Office Desks Key Terms

Get set up with the right vocabulary to understand your office desk options

Office desks have come a long way since the basic metal filing cabinet models of not long ago. Today, office desks come in a wide range of options, styles and building materials. One of the primary concerns with modern office furniture is developing earth-friendly designs from eco-friendly materials that don't release toxic chemicals or gases into the work environment.

Another trend is recycling or reusing old furniture. No matter what sort of office desks you're shopping for, make sure you understand the following key terms.

 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics, or something being ergonomically correct, refers to the practice of tailoring the workspace to fit the worker, instead of insisting that the worker adapt to the workspace conditions. This includes tailoring the office desk to fit the worker and making sure that the office chair fits both the desk and the worker well.
Try: Oklahoma State University details how the principles of ergonomics can be applied to office desks and workstations.

VOCs

VOCs or volatile organic compounds are emitted as gas from some solids and liquids. This is of particular concern with office desks and other furniture because VOCs might be present in office desks made of pressboard, plywood, particleboard or wood veneers, and also in the finishes applied to almost any wood or metal surface.
Try: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives a detailed explanation of volatile organic compounds, what they are and what their potential side-effects are.

Cradle to cradle

The cradle to cradle certification was created to give companies a tangible, reputable measure of their success in creating environmentally conscious designs and products. Look for this certification if you want to purchase the most prestigious green or earth-friendly office desks.
Try: MBDC created and maintains the cradle to cradle certification, and publishes a full set of criteria for the certification and lists of companies that have received it.

Laptop desks

If your company employees work primarily on laptop computers, not desktops, you might consider replacing full-sized office desks with laptop desks. Laptop desks are office desks designed specifically to hold laptop or notebook computers and their accessories, thus reducing the commitment of space and resources needed to install full-size desks.
Try: LapWorks pioneers laptop desks, trays and stands to create diminutive, space-saving laptop desk work surfaces.

Workstations

Workstations are exactly what they sound like: A work-dedicated space. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems.
Try: ABCOffice details the purpose of workstation furniture.

Eco wheat board

The furniture made from compressed straw material is referred to as eco wheat board or straw board. Because eco wheat board doesn't use the same chemical resins made in pressboard, plywood and other conventional building materials, it is a popular, earth-friendly material for building office desks.
Try: Holistic-interior-designs.com explains what eco wheat board is, how it's made, and its advantages as compared to conventional building materials.

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