Medical Office Furniture – San Diego Healthcare Seating

June 15th, 2010

medical office furniture San DiegoHealthcare settings from clinics to hospitals have a need for quality medical office furniture. San Diego doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and patients can all benefit from access to comfortable seating provided by a reliable office furniture supplier. In the waiting room, a mix of chairs and sofas works best to accommodate a wide patient demographic. Appropriate seating may also include bariatric chairs that are designed to be comfortable for people of larger than average body size.

Ergonomic task chairs like Herman Miller’s popular Aeron are a perk that administrators who spend most of their workday seated will appreciate. A well padded swivel stool is a boon for healthcare professionals to use in the exam room. Finally, a furnished lounge with recliners and a convertible couch/bed offers a place for worn out medical staff to catch a few winks during a long shift.

VOC Free Cubicles Now Easier To Find

June 10th, 2010

Graduated cylinders and beaker filled with chemical compoundsVOCs (volatile organic compounds) are a frequent byproduct of the processes and materials used in creating office furniture. In some new cubicle systems, the adhesives or finishes used may release chemicals such as formaldehyde into the air for a while after installation. This process is called off gassing. Not everyone is highly sensitive to these chemicals, but those who are may have a number of problems unless they work in VOC free cubicles.

What’s The Big Deal?

According to the EPA, acute exposure to VOCs can cause immediate reactions such as nausea, fatigue, headaches, rashes, and breathing difficulties in sensitive individuals. Long term exposure to chemicals may compromise immune response. This can increase the occurrence of the common cold, allergy attacks, flu and other ailments.

Again, not every employee will experience these symptoms. Plus, it can be hard to track down exactly what is causing such problems – especially since sensitive individuals often have similar health issues from exposure to chemicals at home.

However, as employers become more health conscious by promoting wellness programs, it makes sense for them to also look at the entire work environment for areas that can be improved for all workers. If your cubicle systems have been in place for years, they are no longer off gassing and are not a matter for concern. However, VOCs are something you might want to think about when it is time to purchase brand new cubicles.

Choose Greenguard Certified Low VOC or VOC Free Cubicles

GreenguardGreenguard is a national organization that measures the safety of green office furniture. Distributors of eco-friendly furnishings rely on this Indoor Air Quality certification to ensure the products they sell do not pose a health hazard. Greenguard’s exacting standards limit VOC and particle emissions to extremely low levels. All the components used in a manufacturer’s product line are tested – not just one or two. The website makes it simple to search for products by type or manufacturer. Besides increasing indoor air quality, these items may also help you earn credits for LEED certification.

Typical Cubicle Layout Criticized By Programmer

June 9th, 2010

HeadphonesSoftware developer Adam Lane has written an interesting article expressing his personal opinion on the office vs. cubicle debate. He makes a good point that for people in a line of work that requires uninterrupted concentration, an open cubicle layout may be less than desirable. That’s why many employees in his line of work use headphones and music to drown out the noise created by their coworkers.

The author runs through a pretty impressive list of benefits to giving each developer his/her own office space while also leaving some areas open for collaborative tasks. Of course, he acknowledges that this approach is more costly than setting up cubicles. However, he argues that the increase in productivity and reduction in errors makes up for the initial investment.

There are actually quite a few cubicle manufacturers who also offer architectural walls. The Altos collection from Teknion is one example. These walls are reconfigurable (although not as flexible as a cubicle system) and reduce noise very efficiently. This type of solution might be a good option for companies that want to spend a little extra making their “thought workers” happy and reduce distractions.

White Office Furniture – San Diego Execs Get Cool

June 8th, 2010

White Office FurnitureNothing makes a work environment look cooler than snowy white office furniture. San Diego executives can chill in the pale luxury of Mount Vernon 530 leather in the Sapper chair from Knoll. The creamy finish on this high-end seating option blends with the warmth of wood or softens a modern office space outfitted with metal and glass. Rosette pleated edges and channel stitching add a hand finished touch to the seat and back of this chair.

Ergonomics are taken into consideration with deep cushions and a waterfall front seat edge that promotes good circulation. Lumbar back support adjustment is available as an extra feature. Swivel, tilt, and seat height functions can also be provided on request. The operation levers are always easy to find – they bright red.

Evaluating Cubicles For Sale By Owner

June 4th, 2010

For sale signNot every set of used cubicles on the market is bought up by a dealership. Some companies that are liquidating their workstations choose to sell directly to other employers. If you see an ad listing cubicles for sale locally, this might be a chance to pick up gently used furniture at a low price. Or, you might end up with broken, badly worn cubicles that look shabby and have pieces missing. Here’s how to tell a good deal from a bad one.

Does the owner know the brand?

The first question you should ask is about the furniture brand. If you buy high quality cubicles like Steelcase, Teknion, or Herman Miller second hand, they might easily have another decade of use in them. An off-brand that was originally constructed out of cheap materials may be falling apart already.

If you can get the collection name too, you will have a better idea whether the cubicles for sale will fit your office space. Not all designs are rectangular. Some can be configured in a honeycomb format that actually saves room while making each workstation feel larger. These are an especially good deal.

What’s included?

The seller should be willing to offer accurate information on what’s included in the deal. When some people use the term “cubicle”, they mean an entire workstation with overhead storage and a desk. Others are just referring to the panels. That’s an important point to clarify so you know if the pricing is high or low.

If the owner has kept their original packing slip from when the cubicles were first purchased, this makes a handy inventory checklist. Ask the seller if there are any parts missing. If so, you will need to negotiate a lower price to make up for the pieces you will need to buy from the manufacturer as replacements.

Are There Photos?

broken cubicleTo save you and the seller both some time, it makes sense to view sample photos before you arrange to look at the cubicles for sale in person. Inquire about the overall condition and ask for close ups of a few areas of wear and tear or damage so you can see if refurbishing is required.

Calculate Total Cost

Cubicle for SaleOnce you have determined the condition of the cubicles, you can compare the pricing to similar items for sale by local used office furniture dealers. Remember that the cost and time involved in breaking down, transporting, and reassembling the cubicles will probably fall on you when buying directly from the previous owner. If you don’t have the experience or equipment to handle this, you will need to hire professionals to help out. This can make a difference in whether or not you are really getting a bargain.

The Green Office Cubicle: San Diego Spreads Word About Sustainability

June 3rd, 2010

TreeAre you doing research into which company makes the most environmentally friendly office cubicle? San Diego is one city that is working to get the word out about sustainable choices. You can find the 2005 “Choose Green Report” from Green Seal, Inc. published on the sandiego.gov website. The authors of this document express the belief that customers of the office furniture industry can have a real impact on the practices of manufacturers and distributors.

This is borne out by the impressive list of suppliers who now offer green cubicle choices for consumers. Check out pages 5-7 for a breakdown of how the major players measure up on 4 different criteria:

Waste Minimization – the use of recycled materials, managed forestry, and waste recapturing technology

Toxicity – what types of adhesives are used in wood composites and to attach laminates

Air Pollution – whether products are powder coated, VOC free, and/or Greenguard certified

Sustainability – if reusable packaging is used in transportation and if products can be recycled or refurbished

Customize Your Cubicle Panels

June 2nd, 2010

Printed Cubicle PanelsHerman Miller is one of the top cubicle manufacturers to offer a customization option. They call this their COI (Customer’s Own Image) program. Screens in both the Ethospace and Resolve systems can be run through an inkjet printing process that uses 8 dye hues to recreate the customer’s desired design in full color. The material used for the screens is a white Multiscrim fabric which can be cleaned following HM’s instructions to keep the cubicle panels looking their best over time.

Some of Herman Miller’s suggestions for custom printing include branding cubicles with a logo or signage/directions to help visitors navigate a large workspace. Screens can also be customized with promotional text or images, the company’s mission statement – even inspirational quotes to boost worker morale. The only restriction is that you must own the copyright or have permission to use any artwork that you want custom printed by Herman Miller.

Browse Awesome Cubicle Supplies

May 27th, 2010

Cubicle SuppliesThere is an entire culture that has grown up around cubicle supplies. These days, just having a useful item at your desk isn’t enough. It needs to be a strange or beautiful conversation piece – or something you can get really passionate about. Everyone is looking for the perfect accessory to make their desk stand out in a cube farm. The sheer variety of supplies for cubicles is stunning. Enjoy browsing!

Lamp in a BoxFun and Freaky

Joi at Office Freaks knows how to ferret out the hippest and most unique cube accessories. Check out the recent post on fair trade stuffed Desk Buddies for a warm and fuzzy feeling. Or, spark your imagination with your very own Lamp in a Box. This blog is definitely the hot spot for “cubicle interior” design.

The folks at Style My Cube offer information on desktop toys as well. For example, they’ve got the cutest photo of a faux dog you can take to work. It will snooze away on your desk while you toil. Also, check out the tool belt you can affix to a regular coffee mug to turn it into an advanced pencil organizer.

For a more violent twist, visit the “Happy Worker” for tips on building an arsenal of weapons made from traditional office cubicle supplies. Warning: some of these might actually function as intended – so don’t try this at home (or in the workplace!)

Surprising Addictions

Sharpie MarkerDid you know there is a whole online community devoted to writing implements? There are literally dozens of blogs covering everything from modern fountain pens to the latest release from Sharpie. A $2 Bic ballpoint is not an acceptable option for these hard core pen lovers. They need a comfortable barrel grip, smooth flow of ink with no smearing, and a gorgeous aesthetic. You can get the scoop on real life product testing on just about any pen, pencil, marker, highlighter, or eraser at sites like Office Supply Geek and The Pen Addict.

The pen aficionados don’t have the market cornered when it comes to insisting on quality. There is a whole other subculture that focuses on notebooks. It’s all about the paper with these people. The weight, texture, binding, ruling, these little things can make or break a notebook. Once you get used to having luxury pens and paper at your desk, you’ll never go back to cheap cubicle supplies.

Buying and Selling Cubicle Systems: San Diego a Hot Spot

May 26th, 2010

Want AdDid you know there is a “Craig’s List” of sorts for buying and selling cubicle systems? San Diego, Dallas, St. Louis, Clearwater – plenty of big cities are featured on the Systemsnews.com website. This information clearinghouse lets office furniture companies advertise their wares and liquidation services. They also provide space for people to request leads on items they need. This might be entire cubicles or just end finish pieces or other components. Unfortunately, most of the current listings on this site appear to be inactive – either deleted or expired.

Folks looking for items that are compatible with their existing systems might have better luck trying the manufacturer. Of course, that does mean paying full price. Plus, you’re out of luck if a particular component has been discontinued. If you are seeking specific parts for your older cubicle systems, San Diego used office furniture dealers who know all the best places to look might be able to source these for you. That’s a good approach to try if you don’t feel like placing an ad and taking your chances on an online transaction with someone you’ve never met.

Cubicle Partitions Save Man’s Life

May 25th, 2010

Vintage AirplaneIn unusual cubicle news, this year is the 60th anniversary of the fateful crash of “The Star Girl” – an aircraft that went down near Llandow in Wales. One of the few survivors of that accident, Melville Thomas, credits his timely visit to the plane’s lavatory for saving his life. The steel toilet cubicle partitions provided some protection when the airplane went down.

Thomas was one of only 3 survivors out of 83 passengers and crew on board the unfortunate flight. He sustained significant injuries while the other two survivors walked away virtually unscathed. At that time, it was one of the worst air disaster that had ever occurred. As you can imagine, Thomas has not flown again in the 6 decades since his harrowing experience. Those of us working safely in our office cubicles today can be thankful that our feet are planted firmly on the ground!

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