Offices that work

The Office Exhibition is reiterating the importance of intelligently-designed, ergonomic work spaces

Arecent survey by The Office Exhibition has revealed that almost 90% of workers regard the design and layout of their office as impacting their level of motivation. In fact, out of the 1,000 workers questioned, only 6% maintained that the design of their office had no impact at all on their working life. And yet, only 50% said that they had ever had any sort of workspace assessment.

This discrepancy presents massive opportunity for interior designers and office furniture suppliers alike. “We have noticed an increased awareness of ergonomic design considerations across our client projects but, as the survey clearly shows, there is still some way to go,” said Nick Burnett, design director, CitySpace.

The importance of ergonomics was also highlighted in the survey, where room temperature, back pain and damaged eyesight were cited as common sources of discomfort in the office environment. While the necessity of a good chair is no secret, some 64% of respondents complained of experiencing some back pain as a result of an unsuitable chair.

“The survey produced some extremely interesting results,” noted Sinead Bridgett, show director of The Office Exhibition, which is taking place from February 9 to 11. “Whilst most office workers feel that their working environment has an impact on their motivation, not many employers within the GCC seem to be carrying out workstation assessments to ensure they have got the ergonomics right,” she commented.

Further research by dmg world media, organiser of The Office Exhibition, suggests that the number of office projects in the GCC is set to double between 2009 and 2010, meaning that there is plenty of scope for companies to improve their ergonomic credentials – and plenty of opportunity for those involved in the design and fit-out of effective office spaces.

Buoyed by these positive figures, The Office Exhibition will include a number of new features this year. Now in its 9th year, the show will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and will feature over 350 companies across an area of approximately 25,000m². Based upon visitor demands in 2009, the exhibition will this year include four dedicated product sectors: furniture, interiors, technology and consultancy. “We have been working closely with the industry and have listened very carefully to ensure that The Office Exhibition 2010 moves in the right direction to become even better.

“This year, we will have more interesting features, including The Office Awards, which will recognise the industry’s most innovative products that excel in design, sustainability and pricing.”

Also new for the 2010 event is The Future Office, a live demonstration of what working environments will look like in the future. Companies such as Mazari Consultants, Frezza SpA, Quantum Glass, 3D Lux, Skad Media and HP have been enlisted to take part.

“We really wanted to create an exciting feature on the show floor, to preview what the future has in store for our office environments. The latest in cutting-edge design and technology will be on show, demonstrating how we will work differently in the future,” Bridgett said.

Leading companies in the region will gather at the exhibition to promote their latest products and achievements. The Total Office will be launching Powermat by Teknion, the Futu Chair by HAG, modular tiles by Whitespace and a recyclable product line by Anker Carpets.

Powermat is a revolutionary new way to wirelessly charge a range of devices from a single power source, cutting out the mess of tangled wires. The Powermat wirelessly charges up to three Powermat-enabled devices simultaneously.

Powermat has teamed up with Teknion to develop an integrated workstation solution that allows users with receivers either attached or built into their electronics to sit down and work at their workstation, cordlessly. The Powermat technology is essentially embedded into the work surface.

The Total Office will also be showcasing fire-resistant fabrics by Kusch & Co at its stand.

Recognising the importance that fire resistance plays in high-occupancy commercial buildings, Kusch & Co has developed Flamline, a self-extinguishing fabric that also reduces smoke development.

Used on seating, the fabric prevents an incipient fire from spreading, as it does not become an additional ignition source. Furthermore, the seat’s foam is protected against flames by means of a fireproof fabric. The fabric does not lose its protective function during its lifespan and is unaffected when the upholstery is soiled.

Meanwhile, Al Aqili Furnishings’ Officeland will be promoting a selected range of executive desks by brands such as i4mariani, Sitia and Grammer Office. “The Office Exhibition is a key platform for us to spotlight our exclusive brands and services in a market that is growing in the region. It is a good place for us to meet with potential clients and suppliers and share with our peers the latest in the industry,” said Mohammed Abdul Muktadeer, sales manager, Officeland.

The company comes fresh from supplying the flooring for the chairman’s office, along with three other floors, in the Burj Khalifa. Glazed sepia-coloured carpet tiles from Shaw Contract Group’s Fragment collection were selected for the high-profile project. With their Eco Solution Q Nylon fibre and Ecoworx tile backing, the Green Label certified tiles are a further testament to Al Aqili’s green ambitions.

UAE-based office furniture company, Bafco, will also be present at The Office Exhibition, spreading news of the recent advent of construction of its centralised headquarters and manufacturing facility. The new 22,760m² facility in Dubai Industrial City will reduce lead times from two months to less than two weeks. It will also dramatically improve production output from 50,000 furniture units to 150,000.

“This connection of our disparate operations is of paramount importance to Bafco’s continued success and we are excited to be expanding and moving forward, particularly during these challenging times, when many companies are retracting. Our facility will be a multi-storey unit with warehouse, factory, showroom and offices all operating as the central hub,” said managing director, Bafco, Khosrow Fattahi.

Ergonomics Checklist (Compiled by The Office Exhibition and CitySpace)

Lighting: Is there adequate light, both natural and artificial? Are the lux levels appropriate for the task in hand? Is there variety in the type of lighting available and its distribution? Is the lighting healthy (correct contrast, without flicker etc)? And are there blinds or sunshades, or UV glass windows installed?

Air Quality: Is the air set to an appropriate temperature? Can individuals control their personal/shared workspace temperature? Are the thermostats easy to access and control? Is there access to fresh air? Is the air quality acceptable, in terms of humidity control, recirculation, oxygen levels, and being odour-free?

Acoustics: Are noise levels around the workspace disruptive? Do they affect concentration? This can refer to office equipment, other people’s conversations, music and so on. Does the furniture and décor help to muffle unwanted sound, for example carpet versus laminate floor? Is there an allocated space for private and confidential conversations?

Furniture: Does the design of the desk, workstation and personal storage facilities meet work-task needs? Is it the right size and height? Is there enough and easy access to files and storage? Is the workstation flexible and easy to reconfigure?

Space layout: Is the proportion of private versus open space appropriate? Are there enough group, team and meeting spaces? Does the layout of furniture and storage create optimum access routes? Is there easy access to shared facilities such as printers, the kitchen etc? Is the distance between workstations big enough? It should be a minimum of 1m. Is the access corridor space to the workstation wide enough? It should be a minimum of 1.2m, but preferably 1.5m. Are the doors and windows the right size, according to staff density and traffic? Is the signage and way-finding adequate and positioned correctly? Where is the nearest fire exit?

Aesthetics: Is the office interior design inspiring and motivating? Does the office interior design help support work tasks? Are the colours and textures of the walls, carpets and furniture appropriate? Does the office décor and furniture conform to HSE/environmental standards?

Work-style: Does the office design and furniture support the work-style – ie. team work, private concentration, creative, mobile etc? Does the office design help to optimise productivity and workload management? Are there appropriate leisure and F&B facilities? Are the office layout and facilities conducive to taking regular breaks and stretching?