Type ‘ergonomic chair’ into any online shopping portal and you will be sent literally thousands of options, all trying to get you to buy the latest ergonomic miracle.
Google tells me that ’Ergonomic’
describes something designed to be comfortable, efficient, and safe for users, especially in a work environment. It relates to the study of how people interact with their surroundings, including tools, furniture, and workspaces, with the goal of optimizing performance and minimizing discomfort or risk of injury.
It’s not a simple definition, and one person’s ergonomic miracle may be an expensive standing order at their chiropractor for the next. BS EN 1335 (Parts 1–3) is the main standard used to rate ergonomic chairs. It provides a rating of A, B and C, with A being the highest standard and therefore most adjustable. Type B chairs will have some adjustments and are probably the most common in UK offices, and C chairs have very limited adjustments available.
This doesn’t mean that a type C chair will not suit your needs. And you’ll find some very cheap A rated chairs that provide exceptional levels of adjustability, but then fall apart after a year or two. Quality varies enormously, and is to me extremely important, so it might be worth sacrificing some features you don’t really need, in order to keep the quality high.
There’s no point going into the exact standards and measurements of BS EN 1335, as they may not meet your needs and its available elsewhere if you desire it. Much better that you understand what is available and what ‘good’ looks like. A chair, like a pair of shoes or any clothing, needs to fit you if it’s going to provide proper support.
Just because a chair doesn’t have a feature that some may consider important, this does not mean that it’s not a great chair. Most people would say for example that a good ergonomic chair should have a back rest whose angle can be adjusted independently of the seat base. But the Håg Sofi does not have this, yet it is an excellent chair that I would recommend to most people.
Official standards are important and play a vital role in developing safe systems. But by design they stifle creativity and innovation. If Peter Opsvik had paid any attention to any proscribed standard he would never have invented the kneeling chair – a product that meets no written ergonomic standards whatsoever, but is brilliant and should be considered.
Some of the most adjustable chairs you can buy, and built to very high standards and with long warranties are the Rh Logic 200 series and the Ergochair Adapt 600. You could call these A* chairs as they’ll exceed any list of ergonomic requirements. From the bottom up:
Castors
Height adjustable
Seat depth adjustability (and different sizes of standard seat)
Seat can be tilted and fixed at an angle, unlimited within its range on the Adapt, locked into 4 set positions on the Logic.
Free floating weight adjustable dynamic mechanism – more about this here:https://backworld.co.uk/the-importance-of-movement/
Armrests – adjustable for width, depth, height and inwardly turnable
Back rest angle adjustment, independent of the seat
Back rest height adjustable
Adjustable lumbar support
Neck rest, height and depth adjustable.
Consider the lady in the picture. Notice how every part of her is in a natural, relaxed position, supported by the chair. She has only been able to do this by adjusting the seat, arms and backrest into the correct position for her body and her desk.