Glossary
Bins
Reusable plastic boxes specifically used for moving. Perfect for packing up desk and personal contents, file drawers, common areas, stationery rooms, etc. Sometimes referred to as a “tote” or “crate” these can be used time and time again, which makes them environmentally friendly, and because they’re made from HDPE plastic, they are fully recyclable. CSS has thousands of blue bins available for rent!
CREDENZA
Freestanding cupboard generally containing shelves, drawers, or filling areas. Generally narrower in depth than a front desktop. Also commonly referred to as back desktop. These are commonly found in an office, conference room or boardrooms, hallways or waiting areas. Usually used as a secondary workspace for storing and organizing papers but can also be used to display brochures/magazines or storing AV equipment and meeting room supplies.
DESK
A desk is likely the most common piece of furniture used in the office or at home for activities such as reading, writing, or using equipment such as a computer. Desks are usually made of wood or metal, although materials such as glass are sometimes seen. When choosing a desk consider your budget, space measurement and style to ensure you find the one that fits you best.
DIVIDERS
Dividers are most often freestanding panels that divide space within an open area or double occupancy office. This space definition allows people to focus with fewer distractions. Some divider panels have built-in magnetic dry erase boards, fabric tack boards and clear poly windows to provide light.
DOLLIES
Flat wood platforms covered in rubber with non-marking swivel wheels designed to carry furniture. These are essential for any office move as they allow you to move large and heavy items with minimal effort and strain while maintaining a high degree of safety. With a tight turning radius, a dolly allows you to easily navigate in tight spaces like offices, elevators and hallways.
FILE BOX
A box made from cardboard with integrated handles on both ends to facilitate removal from a shelf. Most file boxes are roughly 12”x15”x10” and can fit letter documents widthwise or legal documents lengthwise. They usually have an integral lid hinged at the upper back that flips up for quick file access, but some come with a separate lid. These boxes are suitable for long-term storage of archival materials and can be stacked up to 5-high or placed on shelving.
FILE CART / ELECTRONICS CART
These are essentially a large wooden constructed bookcase on non-marking swivel wheels with 4 deep shelves that are used for moving loose files or computer equipment. Each shelf can hold the equivalent of a standard file cabinet drawer or up to 3 computer hard drives with monitors and accessories which makes them indispensable during an office move. For added protection the entire cart is shrink wrapped to ensure the contents don’t fall out during transport and for extra security during file moves, opaque black shrink wrap is used to ensure the files can’t be seen.
FLOOR MONUMENT / CORING
A floor monument is a special electrical outlet located on or under the floor’s surface, that is connected to conduit carrying power. They are either powered through flat wire under the floor to a nearby wall or through a coring (drilled hole) in the floor which is powered by an electrical connection in the ceiling of the floor below. Sometimes called a floor outlet, plug or socket these are very useful in spaces where a power source is needed somewhere other than along a wall.
GAS LIFT
The mechanism that adjusts the height of the chairs. Sometimes referred to as a pneumatic lift or gas cylinder. A standard lift has two parts, the top is generally a gas spring which holds pressurized nitrogen gas and oil for lubrication and contains a piston that moves in and out of the gas lift which raises and lowers the chair. This top part is what attaches to the underside of the seat. The bottom part is the column which goes into the base of the chair.
HEIGHT
When talking about furniture, height can be a big source of confusion. When referencing desks, counters, or work areas, the height given is the surface height. It gets worse when you try to match chairs! We’ll keep this simple and office furniture related starting with the most standard. The average desk height ranges from 28” to 30” but the most common height is 29”. From there we go to counter height which sits at 36”. Bar height is the tallest at 42”. Contact our expert design team to learn what sort of seating will fit your needs.
HUTCH
A stack-on hutch is a storage component that sits on top of a desk or credenza. It’s a great solution for workspaces that need to store materials above the worksurface but still within reach. A hutch is never intended to be used freestanding, instead it should be fastened down with double sided tape, furniture cam lock nut (or knock-down fastener) or dowels to avoid tipping.
LATERAL CABINET
Lateral file cabinets are an excellent and efficient way to keep your office tidy and organized. They are generally between 30” – 36” wide and about 20” deep. The width makes them capable of holding more files than most filing systems, so while a lateral file will take up more floor space than a vertical file, the lateral is much more efficient. Plus, the top of the lateral can be used for your printer, photos and décor. Unlike a vertical file, a lateral file allows you to store both legal and letter size documents either front to back or side to side.
LEFT AND RIGHT DOOR SWINGS
To determine the handling of your door, stand outside your office (or bedroom, garage, bathroom, etc.) and face the door. If the hinges are on the left, you have a left-handed door. If the hinges are on the right, you have a right-handed door. If the door swings into the room, it’s called inswing. If the door swings out away from the room, it’s called outswing. Generally, an inside door would swing into the room and open onto the wall closest to the hinge, this creates the largest space available when you open the door.
LEFT- AND RIGHT-HAND DESK, RE-HAND
When seated at the main desk at either an L or U-shaped desk, if the return is on the right you have a right-hand desk. Alternately, if the return is to your left, you have a left-hand desk. While some individuals prefer their return to be on the side of their dominant hand, the decision may be left up to the layout of your office. It’s often found that an office with a left inswing door will have a left-handed desk to utilize the space effectively – but it totally depends on the layout. If you have a reversible return, you can re-hand your desk from left to right.
L-SHAPE DESK
L-shaped desks consist of a front desk and a return that can be placed on either side of the front desk which creates the signature L shape. This shape allows all surfaces to be easily reachable making them an ideal choice for offices. Often, they include an attached pedestal.
OVERHEAD
An overhead is like a hutch but instead of stacking on top of a desk it’s mounted to the wall using a mounting board. It’s a clever way to keep workspace necessities close by but out of sight which makes it a simple way to double your desk’s storage without taking up valuable floor space.
OVERTIME AND REGULAR TIME
Regular time = Monday to Friday between 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Overtime = Monday to Friday before 8:00 am, after 4:30 pm; all day Saturday, Sunday and stat holidays. This is important to consider – while regular time is charged at a lesser rate than overtime, performing work during overtime hours means you don’t have to shut down operations during your regular working hours to move your office.
PAD
A pad is furniture padding that typically comes in the shape of a blanket and looks similar to a thick, padded quilt. Made of a blend of polyester mesh and cotton material they are designed to absorb shock and provide cushioning to whatever they cover. Pads are used to protect vulnerable or fragile pieces of furniture during moves. In addition to preventing damage to various items, pad wrapping also prevents items from getting dirty and prevents items from shifting while in transit. Also known as moving blankets or moving pads.
PANELS
Panels are the parts that make up cubicles. They are available in a huge assortment of sizes and materials and are designed to suit specific needs for offices. Panel systems are an ideal solution for offices looking to provide a privacy option in open office spaces. Fabric panels double as tack boards and some have clear poly window sections.
PC BAGS
Long and narrow clear plastic bag used to contain computer peripheral items such as keyboards, mice, dock stations, cables, etc. Nothing is worse than losing a cable during a move. Using pc bags during moves allows you to ensure everything makes it to your destination office!
PED OR PEDESTAL
A ped, or pedestal, is a small set of personal drawers narrow in depth and width containing drawers for small amounts of file and stationary storage. They are generally placed under the worksurface towards one corner. Some peds are freestanding while others are attached and provide support to the desk. When determining what configuration of ped you need there are three basic terms to keep in mind: Box, File, Pencil. Box refers to a box supply drawer which is intended for stationary storage. File refers to a deeper box intended for active file storage. Pencil is a super thin drawer intended to store pencils, pens and other writing materials. Peds can have levelers or wheels, locks, different handle styles and even cushions which allows it to function as a short-term seating option.
POST MOVE
A post move, or after-move services, is a service provided the next business day after an office relocation to make sure all staff are setup to their specific needs. This would be the ideal time to shuffle furniture around within offices to create the best flow of space and storage and is also when art and whiteboards/tack boards would be installed to ensure correct placement by the end user.
Moving crews also take this time to gather up all emptied rental moving equipment (like plastic bins) and get them ready to be removed. Unpacking assistance can also be provided at the same time if desired.
RECONFIGURE
Essentially, changing the layout of existing furniture to better suit user’s needs is the heart of a reconfigure. There are many reasons why opting to reconfigure your office space, rather than moving, may be the right decision. Business layouts aren’t permanent. They can, and in many cases should, be reconfigured to align with workflow needs, traffic patterns, resource sharing, and so on. Refreshing or re-inventing the layout, maximizing space utilization and refurbishing office furniture makes the spend a smart investment, rather than a sunk expense.
RESTACK
A restack is industry lingo for internal relocations within your current space. It is usually larger scale moves designed to re-shuffle staff by departments when in growth or downsize cycles. Whether the result of building renovations, departmental reorganization or just a refresh of the seating chart, these transitions take a lot of planning and sequential logistics to do efficiently. Restacking can help rejuvenate employees, motivate and create a more productive and positive workplace, and can be a tool in empowering teams and creating a more streamlined work process.
RETURN
A desk return refers to the side portion of an L or U-shape desk or workstation. The return attaches to the main desk and extends outward to one side. On a U-shape desk the return is commonly referred to as the bridge and connects the main desk to the back credenza. The return, or bridge, tends to be a bit narrower than the main desk but is ideal for creating more worksurface space. Often a pedestal or two drawer lateral file cabinet is placed under the return surface to increase personal storage.
SMART BOARD
First developed by SMART Technologies and introduced in 1991, Smart Board has become a generalized term for an interactive whiteboard which allows you to project an imagine and “interact” with it by writing on it or moving it around. The resistive film technology used in Smart Boards is the same that is used in PDA’s. It allows the board to process the movement of a finger or pen tool when it touches the surface of the film which sends an analog signal to the attached computer. These interactive whiteboards are usually mounted on a wall or floor stand are used in face-to-face or virtual settings in business.
SUITE
Refers to the furniture in a private office. When choosing furniture for a private office, considerations should be made toward whether the space is to be used for individuals, multi-use or shared – optimizing the furniture ensures it will meet your organizations functional and design needs. The trend toward smaller workspaces requires clever designing for footprint efficiency as well as meeting performance demands for connected, adaptable spaces.
TUB / PICTURE DOLLIE
A tub looks like a big wooden box with no top, and a cut out in the front panel. These are used to transport pieces of artwork, garbage/recycle cans, or smaller furniture components that need to be contained but don’t necessarily fit properly on a regular dollie or a file cart. The cut out in the front panel allows for the mover to be able to reach in to pull items out. For extra protection the bottom is covered in thick carpet, and carpet is also adhered to the top edges.
TWO-CUBE BOX
A cardboard carton that measures two cubic feet (usually 18” x 15” x 12.5”). Generally made from partially recycled corrugated kraft paperboard which gives the box excellent resistance to impacts and rough handling. Take care when packing as too heavy of a box will compromise its integrity and stability and could cause injury to whoever attempts to lift it.
U-SHAPE DESK
The U-shaped desk is an excellent option for those looking to increase their working surface in order to get the job done effectively. It creates a “wrap around” design that provides ample space for a computer on one side and working space on the other side. A U-shape consists of a front desk, return and credenza all built into one.
VERTICAL CABINET
A vertical is a file cabinet that is narrow with two to ten deep drawers. The files face the front of the drawer which makes them easily accessible. The number of files you can keep in the drawer depends on how deep the cabinet is. For an office that is not very spacious, vertical cabinets can be the best choice as they occupy less floor and wall space, however due to the deep drawers more clearance is required to open the drawer. Vertical cabinets are often used for files that don’t need to be accessed as often.
VISUAL BOARD
An enclosed display board for meeting rooms that can houses several items including whiteboards, tack-boards, small projector screens and paper flip charts. These are compact enough for small spaces yet are surprisingly generous in size. They are generally constructed of wood laminate with two full-length hinged doors with magnetic closures. The insides of the doors are generally lined with fabric or self-healing corkboard. The main interior is usually a whiteboard and sometimes will have a small pull-down projection screen. Also called an Egan board.
WALLS
Walls (also called partition walls or demountable partitions) divide space from 7’ to floor to ceiling to create private offices. As well as spatial division, they can provide privacy, acoustic and fire separation as well as flexible layouts. Walls can be solid panels or glass and can incorporate different materials such as steel skins, whiteboards, integrated technology and even LED lighting.
WORKSTATION / CUBICLE
An open plan workspace with panels used to divide space and distribute power and telephone/data. In most workstations the work surface and storage components are supported by the panels that form the backbone of each multi-station configuration. Multiple workstations share panels which reduces the total number of panels required for the floorplan layout. Power and data cabling are usually run through the panels across an open office layout without requiring power poles to the ceiling or running cables along the floor, which can be a safety hazard.