular advantage as, with the slow emergence from the recession, employers can begin to take on more staff and pressure on space becomes an issue once more.

In the end, the purpose of the EC regulations is not to make major, inconvenient changes, but simply to safeguard the conditions in which we live and work. We may complain about the new laws, but it is a fact that the better the equipment we use, the better our productivity and profitability. The furniture industry is now meeting the EC regulations by concentrating on providing a very good version of an very well established item: the desk.