How to choose an office chair that won't tire you out! Differences in functions and materials, and when to replace them

It may seem a bit exaggerated to say that "office chairs affect work efficiency." However, the comfort of the office chair you sit in every day not only affects your comfort, but also has a significant impact on your employees' health and work efficiency.

First, let's take a look at the importance and effectiveness of office chairs.

According to a survey conducted by the Japan Office Furniture Association (JOIFA) in 2017, "comfortable chairs" was ranked highly among the office features people pay attention to. Interestingly, this item was rated at the same level as "installation of computers," showing how important office chairs are to office workers.

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Reference:Japan Office and Institutional Furniture Association  (JOIFA) Conducting a survey to find out "Trends in office environment needs from the perspective of office workers" and making recommendations and proposals based on the analysis results

https://www.joifa.or.jp/pdf/common_summarydata.pdf

By choosing the right office chair that is comfortable for you, you can expect the following benefits:

1. Reduce fatigue and maintain focus
   You won't get tired even if you sit for a long time, and it will be easier to maintain concentration.
2.  Support for correct posture
   It helps to keep the S-curve of the spine and naturally maintain good posture. This reduces strain on the lower back and back.
3. Preventing physical ailments
   Reduces body stiffness, pain and fatigue.

Due to these effects, choosing the right chair is believed to lead to increased work efficiency and productivity.

Here are three checkpoints to consider when choosing an office chair that is comfortable to sit in for long periods of time without getting tired.

To choose a chair that won't tire you out even after long hours of desk work, check whether it has a posture support function. For example, ITOKI chairs have the following typical posture support functions:

A chair with these features will ensure you are comfortable even when sitting for long periods of time.

Another key to reducing fatigue is the ability to flexibly adjust the seat and backrest to suit your body type. The main adjustment features of office chairs are as follows:

It is important to choose chairs that employees can adjust to fit their physiques. By utilizing these features, they can maintain a comfortable posture that reduces fatigue even during long hours of desk work.

When choosing materials for your office chair, it is important to consider both comfort and a design that blends in with the office space. The materials commonly used for the main parts of office chairs (backrests and seats) and their characteristics are as follows.

Learn about the characteristics of these materials and make your decision after carefully considering factors such as the usage environment, design, ease of maintenance, comfort, and functionality.

Many people may be wondering, "My current office chair is not broken, but it's getting a little old. Should I buy a new one soon?" Here, we will explain the standard usage period of an office chair and the signs of deterioration.

The standard usage period is the standard usable period for office furniture as determined by the Japan Office Furniture Association (JOIFA). For office chairs, it is determined as follows, assuming normal use for about 8 hours a day.

• Swivel chair/non-swivel chair: 8 years
• Fixed chairs (with wooden legs) and folding chairs: 5 years

However, this is only a guideline and the actual lifespan will vary depending on usage and environment.
Be aware that if the product is used for long periods of time, in harsh environments, or exposed to frequent natural disasters, it may deteriorate more quickly than the standard period of use.

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Reference:Japan Office and Institutional Furniture Association  (JOIFA) JOIFA standard usage period

https://www.joifa.or.jp/useful/period_of_use.html

To determine when it's time to replace your office chair, look out for the following signs of wear and tear:

If you notice any of these signs, consider replacing your bike for safety and comfort reasons.
Regular care is important to keep your office chair comfortable for a long time. Follow the maintenance instructions in the product's instruction manual to perform the care properly.

ITOKI, an office furniture manufacturer that has been developing office chairs for many years, offers a wide range of high-performance chairs to meet a variety of needs. Here, we will introduce five particularly recommended office chairs from among ITOKI's main products.

The Act Chair is a highly functional office chair developed with the concept of "adjust and active." It flexibly responds to the sitting posture and body movements, maximizing workers 's performance.

The seat has a slit structure inside that allows it to bend freely according to the weight of the person sitting on it, and the "ankle move synchronous rocking" allows the back and seat to tilt in tandem around the ankle, providing a comfortable sitting experience. The "lumbar support" reduces strain on the lower back and can be adjusted 60mm in 7 steps to suit the user's body (only for types with lumbar support).

In addition, the seat depth can be adjusted to suit different body types, and the bucket-type seat wraps around the lower back, allowing users to work comfortably for long periods of time.

The nort Chair is a chair that combines interior design with high performance.

Its greatest feature is its design that blends in with the office space. By minimizing the exposure of the resin parts and encasing the backrest in fabric, it gives off a sophisticated impression. The upholstery is a textured cloth that fits the body flexibly, and it comes in a wide range of colors to accommodate a variety of outfits.

In terms of functionality, it is equipped with "Ankle Move Synchro Rocking," which supports a natural posture by tilting the back and seat in tandem around the ankle. In addition, the seat depth adjustment mechanism and bending seat allow you to set the optimal position to suit your physique and working posture.

The torte U Chair is characterized by its compact design and functionality, combining all the functions required of an office chair.

The simple shape and easy operation make it easy for anyone to use and feel comfortable. The upholstery is made from sustainable materials that use 100% recycled fibers from discarded PET bottles. The back and seat cushions are replaceable, and the product is designed to last for a long time. The sophisticated design enhances the office space.

To ensure a comfortable sitting experience, the chair is equipped with a "hip tilt mechanism" that tilts the rear of the seat, and a "dual motion rocking mechanism" that slides the entire seat forward in tandem. These features reduce changes in posture when rocking, reducing strain on the eyes and lower back.

The f-Chair is a high-performance chair that elevates functional beauty into a design. The "Fit & Free" structure holds the lower back in a secure fit and allows the shoulders to move freely, reducing fatigue even during long hours of work.

You can choose from two materials: "mesh back," which provides firm support from the waist to the back while being highly breathable, or "cross back," which flexibly adapts to changes in posture.

It also comes with a full range of functions that flexibly support your body's movements, such as the "Ankle Move Synchro Rocking" function, which uses the ankle as a fulcrum to tilt the back and seat in tandem, and the "Bending Seat" function, which allows the inner shell of the seat to bend freely according to the weight of the person sitting on it. In addition, the adjustment levers for the seat height and rocking strength are all located on the bottom right of the seat, making it easy to operate.

vertebra03 is a light task chair that combines design and functionality.

The seat rotates, so you can freely change the position of your body while sitting, making it ideal for a variety of situations, such as offices, conference rooms, and meetings. It is also perfect for spaces where design is important.

The seat has a three-dimensional shape that reduces the feeling of hitting the bottom. It naturally guides you into an appropriate sitting posture and its seat structure accommodates four posture changes: leaning forward, standing upright, leaning back, and stretching, providing flexible support according to the work content and posture.

The wooden "vertebra03 WOOD," made by cutting and shaping solid Japanese chestnut wood, won the "Best of the Best" award in the product design category of Germany's "Red Dot Design Award 2024," one of the world's most prestigious design awards, which is given to particularly outstanding designs.

This time, we have introduced in detail how to choose an office chair, its functions and materials, and when to replace it.

In addition to the products introduced in this column, ITOKI offers a wide range of high-quality office chairs to meet a variety of needs. In addition to simply selecting office chairs, we also provide consulting on the layout of the entire office and work style reforms that maximize employee performance. Of course, we can propose not only a single chair, but also the spatial design.

If you are having trouble choosing an office chair or are thinking about improving your office environment, please contact ITOKI. Our specialists will propose the best solution to meet your company's needs.