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| Brief
history of office planning | Future
trends in office accommodation | Workplace
points of view | Space types | Specific workstation features Case Studies: 1 Campus MLC | 2 NSW Police HQ |
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Specific Workstation Features An excerpt from the Department of Defence Accommodation Guidelines for Open Plan. Compliance with Standards It is essential that all planning within the modern open plan office is in accordance with the Building Code of Australia, and that all electrical, mechanical, fire safety office furniture and equipment and provision of amenities be in accordance with all relevant Australian Standards and regulatory requirements. Design for the Disabled All design work shall consider the needs of disabled people and shall comply with relevant Australian Standards and State Codes of Practice. Workstation Surfaces Overseas research and current practice has demonstrated the minimum width necessary to accommodate modern, on-desk VDU equipment anywhere on the worksurface is 800mm. AS 3590.2 has previously determined a range of desktop widths from 600-900mm. The proposed workstation provides a corner depth of at least 900mm to accommodate large computer equipment. An 800mm benchtop width to both left and right returns provides a continuum of useable space to accommodate computer equipment, providing users with a versatility until now unachievable. In some circumstances wider benchtops may be necessary to cater for larger, specific purpose computer monitors. Though the length of surfaces should not be less than 1800mm (as specified in AS 3590.2), building or other constraints may result in unavoidable variations eg. in the width of entrance ways, location of columns. Worksurfaces are to be a minimum 25mm thickness with edges and corners rounded and free of projections and pinchpoints capable of causing personal injury or damage to clothing. The support mechanism of the work surface should be designed to provide a rigid structure able to withstand an 80 kilogram weight, such as a person sitting on the bench top, without deflecting the surface. Installed workstation systems must be Australian Furniture Research Development Institute (AFRDI) certified. Surfaces should be in a laminate or veneer, non-reflective matt finish of a neutral colour to maximise light reflection without glare. The reflectance of the work surface shall not be less than 0.2 and not greater than 0.6. The ability to easily clean the surface and to write on a single sheet of paper without backing should be facilitated by the work surface. Work Surface Heights and Adjustability Current practice suggests the worktops should be installed initially at a nominal 700mm height. When required the occupant's height at their workpoint may be varied with the use of a modern, fully ergonomic chair. It is expected that once the occupant has selected their work surface height, this will remain unaltered until the occupant is replaced. Adjustability can be achieved either by:
Adjustable Keypads Overseas and recent Australian experiences suggest the benefits of incorporating an adjustable keypad have been superseded because computer keyboards with a mouse attachment do not fit easily on the shelf and the mechanism itself can be a safety concern with potential to cause lacerations to knees and fingers. Adjustability can be achieved by other means - either through an incrementally variable height work surface top or through modern, fully ergonomic task chairs. Workstation Entrance Widths The minimum entrance width into a workstation cluster is 850mm. This will allow unimpeded entrance using a wheelchair. Entrance widths are generally determined by other structural and layout influences including those referred to earlier. Workstation Panel Heights To facilitate interaction of staff, promote the benefits of the open plan office concept and provide maximum natural light and visual relief to staff, basic screen heights are to be carefully considered. Screen heights along corridors and parallel to windows should both provide adequate privacy and allow as much natural light as possible to reach offices etc. Such screen heights should be determined through the consultation process. Screens of 1300-1400mm height should be used perpendicular to windows or between different functional work groups. Generally, screens are not to be provided against external window walls. Where no panels are provided, a modesty panel shall be used where the workstation faces into the public spaces. All cappings and edges are preferably to be finished in a light coloured durable finish with rounded corners free of projections and sharp points or other items which could cause personal injury or damage to clothing. Whiteboard Within each team cluster of basic workstations, one panel between two desks may be used for the addition of a limited, shared whiteboard capability. Where a larger capability is required, free standing, mobile whiteboards may be introduced into the cluster. Shelving A 900mm long x 250mm deep shelf unit with adjustable bookends shall be provided as a standard to each "basic" or "stand alone" workstation for the storage of folders, manuals, telephone books, etc. The units are to be relocatable to suit user needs. Overhead Hampers The use of overhead hampers should be discouraged. The swinging door and supporting mechanisms can present safety concerns. Their size can also result in shadowing of the worksurface and a consequent need for task lighting underneath. Alternative storage systems should be used if available. However if overhead hampers are to be used they must conform to the relevant standards. Task Lighting With no workstation screens located around the perimeter windows and low screens parallel to windows, natural light is maximised per person. When coupled with minimum width screen-attached shelving and few if any overhead hampers, the need for task lighting to each workspace (which introduces an ongoing operating cost penalty) is eliminated. For technical/drafting areas, task specific lighting shall be provided in accordance with AS 1680. Mobile Pedestals Personal storage is provided by mobile pedestals which vary in configuration but can include one or more separate pencil and miscellaneous drawers and a bottom lockable file deep drawer for handbags, etc. For those users who prefer to lower the bench top below 680mm, the pedestal can sit outside the desk leg rather than limit the range of height adjustment. A benefit of mobile pedestals is achieved when staff are relocated with the pedestals interchangeable within the facility. Storage (within and adjacent to the workstation) Storage is provided in four zones:
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