Glossary
-A-
Acoustical panel: A systems furniture panel with acoustical properties to absorb sound within the panel structure providing a higher STC rating for the overall workspace
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
Adjacency Requirements: Programming information concerning optimal functional proximity of various personnel groups and equipment areas in a company. This information is a major element of the criteria used in space planning
Adjustable Arms: refers to the adjustability of chair arm rest, typically on a task chair. They can be height adjustable (vertical), width adjustable (height), rotating and/or have a sliding arm pad.
Adjustable Glides: Support device for leveling or stabilizing furniture on uneven flooring. Alternately referred to as “levelers” or “height adjusters”
ANSI: American National Standards Institute. ANSI/BIFMA Safety and performance standards are developed by the BIFMA (see below) Engineering Committee. The standards are reviewed every five years and intended to provide manufacturers with a common basis for evaluating safety, durability, and the structural adequacy of furniture items.
Anti-Rebound: This feature ensures that a drawer will stay closed and not spontaneously roll out of its opening or recoil when it is closed with normal force
Area Takeoff: The tabulation of area in square feet or yardage. This information is used to qualify spaces in planning and budgeting efforts.
Assemble Furniture: the process of building furniture from separate components by professionals
Asynchronous Control: Allows a chairs backrest and seat to move simultaneously but independently for the user to maximize his/her comfort.
AutoCAD: The computer program used by most architecture and interior desin industry professionals to generate drawings
-B-
Back Pitch: Refers to the angle of a chairs back in relation to the seat
Base Cap: A solid wood cap that fits over part of a metal base
Base Power Infeed: The power source connection from the buildings electrical current to the systems furniture panel
B/B/F Pedestal: Abbreviation for Box/Box/File pedestal. The word pedestal (or commonly referred to as a “ped”) is a filing unit, typically about 15” wide and located under a work surface top. A “box” is a drawer 6” high used for smaller items, such as pencils and calculators. The file drawer is about 12” high and a standard hanging file compartment.
Bell Crank: Often referred to as a hub, a bell crank is a device that allows the user to manually adjust seat height of a chair
Beltway Power: In systems furniture refers to horizontal strip above work surface height that allows for power and data capability and access. The standard location for most systems is at the base of the panel.
BIFMA: Business and Intuitional Furniture Manufactures Association
Block Diagram: Initial form of space allocation in which the spatial requirements determined the programming phase is shown. This diagram shows in correct proportion, departments and their proposed locations within the space.
Boat Shaped Table Top: A rectangular shaped table top design that, in plain view has 2 short sides that are flat and 2 long sides that are bowed outward in a convex shape so as to allow for better person to person vision around a long conference table.
Book Match: Sheets of laminate or veneer are laid so that the back of one sheet is matched to the face of an adjacent sheet, like facing pages in a book
Box Drawer: A 6” high drawer made to use a pedestal.
Bridge: The work surface that connects a desk and credenza, so as to form a U-shaped configuration around the user.
Bullet Top: Usually used in place of a standard desk in “L” or “U” configurations, a bullet top is essentially a writing table that gets its name from its shape. Viewed from above, its shaped like the cross section of a bullet, with the rounded end typically supported by a cylindrical metal post. Bullet tops are also sometimes referred to as an island conference top.
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C-leg: A support leg that allows knee clearance for the user underneath the work surface
Case Goods: Refers to free standing wood office furniture
Casters: The small wheels that allow for mobility on a piece of furniture
COL: Abbreviation for “Customers Own Leather.” Term used in a furniture specification when an item is being upholstered with fabric from a source
COM: Abbreviation for “Customers Own Material.” Term used in a furniture specification when an item is being upholstered with fabric from a source other than the manufacturer of the furniture.
Contract Furniture: Furniture obtained by contract through dealers or manufacturers. This term frequently implies that the furniture has been developed for commercial use which, through testing, is considered adequate to meet the safety regulations and rigors of a public environment.
Core: The portion of the building containing a concentration of components such as elevators, elevator lobbies, restrooms, equipment rooms, etc.
Counterweight: Smalls weights in the base of a tall file cabinet that keep it from tipping over when a loaded drawer is open.
CPU holder: An accessory piece attached to the underside of a work surface to hold a computers CPU and assist in wire management.
Credenza: In a private office setting, it is a work surface/storage unit located behind the user. In a conference room or gathering space, it can be used for serving as well as provide additional storage.
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Defeat Mechanism: The mechanism that helps prevent the accidental tipping of a file cabinet
Delivered Pricing: The price of an item with the cost of delivery included
Demising Wall: A partition separating individual tenants on a multi-tenant floor. Usually the wall runs from the floor to the structural ceiling above (sometimes called “slab to slab”) with gypsum board on both sides. It may contain sound insulation.
Density: A term referring to the weight of a cubic foot of foam. It is probably the most important single property of a chair that a customer should be concerned with. The greater the density, the more material in the foam and the more durable the product
Direct Pressure Laminate: Sometimes this material is referred to as melamine, but it is actually a sheet of melamine bonded to particle board. It is much less durable than high-pressure laminate.
Disassembly: Dismantling of existing systems furniture, modular workstations, wall paneling and workstations into its components
Double Dowel: A term referring to the construction of a chair frame connecting pieces of wood are joined by two dowels with glue and usually pin nailed to maintain frame integrity
Double Pedestal Desk: A desk configuration that consists of left and right pedestal files and knee space in the center for the user
Dovetail: A flaring joint between two pieces of wood, forming an interlocking tight fit.
Dowel: A small rounded piece of wood usually made of birch or maple, used for making or strengthening joints.
Drawer Configuration: The pattern or layout of drawers within a pedestal often seen as box/box/file or file/file
Drawer Dividers: A partition in a box drawer that separates or divides the front portion from the back
Drum Base: A large cylindrical base used to support a table or work surface
Duplex Outlet: A standard electrical outlet with two receptacles
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End Panel: A panel that runs the entire depth of a freestanding work surface and does not allow for knee clearance for the user
End Trim: On a system furniture panel, it refers to the finished vertical end cap
Ergonomic: Specially designed furniture, usually referring to chairs, which cradle the body and reduce fatigue
Executive Chair: A high back, padded chair
Executive “L”: Consisting of two pieces- a single pedestal main desk and return- with both units being of the same height, usually 29” or 30”. Return can be left or right side
Executive “U”: A large, U shaped desk consisting of three pieces: a desk, credenza and connecting bridge
External Move: Office relocation that usually involves trucking services between different buildings
-F-
Face Veneer: The veneer on the most visible surfaces
Finish boards: Boards prepared to illustrate proposed finishes. The boards will sometimes have photographs or graphic descriptions, but will frequently have physical samples of items, such as wall coverings, carpets, laminates, tiles, stones, etc
F/F Pedestal: Stands for file/file pedestal. It is a filing unit, typically about 15” wide and located under a work surface top
Flipper Door: Refers to the door on an overhead storage unit in a workstation. These doors are typically hinged at the top and lift up either on top of or into the storage unit
Floor Core: The process of couring through the slab of a floor to bring power and telecom/data capability to a room or area
Freestanding: Refers to furniture not supported by systems
Full- to-Floor Pedestals: When Pedestals extend to the floor below the work surface
Furniture Plan: Usually drawn at the same scale as the partition plan, the furniture plan locates and identifies the new and existing furniture in the proposed arrangement
-G-
Glazing: Clear or translucent light transmitting materials.
Glides: Small, adjustable feet on a large piece of furniture or systems furniture panel in order to make it level.
Graining: The process of printing a natural wood grain pattern onto another surface that may or may not be a wood product
Grommet: A finished hole in a work surface or other surface to allow for the passage of wires
-H-
High Pressure Laminate: A laminate composed of six to eight layers of building material that have been bonded with resin then topped with a melamine plastic facing. Often high pressure laminates are used in office furniture to add durability to a piece of furniture without sacrificing its appearance.
Hutch: A storage unit that sits on top of a credenza. Typically seen in a private office setting
-I-
Interlock: A device used to lock two or more drawers together that allows only one drawer to be open at a time. This prevents simultaneous opening, thereby preventing tipping
Inside Delivery: A special request to have the furniture delivered inside the customers facility. This service is usually handled by a specialty delivery company
-K-
Keyboard Tray: A unit that attaches to the underside of a work surface to hold a computer keyboard
KD- Knocked Down: The product is shipped completely unassembled to save in freight fees and will require full assembly by the end user
Knockouts: In the base of the systems furniture panel, refers to the hole provided for an electrical or data outlet
-L-
Lateral file: A filing cabinet that is wider than is deep to allow for side to side filing or front to back filing of records. Typically come in widths of 30”, 36” and 42”
Laminate: A material formed by fusing two separate materials together. The term laminate can be used to describe both high pressure laminate and direct pressure laminate
Lead Time: The amount of time needed for production and delivery of a piece of furniture after order entry
Load Bar: A bar mounted either to a wall or to a systems furniture panel to which accessories are mounted
L-Post: The corner connector used when two panels meet at a 90 degree angle. Also referred to as a 2 way connector
Lumbar Support: A standard available option on a good quality task chair that provides support for the lower back
-M-
Melamine: A plastic resin used to coat direct pressure laminate, and used between the layers of high density laminate. Melamine may also refer to direct pressure laminate, which is less durable of the two laminates available for office furniture
Millwork: Built in counters, shelving, cabinetry, wall or ceiling paneling, moldings etc. usually fabricated off site made of wood or similar materials.
Move Coordination: Optional services which include scheduling of contractors, moving and delivering crews, and installers to assist the owner of occupying space.
Mobile Pedestal: A small storage unit that has casters to allow for mobility. Typically used for files and/or personal storage. Most can be ordered with a cushion on top to allow for informal seating.
Molding: A decorative plane or curved strip used for ornamentation or finishing
-N-
Nailhead Trim: Trim used on traditional seating. This usually consists of brass nails individually applies. On less expensive chairs, nailheads may be plastic and applied in strips instead of individually applied
-O-
Off Modular: The Ability for systems furniture components to join into perpendicular panel at any increment, rather than the ends of the panel only.
Open System: Partitions put together usually in the center of an office space to create a working environment. Typically it does not have a door or a ceiling
Overfile: A storage Unit that sits a top a 4 or 5 drawer file
Overhang: Produced by recessing the modesty panel when the work surface overhangs the modesty panel. Overhangs vary from 6” to 11”
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Panel Creep: When planning multiple workstation clusters for a space, it is the dimension of a panels thickness multiplied by how many times it occurs over the length of the space.
Panel mount: The ability to mount and hang storage units, work surfaces and accessories to a systems furniture panel.
Pedestal: Also referred to as a ped, is a filing unit, typically about 15” wide and located under a worksurface top. Can be fixed or mobile and can have different storage configurations.
Peninsula Top: Also called a p-top, it is a primary work surface designed with one rounded end to provide a comfortable meeting space with multiple users gathered around
Plan View: An aerial view of space, room or piece of furniture, cutting a horizontal section at 5-0” above the floor line
Pneumatic Height Adjustment: On a task chair, allows different size users to adjust the seat height
Posture Control: Allows the back rest to tilt independently of the seat, allowing adjustments in back patch.
Power Infeed: The electrical connection used to provided systems furniture with the buildings power source
Power Pole: A floor to ceiling pole, similar to a small column bringing power to a telephone/data wiring to a workstation pod, in lieu of a floor feed.
Power Whip: Industry slang for a power source that connects the buildings electricity to the systems furniture or cubicle
Programming: The initial stage of a project in which spatial requirements are determined considering numbers and classifications of personnel, size and departments, anticipated future expansions or reductions, and required adjacencies
Punch List: The list that is generated after the project’s completion to indicate any items that are missing or damaged. Applies to architecture as well as to furniture.
PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride
-Q-
Quadradplex Outlet: Also known as a quad, it is an electrical outlet with 4 receptacles
Quick Ship: A program offered by most furniture manufacturers making some of their most popular or easily manufactured products available with accelerated lead times
-R-
Raceway: The cannel provided within a systems furniture panel to run electrical wiring and telephone cabling to the outlets
Radius Styling: Rounded edges/corners of desks, credenzas, etc
Remanufactured Furniture: The reuse of core components in a workstation that can be returned to a new condition with OEM warranties and safety assurances renewed as well. By utilizing components of a past carbon footprint an average savings of 30% to 50% can be realized over the purchase of products with a new carbon footprint
Return: The side work surface stemming from the users primary work surface creating an L-shape in plan
-S-
Schematic Plan: a preliminary space plan showing the proposed form and location of the primary components of the space. It provides, in plan view, a graphic depiction of the architectural elements, the furniture, and their interrelationship
Skins: The upholstered portion of a systems furniture panel. Easy to remove
Sliding Seat Pan: An option on many task chairs that allows the seat to move from front to back in order to accommodate different leg lengths
Space Plan: Is a preliminary layout which graphically illustrates basic needs, future growth and adjacencies as defined by the project statement. It is drawn as if the building were “sliced” horizontally, the room and ceiling removed and view above. It indicates placement of walls and type of construction, wall penetrations (doors, windows) defined exit ways, circulation within the area being planned support areas (such as file rooms, libraries, raised floor computer areas, etc) along with their relationship to existing building elements. Furniture and equipment layouts will provide an understanding of the general use of the spaces being presented.
Specifications: The ordering information for a piece of furniture. Typically includes the manufacturers item number, color, finish, size, and any other options specific to the piece.
Spin Lift: Mechanical height adjustment operating by spinning he chair counter-clockwise to raise it and clockwise to lower it
Spine: The Common center panel running down the middle of a workstation pod that all perpendicular panels connect into
Stanchions: The support column on a work surface used to upmount overheads.
-T-
T-Post: The connector used when three panels meet at an intersection, forming a T. Also referred to as a 3-way connector
Tackable Panel: A systems furniture panel with a built in tackable surface
Tack board: A fabric covered tackable surface generally mounted to the panel or wall between the top of a work surface and the bottom of an overhead cabinet
Task Chair: The type of an office or desk chair. It is generally comfortable and adjustable and can swivel 360 degrees.
Task Light: The additional light source commonly provided at a desk or workstation. Can be freestanding or mounted underneath an overhead storage cabinet
Tension Control: A mechanical feature usually adjusted by a knob located under the seat of a chair that controls the degree of resistance the chair provides when leaning back
Tiled Panel: A systems furniture panel with a segmented lock housing multiple panel inserts. These inserts can be of varying materials to create
Top Cap: The finished piece of the top of a workstation post or panel
Tongue And Groove: A joint made by fitting a tongue on the edge of a board into a matching groove on another board
Transaction Top: A work surface typically mounted at 42” high and intended for receiving standing visitors or exchanging information. Often seen at reception or secretary stations.
Translucent: A surface that light and objects can be perceived through, but not clearly made out
Transparent: Clear enough to be seen through
-U-
Upmount: The term used when stanchions are used to mount shelving or overhead storage on top of a work surface.
“U” Shaped Work Station: A piece of furniture consisting of a single pedestal desk and a single pedestal credenza connected on one side by a flat top and modesty panel
Veneer: A thin strip of real wood glued on to a substrate of plywood or particle board
Vertical File: A filing cabinet that is deeper than it is wide, in which records can only be stored front to back
Vertical Raceway Panel: A panel with an interior vertical cavity to bring power and data above work surface height
-W-
Wall Mount: Refers to the installation of systems furniture pieces that are mounted directly to a drywall partition, rather than hung from a furniture panel
Wardrobe Cabinet: A personal storage unit in a workspace designed to hold a coat, jacket, or other hanging items
Wire Management: Characteristics of a piece of furniture that conceal wires and power chords from view
Work Surface: The top of a desk
Work Wall: In a private office environment, refers to the wall incorporating work surfaces, storage, power, and accessories
Workstation: A table or desk with three sided partition around it, usually made for individual work
-X-
X Post: The connector used when four panels meet at 90 degree angles. Also referred to as a 4 way connector