ERGONOMICS

Ergonomics is the science of applying a regulative system to the human working environment. Almost all activities in daily life can be viewed in terms of ergonomics these days. At König + Neurath this includes screen-based working, as well as sitting in meetings. When we talk about ergonomics, we are usually referring to the area of “physical ergonomics”. One thing addressed here is workspace design in the office. One of its goals is avoiding physical damage caused by sitting and moving to people as they work. Since König + Neurath has set a goal of designing healthy workspaces, we draw on the instruments and findings of ergonomics for our product development. One example of this is the anatomically shaped backrest of a chair, or the option of adjusting a chair to fit the dimensions of the sitter, in other words changing seat height, depth or armrest position. We also integrate functions like these into our desks, especially height adjustable desks with electric motors or gas lift.

The minimum ergonomic requirement of a desk is the option of adjusting its height to the user’s needs, a work surface that’s suitable in terms of reflective properties and warmth, as well as operating controls that are easy to access and ergonomically shaped.

One factor that really adds value in terms of a dynamic working approach is to provide desks that allow the user to switch between sitting and standing. Switching between sitting and standing positions is more beneficial to users than just sitting in different positions. As well as improving physical wellbeing in a way that is immediately noticeable, changing posture at will has the effect of extending employees’ mental performance and radius of creative activity. Mental and physical agility influence each other. So the subject of sitting/ standing plays a key role in our development of desk systems. As well as desks with motorised height adjustment we design desks with systems that do not require a hook-up.

Since people are different, it should be possible to adapt a chair precisely to the user’s physical dimensions. This is the functional basis for the development of König + Neurath seating. As well as the actual functions, König + Neurath chairs all have ergonomically designed controls. Adapting the chair to the anthropometric parameters of the sitter is our basis for the concept of dynamic sitting: What is important here is that the pelvis is properly aligned and supported by the ischial bones. The spine is brought into an upright position, which supports its double-S form. With the torso upright, the arms have better reach, there is more room in the abdomen for the internal organs and to allow deeper breathing. The upper body inclines forwards or backwards from the hip joints and not by bending the spine. Sitting up straight, leaning back, leaning forwards:

The best sitting position is always the next one! König + Neurath office chairs facilitate a variety of postures whilst offering support to sitters. As we see it, another key element in the concept of dynamic sitting is a good synchro mechanism. That’s why König + Neurath has spent years developing mechanisms with outstanding ergonomic properties in-house. These include for instance a front seat edge that drops when the sitter leans back. König + Neurath uses the requirements of the TÜV Rheinland Ergonomics Certificate as a yardstick, and some of the König + Neurath office swivel chairs are certified according to this.

Creating good acoustic conditions is an important aspect of modern ergonomic office outfitting. Noise – caused by equipment or colleagues – significantly impairs concentration and decision time for employees, and therefore compromises their performance. Day-to-day noise like loud voices and ringing phones is already close to the upper limits of noise that is tolerated in the office. So for efficient and stress-free work in a shared office, a strategy to improve overall acoustics is urgently recommended.

Intelligent office outfitting solutions are able to reduce noise across the entire frequency range of sources that might be found in the office. Innovative, acoustically effective materials are used in the development of König + Neurath products. We use them to create intelligent space structuring systems and desk screens, so that as well as a screening effect they are also efficient absorbers of reverb and noise.