Do’s and Don’ts of Office Fitouts
Your new office fitout will provide your Company and staff with vastly improved interiors and beautifully designed office spaces. However, there are a few important matters you will need to remember before your Company embarks on this important new undertaking:
1) Safety issues.
This is one of the most important aspects to consider when installing office partitions. For example, your fire extinguishers should be placed strategically as should the exit signage and smoke detectors. Your office interiors should also have anti-slip surfaces on the floors as well as glass placement inside workspaces. Frosted glass can also impact visibility when it comes to signage, so this should be kept in mind.
2) Measurements and proper calculations.
Depending on the size and height of the employee, the office partitions also need to be coordinated. If you have disabled employees, then wheelchair access should be provided in the office partition space. Proper calculations and measurements are crucial because they help optimize space.
3) Sound and vision aspects.
The sound as well as vision aspects need to be considered from various angles in accordance with the work of the employee. Depending on this, you could choose to have either glass partitions or office partitions in solid materials.
The most common solid partitions are comprised of steel frames with a lining of plasterboard to each side of the steel studwork. The plasterboard is then plaster set and sanded to provide a smooth finish and is ready for painting.
4) Lighting is crucial.
Depending on whether your office design has scope for natural light or artificial lighting, this will have an effect on the kind of glass partitioning used. For example, some glass partitioning uses frosted graphic film to help control the light intensity filtering into an office. Certain office interiors also use blinds to achieve this effect. Obviously, graphic film and blinds will also provide the benefit of additional privacy within the office.
5) Power outlet placement.
It is also important to place the power outlets, audio, phone or computer outlets strategically to ensure user-friendliness. The proper positioning will facilitate easier access and optimize staff productivity.
6) Colour and aesthetics.
Appropriate colour schemes should be used when designing the office environment. Appropriately, most companies choose to stick to their brand colours within their office spaces. If you plan to use business advertising graphics or other elements, ensure it is tastefully placed and does not distract employees or hamper productivity. Skirtings and trims should also be placed strategically to the bottom and top of walls to provide a pleasing effect.
7) Door options
The type of doors used in your office fitout will also affect the way the finished design looks. Numerous options exist when it comes to doors and associated systems, but all door systems will fall within three distinct categories: hinged, pivoted or sliding.
There are also beautiful office glass doors, which come in framed as well as unframed versions. The framed versions have aluminum frames around the glass panel while the unframed ones utilize a sturdier type of glass, known as toughened glass.
Solid doors can have a nice solid paint colour to complement the painted wall finish. The paint used on the door can vary from flat enamel, semi or high gloss, although semi-gloss would be the most common finish.
Solid doors can also come in timber veneer. This finish may well match your joinery items and generally are finished in a clear lacquered finish.
8) Consult with the RIGHT people!
While your commercial interior design should be functional and utility-driven, it should also be aesthetically pleasing in terms of design and office layout. Therefore, always ensure that you consult with an experienced Project Manager, who will provide you with plenty of ideas.
For the small (but important) details, the kind of materials you wish to use, the positioning of strategic items in your office and a myriad of other matters, the selection of your Project Manager is of paramount importance. The overall success of your new commercial fitout may well rest on this one crucial decision.
