Affordable Office Cubicles

Archive for the ‘Features’ Category

Here is a list of the main features and functions of office cubicle design. This list can help you understand your options and identify those features you find most applicable to your business.

Fabric
Office cubicle panels come in many different colors and textures of fabric. In addition to color and texture, you will want to know whether a fire retardant has been added to the fabric and whether it is resistant to the growth of mold and bacteria. Also, some fabrics are more resilient and flexible than others and resist sagging and tearing better. If you want to be able to put up corkboards or whiteboards or use push pins on the panels, be sure to ask whether the panels are tackable.

Glass Panels
Some office cubicle systems incorporate glass panels in their design as an option. A glass panel may be advantageous in the cubicles of supervisors and others who want to be able to observe traffic and activities outside of their cubicles without having to leave them.

Work Surface
The desk area or work surface inside a cubicle is usually made from plastic, wood, or metal, with plastic laminate and particle board being the most common combination.

Construction Materials
A cubicle panel usually has a metal frame of steel or aluminum. The type, quality, and thickness of the frame determine the overall cost as well as the durability of the panel.

Electrical Options
Assess your electrical needs before placing an order. You might prefer panels with built-in electrical wiring in order to avoid having to lay separate electrical cords and outlets around the cubicles. Electrical cubicle panels cost more than plain panels. They should be rated by amps, grounded, and UL tested.

Networking Options
Optional panels with wiring and receptacles for data exchange and telecommunications are available. Be sure you understand your networking needs before placing an order. You don’t want to pay for what you don’t need but you don’t want to get less than you need in terms of networking capabilities, either.

Here is a list of the main features and functions of office cubicle design. This list can help you understand your options and identify those features you find most applicable to your business.

Aesthetics
Office cubicle systems come in an infinite variety of colors, patterns, textures, fabrics, and finishes. You have many options to choose from to enhance your work environment.

Ease of Installation
Most office cubicle installation systems use a combination of nuts, bolts, and slots and tabs. Before ordering, ask about the installation method used for the system you are interested in. Even if you are not doing the initial installation yourself, you will want to know how to reconfigure your system in case the need to do so arises later. If you anticipate reconfiguring your system on a regular basis, you might ask about the durability of the connectors. Some systems use plastic connectors that will wear with frequent reuse and you may want to order extras.

Flexibility
Some office cubicle systems are more flexible than others. Flexible systems can be easily rearranged after installation to reflect changes in the work environment. The components of a cubicle system include panels, corner units, storage/pedestal units, L-shapes, U-shapes, round shapes, file units, shelf units, and so forth. Flexibility refers to the ease with which these different components can be mixed and matched and rearranged in new configurations.

Cubicle Size
The height of the cubicle panel will directly affect work performance and activities. Selecting the right size panel for the type of work done and the type of work environment desired is therefore very important. Low panels about 30 inches high allow workers to communicate with each other while sitting. Mid-sized panels about 50 inches high allow privacy while sitting and direct communication while standing. Tall panels around 80 inches high provide maximum privacy and acoustical dampening.

Acoustics
Office cubicles come in a wide range of acoustical dampening options. The amount and type of padding determine the degree of acoustical dampening. If you want a very quiet work environment, choose panels with thick, absorbent padding.

Airflow Vents
Airflow vents in panels are optional. If you choose panels with airflow vents, you will lose some acoustical dampening, but you will have more air circulation around the work space.