OFFICE FURNITURE 101

WORK SURFACE= The work top or desk surface, made 3/4 PEDESTAL/HANGING PEDESTAL= a stack of of laminate or wood. Standard desk top height is 29”h, drawers that doesn’t extend fully to the floor. It is “typing” height is 27” h. attached to the work surface.

PEDESTAL=Often abbreviated to “ped”. It is the stack of drawers that are underneath the work surface. They can attach in one of three ways: Hanging, Surface- supporting or Free Standing.

BBF/FF/BF=refers to the type and number of drawers in a pedestal.

BOX= box drawer. The shallow drawer(s) suitable for storing pens and other supplies.

FILE= file drawer. The deeper drawer used for hanging files. Typically, letter size files fit front to back and legal ¾ Hanging Pedestal Example size files fit side to side. CENTER DRAWER/PENCIL DRAWER= a shallow BBF=Box/Box/File. drawer, plastic or metal, that is attached under the work FF=File/File surface on metal tracks. Used for storing pencils, BF=Box/File paperclip and other small supplies. Generally placed so that it opens over the users lap.

CENTERALLY LOCKING=When the user can lock all of the drawers of his desk by locking one drawer.Typically it is where a user will push in his center drawer to it’s fullest extent and then lock it. This engages an elaborate locking system that will lock all of the drawers on the left and the right hand side.

END PANEL= Structural panel left or right of the desk, return, or credenza that make up the right side legs or the left side legs. It supports the work surfaces, and BBF Full Height Pedestal Example often the modesty panel(s).

FULL HEIGHT PEDESTAL= a stack of drawers that GRAIN DIRECTION= If the desk has wood grain, the goes all the way from under the desk surface to the floor. direction refers to the way the grain pattern is laying. It usually supports the work surface; ie: the work top is Most generally, vertical grain patterns (pointing up and attached to it with screws. down) are preferred on the facing parts of the desk (called the chasis). Then, a side-to-side grain pattern is preferred on the top.

CHASIS= The entire under side of a desk. All the components (the end panels, and modesty panel) that go into making the desk structurally sound.

BOOK MATCHED VENEER=The grain pattern of the wood on the veneer goes up and down on the face of the pedestals, modesty panel, and the overhead, placed so that they also will look like repeating patterns like the FF Full Height Pedestal Example drawers were made out of twin pieces of wood. THERMAL FUSED MELAMINE = (LPL)Also known as Storage Credenza Example low pressure laminate. Commercial grade of laminate. The surface features include heat, moisture, stain, KNEE SPACE CREDENZA=A credenza with storage on abrasion, and peel resistant properties. The top photo- either or both sides, but with a space in between for the printed (patterned) paper layer is bonded with the user to be able to pull up comfortably to work. particle board substrate through a heat process. BRIDGE= The work surface that is attached between a MELAMINE= This is different than thermal fused desk and a credenza to form a U shape. Typical 24” melamine. This is generally where the manufacturer will deep x 36”, 42” or 48” wide. glue the paper grain pattern (much like wall paper) onto the substrate (particle board) and then spray the surface with a plastic sheen making it abrasion resistant.

HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE= (HPL) Highest grade of commercial laminate. Like thermal fused laminate it is heat, moisture, stain, and abrasion, and impact resistant.

WOOD VENEER: Thin layers of real wood applied to a substrate. Most wood furniture is made using veneers to give the grain look desired. Veneer is also very structurally solid and warp-resistant. Bridge Example

BURL VENEER: This is the surface treatment made of RETURN= Th the work surface that sits to the left or the actual wood from a point in the tree where a branch met right of the user in an L shape desk configuration. the trunk. The result is a swirling of the grain pattern. Returns can also be placed on either side of a corner unit to create a corner desk/workstation. GROMMET HOLE: Hole cut out in the top of the work surface (desk top) to allow the user to fish wires down to the floor below without having them hang over the edge of the desk.

GROMMET FILLER= the plastic or metal sleeve and cap that fill and/or finish the raw grommet hole. They allow cables and cords to run through the desk top or desk frame. Return Shell Example DESK= The large, primary piece of office furniture that sets in front of the user. In commercial furniture, the standard sizes are 30x60, 36x72 and 36/42 x84. DOUBLE PEDESTAL DESK=A desk with two stacks of drawers; one on each side. CREDENZA= The worksurface, either with or without lower drawers, directly behind the user. A credenza can be freestanding, or attached to the desk in a U-shape.

STORAGE CREDENZA= A credenza with either storage doors with shelves behind, or file drawers.

Double Pedestal Desk Example

SINGLE PEDESTAL DESK= A desk with one stack of drawers.

L DESK= A desk + a return, creating an L-shape. Designated either Left Handed or Right Handed. L-desks can have a stack of drawers on one or both sides, or no drawers at all. LEFT HAND/RIGHT HAND: When seated at the desk, BOW FRONT DESK= The front of a desk bows outward, facing out towards guests, if the users Left elbow falls on giving the user’s guests room for their knees and a the return (or bridge) it is a LEFT hand desk. When the writing surface when needed. users Right elbow falls on the return (or bridge), it is a RIGHT hand desk.

Bow Front Desk Example

CORNER DESK= A desk designed to fit in a corner and L Shape Desk Example accommodate computer screen(s). It can be freestanding, or part of an L or U shaped desk U SHAPE DESK= Primary desk in the front, a credenza configuration. behind, connected by a bridge. Can be designated LEFT or RIGHT handed. A U-Shape desk can include a number of different drawer configurations and usually has an option for an hutch over the credenza.

Corner Desk Example

U Shape Desk Example

DESK SHELL= In commercial modular furniture, the MODESTY PANEL= A panel, attached to the work desk shell is the sides (end panels), front (modesty surface, that shields the knee compartment of the desk panel), and top (work surface) of the desk. It does not from view. Modesty panels often provide structural include any drawers. support as well. They can be made of laminate, wood or metal. BULLET/PENNISULA DESK= A desk made of a bullet- shaped work surface with an end panel leg and column FULL MODESTY PANEL=A modesty panel that goes all post leg for support. A bullet desk does not have any the way to the floor. drawers, though a pencil drawer can usually be added. Most bullet desks also have the option of a modesty 3/4 OR PARTIAL MODESTY PANEL= It is usually panel. used with 3/4 pedestals providing just enough coverage to cover the unfinished back of the pedestals.

MODULAR DESK SYSTEM= any desk based system comprised of empty shells to which various storage drawers can be added.

CORE REMOVABLE LOCKS= Lock system that allows the user to switch out the barrel (core) of the locks to change key combinations after an employee has left the organization, or when a key is lost. Bullet Desk Example KEYED ALIKE= Refers to making all of the drawer locks have the same key with in a given office. In modular furniture, you will usually have multiple key numbers on one desk, the left ped may require a different key than the other ped unless the cores are changed and “keyed alike”.

LEVELING GLIDE=Foot at the bottom of the desk or file that will raise or lower the cabinet when adjusted. It is critical to level a cabinet so that all the doors and drawers function properly.

COMBINATION CABINET=This is a type of lateral file/pedestal that goes underneath the credenza or return that has a lateral file on bottom, two box drawers, and a Open Hutch Example file drawer. BINDER BIN: An overhead storage cabinet, typically with a door. They can be attached either to a panel or directly to a wall (with wall track).

WALL TRACK: Also called “wall channels”. The metal brackets required to mount systems furniture binder bins and/or shelves to dry wall. They typically also hold tackboards underneath the bins or shelves.

PANEL SYSTEM: A work station or cubicle furniture system made of panels and interior furniture component’s that are re-configurable.

Combination File Example

HUTCH= An overhead storage cabinet that sits on top of a work surface (usually the credenza or return). A hutch can have either open shelves or doors. Typically, a hutch must be sized to match the supporting cabinet beneath it.

Hutch Example

FLIPPER DOOR CABINET= An overhead storage cabinet with a door that “flips” up and over to open. A flipper door cabinet can be installed one of three ways: work surface-supported hutch, wall mounted, or panel- mounted.