How to choose your office chair
For many people, a large part of their work day is spent sat in an office chair. As well as being a piece of furniture, these chairs are much more. They become a work tool that infuences our efficiency, our creativity, our well-being and our health.
The designer Marcelo Alegre from Alegre Design and the director of Innovation from the Valencia Biomechanics Institute (IBV), Rosa Porcar, give us tips on how to make the right decision.
Investing in a good office chair is important
The office chair is a work tool in constant and continuous use, which is why it is so important to perfectly adapt it to your needs and your work.
A poor chair can have harmful consequences
Back health, cervical and lumbar tensions are closely related to posture in the workplace. But there's more.
When you're sitting in a chair, your feet must touch the ground. If you are too tall, circulation problems may occur. If, on the other hand, the chair is too low, too much weight is on the buttocks. By adjusting the chair to an appropriate height and distributing the weight correctly, we will be able to sit longer and more comfortably.
Define how you will use the chair
Chairs are a work tool and the first thing we must be clear about is what we will use it for: we must define if it is a chair we will use occasionally or continuously.
This will determine the technical, functional, comfort and material features that we need to achieve a correct posture. For chairs we will use constantly, it is important that the arms, seat and backrest are adjustable to enable the natural movement of the body.
Know the qualities of a good office chair
Every office chair must respond specifically to everyone's needs and do so in a very comfortable way.
Check that the chair complies with legal regulations
Chairs are part of a work team and, as such, must comply with all regulations. Royal Decree 488/1997 determines the minimum healthy and safety requirements for work with data display screens.
It establishes that, whenever we work in front of a computer, a tablet or any other device of these characteristics, the chair must be a swivel and have five feet, allowing freedom of movement. The seat must be height-adjustable and, where appropriate, it must be possible to adjust the backrest's height and angle.
Check how comfortable the chair is
Sit in the chair, in a 90-degree static position with a straight back. But also move around. Forwards, backwards, to the right and to the left.
While you are seated you must be able to move naturally. “If we don't move, we're not allowing the joints and circulatory system to activate. This mobility is a factor that allows us to work for hours without affecting our health.”, Rosa Porcar comments.
“Armrests are recommended for times when we are not using the keyboard, as they allow weight to be taken off the shoulders. They allow us to get closer to the table and must fit underneath it without bumping into it, states Rosa Porcar.
Ask what materials your chair is made from
For chairs that will be used continuosly, it is fundamental that the materials are quality and that they guarantee the durability of it. Only in this way can the work tool that is an office chair provide comfort and guarantee that its characteristics will remain unchanged over time.
The choice of upholstery must also be considered as there is a wide range of options with very different qualities. “It is crucial that the fabric is breathable so that the chair does not accumulate sweat and provides a certain climatic comfort because a large surface of it is in contact with your body. The upholstery should be easy to clean. Keeping in mind that a good office chair has to last more than ten years, it is necessary to be able to maintain good hygiene.”, Rosa Porcar points out.