Features | Ergonomic office chair

Features

There is no official definition of what characteristics an office chair must have in order to be considered ergonomic. Theoretically, any manufacturer can describe an office chair as ergonomic. The following characteristics refer to the guideline of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

It is important that the ergonomic office chair stands safely. Tipping or slipping away should be avoided, even if the backrest is tilted completely backwards. There are models with braked and unbraked castors.

Unbraked castors should only be used on carpeted floors, while braked castors on smooth surfaces can prevent the chair from slipping away. The chair should also have adequate suspension. This helps to protect the spine, especially when sitting down frequently.

To prevent injuries, all edges should be rounded off and the seat and backrest should be adequately upholstered. Care must be taken that the upholstery is comfortable but not too soft. The height of the office chair is an important ergonomic feature.

Since not all people are the same height, the office chair should be adjustable within a range of 42 to 50cm measured from the floor to the seat. The same applies to the length of the seat, which should be adjustable between 38 and 44 cm. An appropriate width of the seat is at least 40cm.

The backrest is one of the most important features of the ergonomic office chair. To be both comfortable and orthopedically ergonomic, the backrest must have two characteristic curves. When viewed from the side, a curve in the area of the lumbar spine towards the front should be noticeable.

Depending on the length of the backrest, there may also be an “S” or “double-S” shape. At the same time, the back should be surrounded by the backrest, i.e. the surface should be slightly round and not flat. The backrest must be adjustable to adapt to the proportions of the user.

Optimal is when the backrest has a coupled seat/backrest tilt adjustment. This means that the backrest can always provide optimum support for the spine when the backrest is tilted backwards at different angles.Armrests also belong to an optimal office chair. These can relieve the shoulder area and should be adjustable in height.