Office Furniture Blog

There are two main types of screen available in the office furniture market, floor standing and desk mounted screens. The desk mounted screens is, rather obviously, fixed to the desk top by means or a metal clamping bracket. These are available in many different shapes and sizes to suit most desk styles and desk top thicknesses. The actual screen is usually around 43 cm high but can be taller or shorter to suit individual needs.

The purpose of a desk top screen is to give a little privacy in an open plan office, and to deflect and absorb a little of the sound in the office. It also defines each users space in an open plan office and can improve the overall appearance of the workplace with the use of cleverly co-ordinated  fabric colours and trim finishes.    The structure of a desk top screen panel varies from the more basic low density fibreboard covered with fabric, to Medium Density fibreboard, or hollow core construction finished with a layer of foam before finally being upholstered.   There are some products on the market now which have been specifically designed to absorb the maximum amount of noise, whether ambient or direct. These acoustic screens consist of a centre section constructed from a hard plastic, to which is bonded two thick sheets of special sound absorbing foam.  The screen is then machined to accept the fixing brackets and then upholstered in a wide choice of fabrics. Many desk top screen manufacturers offer the option of having the screen made with a soft outer layer, prior to upholstering, so that the use can pin paper items and photos etc to their side of the screen.   This can be very useful in some situations but the office manager does have to keep a tight rein to prevent the office area looking like a children’s day care room.
Floor standing screens are used mainly to divide office areas, define corridors, provide temporary meeting areas and interview rooms. They vary is design and style from basic free standing fabric covered screens to full partition systems, with glass panels and wooden doors. A truly removable partition office. As well as fabric finishes, many screens are available with real and man made wood finishes, laminates, and glass or acrylic.  There is even a range of white tight weave finishes which can be overprinted with any design or photograph the customer prefers.The range of both desk top and floor standing screens is wide and extremely diverse and you really need to speak to your furniture dealer to see some examples of what is available in the office furniture market.