A Rundown of Office Furniture Terms
At BOS, we dive deep into workplace culture and environment. The amount of information encompassing workplace culture can seem like an impossible task at first. Fortunately, we’ve gathered a list of resources and knowledge to create a glossary of definitions to help you easily speak the world of office furniture!
A
Acoustical Panel – A systems furniture panel with acoustical properties that absorbs sound and provides higher STC (Sound Transmission Class) ratings for the whole workplace
Arch Handle – A handle on drawers that curves outward from the surface
Asynchronous Control – A multi-faceted tilt control system for seats that allows the back to pivot independently, and locks the back in any position to give users the choice of various postures
Adjustable Arms – The adjustability (height, width) of chair armrest; some can rotate, have a sliding arm pad or utilize all adjustable arms, which can move in every direction
Adjustable Glides – This helps level furniture on uneven flooring when placed underneath (also called “levelers”)
Adjustable Lumbar Support – A movable lower back support on chairs that users can move where extra pressure is needed to achieve proper sitting posture
Anti-Rebound – This feature ensures that a drawer does not open or recoil when closed with normal force
B
Back Pitch – Refers to the angle of a chair’s back in relation to the seat
Bridge – The part of a work surface that connects a desk and credenza to form a U-shape area around the user
Bullet Top – A work surface, when viewed from above, that has a round circular shape at the end, which is typically supported by a post or leg
Back Height Adjustment – The settings for the back of a task chair to position the lumbar support in the most comfortable location
Bariatric Lounge – A reinforced metal frame that increases the strength of a lounge chair (up to 450 lbs.)
Boat Shaped Table Top – A rectangular shaped table top design with 2 short sides and 2 long sides that extend outward in a convex shape (suited for individual visibility around a long conference table)
Box Drawer – A 6” high drawer in a pedestal
Bow Front Worksurface – A work surface with a curved front side that gives visitors and collaborators a little extra work space
C
C-Leg – A work surface leg formation that allows more leg room for the user underneath
Casegoods – Refers to freestanding office furniture
Cable Trough – This neatly organizes electrical and data cords throughout a workstation environment
Café Height – Typically between 40” and 42” high and is meant for standing situations in a work environment
Cantilever Table – With a C-shaped base, this table shape can slide under a side or lounge chair to save space
Carpet Gripper – Feet for office furniture to provide a firm placement on a carpeted surface
Caster – Wheels attached to the bottom of chairs, tables, and pedestals for better mobility
Center Tilt – This chair mechanism allows users to comfortably recline, using the center of the seat as the pivot point
Clamp Mount – A device that grips the edge of the work surface, and allows a user to install an accessory such as a monitor arm
Club Chair – A comfortable armchair meant for a single user, and often placed in lounge settings
Contract Furniture – Furniture obtained by contract through dealers or manufacturers and generally developed for commercial use
Coffee Table – A low-set table designed for casual settings and to hold small items such as literature and beverages
Corner Table – A low-set table designed to fit at a 90-degree angle between casual seating arrangements
Counterweight – Small weights in the base of a file cabinet to prevent from tipping over when a loaded drawer is open
Credenza – A work surface/storage unit that can be located behind the user or underneath a larger workstation
Cube Table – A table with a square top enclosed on all sides and a height equal to each side
Cylinder Table – A table with a round top enclosed on all sides and a height equal to the diameter of the top
D
Desk Divider – Solid panels above the desk that help define and divide personal space, usually attached to groups of work surfaces in open areas
Desk Shell – A desk with support legs and a work surface, but no storage drawers
Desktop Paper Shelf – A shelf meant for organizing paperwork
Desktop Storage Terrace – A layered shelf with various tray sizes for greater organization of paperwork
Defeat Mechanism – The mechanism that helps prevent a file cabinet from accidentally tipping over
Double Pedestal Desk – A desk setup with left and right pedestal files and center knee space for the user
Drawer Configuration -The layout of drawers within a pedestal
Drum Base – A large cylindrical base used to support a table or work surface
E
Empire Handle – A flat, rectangular handle on drawers that runs horizontally
End Table – A low table designed to complement a series of guest chairs in lounge seating
End Panel – A panel that runs the along the side of a freestanding work surface and does not allow for knee room for the user
End Trim – The finished vertical end cap on a system furniture panel
Ergonomic – Furniture designed to provide support and comfort in order to avoid stress or injury
Executive Chair – A full-featured mid-back or high-back desk chair with premium comfort and adjustable controls
Extron Plate – A port area that allows for various configurations such as VGA, HDMI, USB, audio and more
F
F/F Pedestal – Stands for file/file pedestal. These are typically 15” wide and located under a work surface top
Flipper Door – A hinged door on an overhead storage unit in a workstation
Freestanding – Furniture not supported by panel systems
Furniture Plan – A plan that locates and identifies new and existing furniture in a proposed floor plan
File Center – A combination of various storage elements in one unit.
Fixed Chair Arms – Arms on a chair that do not move or adjust in any way.
Fixed Chair Base – A chair base with no casters that is meant to stay in position.
Flip-Top Base – A table base designed to turn the work surface 90-degrees to better organize with other tables set in a vertical position
Foot Ring – A fixed or adjustable bar on the bottom of a stool that provides leg support
Freestanding Privacy Screen – A vertical screen designed to provide visual privacy and divide space in open areas
G
Glides – Small, adjustable feet on large furniture pieces to help make it level and move smoothly over hard surfaces
Grommet – A hole in a work surface or panel to allow for wires
Ganging Bracket – A bracket placed on guest seating and tables used to connect them together to form rows and keep chairs in place
Guest Chair– A small, single-seat chair meant for short-term use
H
High-Pressure Laminate – A laminate made of six to eight layers of building material bonded and topped with a melamine plastic facing; high-pressure laminates are used in office furniture to add durability to furniture without sacrificing appearance.
Hanging Paper Shelf – An open shelf that attaches underneath a cabinet or work surface to organize paperwork
Hardboard – A stiff board made of compressed and treated wood pulp, typically used on cabinet backs and other furniture elements
High-Density Stacker – A lightweight guest chair made of high-density materials that allow it to be easily stacked and rearranged
Hip Chair – A stool with fixed arms and a foot ring
Hospitality Shelf – A sliding shelf that can be added to the bottom of a storage cabinet to allow for better accessibility for trash
Hutch – A storage cabinet added onto work surfaces to add storage without sacrificing floor space
I
Interlock – A device that locks two or more drawers together and allows only one drawer to be open at a time to prevent tipping
Independent Back Angle – A feature of task chairs for moving back of the seat separately to reduce lumbar pressure
K
Keyboard Tray – A unit that attaches underneath a work surface to hold a keyboard
Knockouts – The hole provided for an electrical or data outlet, in the base of a systems furniture panel
L
Laminate – A coating made of up various building materials meant to provide durability to office furniture
Lateral File – A wide filing cabinet that allows for side to side or front-to-back paper filing
Laminate Credenza Shelf – A shelf with storage space and a durable laminate exterior
Load Bar – A mounted bar near a workstation that holds accessories and other items
Loop Handle – A rounded handle style on drawers that gently curves outward from the surface
L-Post – Also referred to as a Two-Way Connector, this is used when two panels meet at a 90-degree angle
Love Seat – A lounge seat made for two users
Lumbar Support – A feature in the lower part of the chair back that delivers extra pressure to the user’s lower back, to help maintain the natural curve of the spine and reduce back pain
M
Melamine – A plastic resin used to coat direct pressure laminate and used between the layers of high-density laminate
Mesh Back – A breathable material on a chair that stretches, gives instant support and comfort, and keeps a user cool
Mobile Markerboard – A two-sided whiteboard on four casters that can be easily moved around
Mobile Pedestal – A storage pedestal with casters and drawers that can be easily moved around a workspace
Modesty Panel – A panel attached to the bottom of a desk to provide extra privacy below the work surface
Modular Chair – A chair designed to work both standalone, and as a part of a larger set of similar chairs
Monitor Arm – A metal arm that replaces the standard base of monitors and allows the monitor to be easily adjustable when affixed to the desk
Multi-Task Control – A control for an office chair that allows users to adjust the reclining angles of the seat and back independently, and allows the user to lock the back in virtually any position
N
Nesting Chair – A side or guest chair with a seat that flips up vertically, which allows it to be pushed closely against other chairs in that collection to save space, similar to a line of grocery carts
O
Off Modular – The ability for systems furniture components to join into a perpendicular panel, rather than just the ends of the panel
Open Plan – An office plan for an open working environment, which typically does not have a door or a ceiling
Ottoman – A cushion-topped lounge element where you can place your feet or use as a short-term seating solution
Overhead Legs – Post legs or O-legs designed to support overhead storage
Overhead Storage – Storage cabinets that sit on top of workstations and add storage space without taking up any additional real estate
P
Panel Mount – The ability to mount and hang storage units, work surfaces and accessories to a systems furniture panel
Particle Board – A heavy-duty composite material that gives work surfaces strength and durability
Pedestal – A storage cabinet with drawers that also acts as a support for an office desk or credenza, usually with file or supply drawers
Peninsula Top – A work surface designed with one rounded end on a single post leg, and one rectangular end that connects to a panel support
Pivot Arms – Adjustable chair arms that each turn at up to 30-degree angles
Plan View – An aerial view of a space, room or piece of furniture
Pneumatic Height Adjustment – On a task chair, this allows users of different sizes to adjust the seat height
Posture Control – Allows the backrest to tilt independently of the seat
Power Infeed – The electrical connection used to provide systems furniture with the building’s power source
Power Pole – A floor to ceiling pole that provides the connections to the systems furniture
Power Whip – Power source connecting the building’s electricity to the systems furniture
Pop-up Port – Electrical and/or data outlet that can open and close when pushed on a work surface
Post Leg Base – Individual vertical legs that can be used to support a variety of work surfaces
Posture Control – Any mechanism on an office chair that allows the user to customize the seat and comfort settings to their preference
Posture Mechanism/Lock – A feature in office chairs that allows the user to prevent the chair from reclining whenever the user prefers firmer back support and an upright position
Presentation Cart – A mobile cart that typically holds a flat screen display, whiteboard or other presentation tools
Q
Quadruplex Outlet – An electrical outlet with 4 receptacles (also known as a “quad”)
R
Raceway – The pathway which runs electrical and data cabling to the outlets, provided within a systems furniture panel
Radius Styling – The rounded edge on the top of desks and credenzas
Reception Station – A large workstation that wraps around a receptionist, which holds a variety of storage options and includes a standing-height work surface for visitors
Recessed Task Light – A lighting unit that can be mounted on the underside of a hutch or wall-mount storage cabinet
Remanufactured Furniture – The reuse of core components in office furniture that can be returned to a new condition
Return – An L-shaped workstation comprised of one finished side, a pedestal file and a modesty panel that attaches to a single pedestal desk or credenza
Rounded Square Handle – A rounded, rectangular handle on drawers that runs horizontally
S
Skins – The editable sections of a systems furniture panel that allow for different kinds of surfaces to be applied
Sliding Seat Pan – An option for task chairs that allows the seat to move from front to back to accommodate varying leg lengths
Space Plan – A preliminary graphic layout of the potential relationships for various elements of systems furniture and equipment
Spine – The common center panel of a workstation pod where all perpendicular panels connect
Seat Depth Adjustment – An adjustment on office chairs to move the chair forward or backward to create a deeper or shallower seat cushion
Seat Glide Mechanism – An adjustment on office chairs to move the entire seat cushion forward or backward
Sled Base – A chair base with U-shaped legs on the sides
Soft Wedge Table Top – A table top with a 45-degree shape that allows for weaving arrangements around architectural elements
Stadium – A tiered platform added to a work surface to increase open shelf capacity for filing
Storage Cabinet Pedestal – A mobile or modular storage unit that can be added to a workstation to increase the number of drawers
Storage Tower – A vertical storage unit with a full-height door for storing coats, smaller drawers, and open cabinets for paperwork, office supplies, and personal items
Straight Arms – Fixed arms on an office chair that do not bend or curve in any way
Support Column – A single straight leg that supports peninsula desks or other work surfaces
Systems Furniture – a term for bundles of panels, work surfaces, shelves, and other items sold by a single manufacturer as a package for furnishing offices
Swivel – A feature on a chair that allows a user to turn 360-degrees for total freedom of movement
T
T-Leg Base – A table base with an upside down T-shape that provides a solid foundation
Tablet Arm – A small work surface that attaches to an arm of a chair to provide a place for a laptop or for note-taking
Tack Board – A fabric covered tackable surface that is generally mounted to a vertical space (like a wall or panel)
Tapered Leg – A hardwood or metal leg typically found on lounge furniture (can be round or square)
Task Chair – An office chair that offers comfort, and may include features such as a 360-degree swivel, adjustable seat height, and other elements that allow for adjustability and support.
Task Light – An additional light source for a desk or workstation
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
Tilt Lock – A feature in office chairs that allows the user to stop the chair from reclining
Tilt Tension – A feature in office chairs that allows the user to adjust the amount of pressure it takes to push the back of the chair when reclining
Top Cap – The finished piece of the top of a workstation post or panel
Transaction Top – A work surface typically mounted at 42” high and meant for standing users such as at a reception station
U
“U” Shaped Workstation – A furniture set comprising of a desk space connected on one side by a flat top and modesty panel
Upholstered Back – An office chair back that is covered with fabric wrapped over a padded cushion
Upholstered Seat – An office chair seat that is covered with fabric wrapped over a padded cushion
V
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 space that brings power and data above work surface height
Vertical Paper Manager – An add-on to open cabinets that contains various open shelves for sorting and organizing paperwork
W
Wall Mount – Refers to the installation of systems furniture pieces that are mounted on drywall areas instead of hung from panels
Wardrobe Cabinet – A personal storage unit meant to hold a coat, jacket, or other hanging items
Wire Management – A series of trays and troughs that organize the cables and cords for workstations
Work Wall – A freestanding wall that adds privacy and supports one end of a work surface
Workstation – A table or desk with a three-sided partition around it, usually made for individual work