Guide to Choosing Waiting Room Seating

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Guide to Choosing Waiting Room Seating
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• Waiting is something we frequently have to do
  when we visit all kinds of establishments.
  Whether were waiting to be served or waiting for
  a train, there are many situations where we have
  to stand and wait in a queue.
• However, if were waiting for an appointment then
  its usual there will be a waiting area with
  seating provided to make the experience more
  comfortable.
• If youre responsible for sourcing waiting room
  seats it may seem a simple task to buy some
  chairs but if you want to ensure the seating you
  choose is fit for purpose and will give many
  years of service then it makes sense to approach
  the purchasing process fully informed.
• If you can gain a clear understanding of what
  different types of seats are available, and what
  will suit the needs of both your establishment
  and those who will be waiting in it, you will be
  better equipped to make the right choices.

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Measure Out The Space

• An obvious starting point is to take a look at
  the space you have available for waiting measure
  it and draw up a floor plan.
• Its better if you can produce a scaled plan as
  this will really help you visualise how the
  seating will fit once you start to look at
  different options.
• This doesnt have to be complicated and there are
  apps available to help with this if needed.
• As you start to look at potential seating
  solutions, take note of the dimensions so you can
  work out how many will fit in the available space.

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Consider The Needs Of Waiting Room Users

• Dependent on the type of establishment youre
  responsible for, the people using your waiting
  room may have different needs. Whilst it may not
  be practical to provide several different types
  of seating, you do need to ensure what you offer
  is suitable, for example

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Elderly and infirm patients in a healthcare
establishment  standard height cushioned seating
with arms, upholstered with vinyl would be a
suitable solution. Arms provide support when
sitting and standing whilst seating at a standard
height requires less effort and support to get in
and out of (these patients may struggle to sit
and stand from a low chair without support from
another person). Cushioned seating is obviously
more comfortable and is much more suitable for
those who may be frail. Vinyl can be treated with
anti-microbial agent and is easy to keep
clean. Children  if you have lots of younger
visitors you may want to incorporate some lower
height seating or a small play area to keep
children occupied whilst waiting.
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• These are just two examples of specific visitor
  demographics but if you think about all the
  different types of visitors who will be using
  your waiting room it will help you ascertain if
  there are any other special needs you ought to
  cater for.
• If youre replacing seats in an existing waiting
  room, then its a good idea to observe the level
  of traffic it gets and how people use the space.
  Check if there are enough seats or if you need
  more. Look at how its currently configured and
  think about if the layout could be improved.
• If youre sourcing seats for a new waiting room
  then estimate out how many visitors its likely
  to have so you can try and fit in enough seats to
  cater for them all.

Make Provision For Disability Access

• Its key to ensure that your seating is
  configured to allow wheelchair users or those
  with prams (where relevant) to easily access and
  manoeuvre around your waiting room. Its also
  preferable if wheelchairs are able to be
  positioned next to standard chairs, allowing
  users to sit with everyone else in the waiting
  room without feeling separated. This is something
  you need to keep in mind throughout the planning
  process.

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Decide What Format Of Seating Is Most Suitable
For Your Space
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Floor Fixed Seating

• If you have a dedicated waiting room that isnt
  ever used for any other purpose, then you may
  want to look at seating that is fixed to the
  floor.
• This will ensure it cant be moved around and
  will always look neat and tidy.Many designs of
  floor fixed seating can be supplied with flip-up
  seats which keeps walkways clear when seating is
  not in use and so works well in corridors and
  smaller spaces.
• Floor fixed seats are also ideal in places where
  security may be an issue or where there is a
  higher risk of vandalism or affray.

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Free Standing Seating

• From individual chairs and sofas to bench
  seating, beam seating, and modular seating, there
  is a vast range of free-standing waiting room
  seats on the market in a multitude of styles and
  designs.
• This type of seating gives you the most
  flexibility so if you have a multi-purpose space
  or like to change things around occasionally then
  opt for something free standing which can be
  moved.

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• If you regularly need to change the configuration
  of your waiting room or reduce and increase the
  numbers of seats you make available, portable and
  stackable seating is a good option.
• These usually take the form of individual chairs
  with a wooden or metal frame which are
  lightweight and relatively easy for most people
  to lift. This type of seating can often be
  supplied with a storage trolley which it can be
  loaded onto and wheeled away.
• Using free standing seats allows you to clear the
  floor area in your waiting room for uninterrupted
  vacuuming or mopping although this is only really
  convenient if you have smaller, lightweight
  chairs.

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Wall Mounted Seating

• Wall mounted fold down seats offer the ultimate
  in space saving seating. They keep the floor
  totally clear which prevents the space looking
  cluttered and there is no issue with cleaning
  underneath them.
• If youre considering this type of seating as an
  option, its essential to ensure the walls you
  intend to fix them to are of suitable structure
  to take the weight. They should also be fitted by
  an experienced joiner who can select the correct
  fixings for the type of wall.

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Consider Which Seating Materials Are Most
Suitable

• Once youve decided what type of seating is going
  to work best, think about which of the 4 key
  materials will be most suitable wood, metal,
  plastic, or upholstered seats.

Upholstered Seating

• If you want to ensure your patrons are
  comfortable whilst waiting, then upholstered
  seating is always the way to go. Whilst wooden,
  metal and plastic seats may be more hard-wearing,
  they will never provide the same level of comfort
  as a cushioned, upholstered seat.
• Upholstered seating doesnt have to mean an
  armchair or sofa, there are many types of waiting
  room chairs including beam seating, flip up
  seating, wall mounted chairs, and bench seating
  which can be upholstered

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• With a wide range of upholstery materials on the
  market, a hard-wearing contract fabric or an
  easy-clean vinyl are both good choices
  for waiting room chairs. For more upmarket
  establishments where quality is important then
  leather is a more exclusive and of course,
  expensive option.
• Healthcare establishments should look for
  anti-microbial vinyl which is easy to clean and
  aids infection control.
• Any cover material used on public area seating
  should be tested to Crib 5 standard which is a
  flammability test specified in British Standard
  5852.

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Wooden Seating

• If you think that upholstered seating is not
  going to work in your establishment then wooden
  seats are a smart alternative that can look
  stylish. They can coordinate with any colour
  décor and there are a range of seating formats
  and styles available.
• Wood can be stained in a variety of shades or
  painted but bear in mind that varnish can
  eventually discolour and a paint finish could be
  prone to chipping if subjected to rigorous wear
  and tear over a long period of time.
• If you do opt for wooden seats, then hardwood is
  obviously more robust and therefore more suitable
  for a waiting room environment.

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Plastic Seating

• If you want something more colourful, hardwearing
  and easy to keep clean, then plastic is the
  obvious alternative. Plastic seats are available
  in a multitude of colours so you can coordinate
  with your corporate colours or décor, brighten up
  a dull space, or keep things neutral.
• Its advisable to check that any plastic seating
  you purchase is fire resistant (FR). Dont assume
  that it will be, particularly if youre looking
  at something at the lower end of the pricing
  scale.

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Metal Seating

• Metal seats are probably the least comfortable
  option and tend to be found in very high traffic
  locations such as airports, ferry ports and train
  stations. You wont usually find a hospital
  waiting room chair or public area seating in a
  corporate environment made solely from metal and
  its really not recommended unless your seating
  will be subjected to severe wear and tear or is
  potentially a target for vandalism.

Prepare your specification

• Once youve decided on the type of seating you
  want and the most appropriate materials for it to
  be made from, you need to think about what
  attributes are important. This will help you to
  prepare a specification to help narrow your
  search criteria and make it easier to find
  relevant seating that meets your requirements.

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Arms

• Many individual chairs come with the option of
  arms which help delineate personal space. You
  need to ensure the width is sufficient for all
  potential users or offer some seats without arms
  for those who may require more space.
• If youre thinking about beam seating then you
  have the option of having arms between each
  individual seat or just at either end of the
  beam.

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Flip-up Seats

• Flip-up seats are ideal in corridors and smaller
  waiting rooms as they make the space feel wider
  when the seats are not in use and dont cause an
  obstruction. For safety reasons you will find
  that most chairs with flip-up seats will require
  floor fixing.
• The only alternative to this is wall mounted fold
  down seats which obviously dont obstruct the
  floor area. Bear in mind that fixed seats are
  more suitable in establishments where there is a
  high prevalence of elderly or disabled visitors
  as they offer more stability than flip-up seats
  when sitting and standing.
• Pictured right, these NHS waiting room chairs
  with flip-up seats are upholstered in 3 different
  shades of Just Colour anti-microbial vinyl. This
  is a good example of how a corridor waiting area
  can be brightened up.

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Comfort

• If you want to enhance visitor comfort then you
  will need to choose upholstered seating which is
  cushioned. Whether you opt for an upright chair
  with a lightly padded seat and back, plush chairs
  and sofas, or something in between, is another
  choice you have to make.

Stackable / Linking / Removable / Transportable

• These attributes have been grouped together as
  they usually go hand in hand. Even if you dont
  require all 4 of these elements you will find
  that many stacking chairs can also be linked
  (many will be supplied with integral linking
  brackets) and by nature are removable and
  therefore transportable. The transportable
  element is made easier on chairs which can be
  supplied with an optional storage trolley.

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Upholstery

• When it comes to choosing an upholstery fabric,
  dont just rely on online swatches. To ensure
  youre happy with the chosen colours its always
  advisable to request samples from the supplier
  most should send these to you free of charge.
• For high traffic areas, choose a hard-wearing
  contract fabric such as Camira Mainline Plus or
  an anti-microbial vinyl like Chieftain Just
  Colour. Check that any fabric you are considering
  is tested to Crib 5 standard and find out what
  guarantee is offered as this is often separate
  from the manufacturers warranty on the chair
  frame.

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Research Seating Solutions and Suppliers

• Once youve considered all of the above you
  should have a much clearer idea of what type of
  seating you want to order. You can then start
  researching potential suppliers and look at what
  they have to offer.Its advisable to draw up a
  short list of potential seating options and
  prices, making a note of the measurements so you
  can see how they would fit into your floor plan.
  If youre sourcing from an online retailer then
  pricing should be readily available but if youre
  going direct to a manufacturer or dealer you will
  need to request a quote for the quantity and type
  of seats youre interested in.

Lead Time

• As well as the style and price of seating you
  should also consider the delivery lead time and
  how this fits into your timescales. Generally,
  seats that are made to order will have a longer
  lead time than those that are in stock or
  off-the-shelf. However, you tend to have more
  options for customisation with made to order
  products as you can often put together your own
  specification with a much wider choice of
  upholstery fabrics and colours.

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Service Warranty

• Check what warranty is offered and what this
  actually covers. You want to know that if there
  was a problem with any of the seats in the future
  you can go to the supplier for help to resolve
  it, and where applicable, spare parts would be
  available. Never under-estimate the value of good
  customer service.

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• If your waiting room is not near the entrance to
  your premises then check if the seats can be
  taken to the appropriate place when they are
  delivered. Some companies will only deliver to
  your entrance or goods in department whilst
  others will happily take your seats to the
  correct location and even unpack them and take
  away the packaging. Also be sure to check if
  delivery is included in the cost or if there is
  an extra charge. If you want to compare like for
  like costs then divide the delivery cost by the
  number of chairs youre ordering to give you a
  true cost per chair comparison.
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Delivery
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Finalise Your Floor Plan When youve got a short
list of chairs that are suitable its recommended
you lay out the configuration of your waiting
room on your floor plan. Take the dimensions of
your preferred seats and see how they will fit
into the space, ensuring there is sufficient
access and adequate personal space for all
users. Place your order Once youre happy you
can fit in the required number of chairs and have
chosen which ones you want to order then its
finally time to go ahead and do so. Be sure to
provide the supplier with written confirmation of
what you want to order, fully detailing the
specification you require along with the fabric
colour and agreed price. This avoids any
confusion and protects you should what is
delivered not match what youve ordered. Evertaut
manufactures and supplies waiting room and public
area seating.  Our range includes stacking
chairs, wall mounted chairs, NHS and hospital
waiting room chairs, health centre seating, floor
fixed seats, flip up seats, bench seating, beam
seating and a wide range of individual loose
chairs.
To make an enquiry, please complete and submit
the short form below.
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Thank You
Visit Us www.evertaut.co.uk