Offices that work

The Paso Doble collection from Officeland.
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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.

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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?