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Furniture

The fitout brief called for furniture that can be disassembled and/or reused as much as possible in any future relocation or refurbishment. In response, in preference to fixed joinery, modular systems and mobile units were specified. These facilitate future removal and reuse, and minimise the need for destruction. And, where reuse isn’t an option, easy disassembly facilitates more efficient and effective recycling.

Choices affect the air we breathe
Workstations
Chairs
Cupboard, shelf and drawer units
Recycling receptacles and worm farm

Choices affect the air we breathe

Many of the materials used in the fitout were selected for their low emissions of potentially harmful gases, such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). VOCs are emitted as gases from a range of liquids and solids, including paints and lacquers, glues and adhesives, building materials and furnishings, and office equipment such as copiers and printers.

VOCS include a variety of chemicals, some of which may result in short and/or long-term adverse health effects. Symptoms experienced by some people soon after exposure to some organics include eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders and memory impairment, which can impact significantly on the wellbeing and productivity of staff.

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Workstations

Which workstation?

The Schiavello QED workstation was chosen for a number of reasons. This workstation:

• has a relatively low cost (compared with other sustainable options)
• generally uses material economically, has fewer and relatively small components, and uses less partition material than standard workstations (so has less embodied energy)
• provides reticulated power and communications – the umbilical cord system in particular, where services are focused in the cord as well as giving flexibility for the workstation to be moved without re-wiring and terminating points; this results in less cabling and associated power points and data points, achieving further savings in materials
• provides the option to use low-emission materials in its construction
• is manufactured in Australia (most sustainable options are manufactured overseas)
• facilitates disassembly at the end of its life, so is easier to recycle
• is delivered in flat packs to reduce transport costs and storage needs prior to use
• the supplier, Schiavello, has demonstrated sustainability credentials.

Reuse of previous workstations: to avoid wastage, where possible, desks and associated materials used in the former office have been offered for reuse by other government staff.

Which MDF material?

Alpine E-Zero medium-density fibreboard (MDF) has been used for desktops. It has also been used for screens between workstations, except for the top part of each screen, which is made of glass to maximise natural light infiltration.

Alpine E-Zero has many sustainability attributes, including:

• The wood used comes from plantation timber, which is obtained from certified forests.
• A modified glue and formaldehyde ‘scavengers’ are used to reduce emissions of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) to levels that meet relevant Japanese standards, which are significantly more stringent than Australian standards.
• It is manufactured in Australia.
• It has low embodied energy.
• In general, in terms of both production and disposal, the product has less negative impacts on terrestrial systems.

Cost and limitations

The cost is approximately 15% higher than for standard materials and its availability may be somewhat limited and erratic.

Powder coating

For its use in desktops and shelving units associated with the workstations, the MDF has been powder coated. This treatment offers a good alternative to lamination: it produces less waste and the board can be recycled more efficiently; on the other hand, a coated surface is less durable and cannot be repaired as easily. The purchaser can choose to maximise recyclability or reusability.

Fabric coating

A coloured fabric infill has been used on the screens above each desktop. The infill is Instyle Source fabric, an organic woollen fabric with many sustainable features.

Height of screens

The chosen screen height of 1500 mm is a compromise between minimising the use of materials and obstruction of air flow, on the one hand, and maximising staff amenity on the other. Staff had expressed concerns about acoustic issues relating to the use of lower screens (1200 mm).

Placement to save energy

The workstations have been placed at a distance from windows to reduce the impact of localised temperature fluctuations caused by radiant heat transfer between the office and the outside environment. This feature and the associated distance were specified using the Green Star Rating tool. (MS: pls add link)

Efficient use of space

At the office level... In the open space, pod-style workstations have been used to maximise spatial efficiency, in order to fit the required number of workstations in the area available, while meeting government minimum-area requirements.	... and at each workstation To optimise desk space, computers are held below the desks in suspended housings, while LCD screens are suspended above on moveable arms.

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Chairs

The chairs – new and not so

Boardroom chairs

In relation to the purchase of new chairs, cost factors led to the choice of the following:

• Office chairs (6): ‘Performer’ gas-lift chairs, from Interlink
• Visitor chairs (25): ‘Flow’ stackable plywood armless chairs, from Style furniture
• Boardroom chairs (16): 'Let's B' chair from Steelcase has the following sustainability features:
  • Manufacturer minimised materials used, waste and eliminated emissions by using volatile organic compound (VOC)-free paints.
  • Cushions, casters, base and arms can be removed and replaced to extend the useful life of the chair.
  • Incorporates recycled content in the fabric, cushions and arms.
  • Its design and use of materials ensure that parts can be separated and recycled at the end of its lifecycle.

A total of 22 used chairs (gas-lift office chairs and meeting-room chairs) have been relocated from the former office, and reupholstered in the fabric described below. The decision to reuse many chairs has significantly reduced wastage of material and energy.

Choice of fabric

All chairs (new and used) have been upholstered with Instyle Atlas fabric. This is one of Instyle’s LIFE range of woollen fabrics, which are made from wool that is organically grown and manufactured in Australia, and is certified as eco wool. It has low residues of pesticides, which could potentially be absorbed through the skin or off-gassed and inhaled.

Sustainability features outlined by the manufacturer include:

• Manufacturers in the supply chain are surveyed prior to producing these textiles.
• Water and energy efficiencies are achieved through processing and manufacturing.
• The fabric is rapidly renewable.
• No flame retardant or anti-static treatment is used.
• Low-impact dyes are used and production additives (eg lubricants and detergents) are biodegradable.
• Compared with standard fabrics, this fabric is responsible for less off-gassing and has a lower chemical toxicity throughout its life cycle.
• It is biodegradable and has potential for reuse.
• It is eco packaged.

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Cupboard, shelf and drawer units

Choice of medium-density fibreboard (MDF)

All new cupboard, shelf and drawer units have been manufactured from Alpine E-Zero MDF.

Coating of MDF

While some storage units associated with workstations have been powder-coated, others, including the tall storage units in the central storage area, have been laminated with Laminex. This laminate is durable and relatively easy to repair. The supplier, Laminex, also has demonstrated sustainability credentials. Only two colours of laminate were used to reduce cost and potential wastage of material.

Smart sizing and moveability reduce waste

The physical dimensions of most units have been designed to be multiples of 300 mm. This avoids construction-related waste, given that the MDF is only available in sizes that are multiples of 300 mm. All units are also moveable, to facilitate their reuse in any future relocation and avoid the demolition and waste that would otherwise occur.

Central storage facility

Having a central facility to store a range of work materials – including files, reference material and stationery – helps to maximise spatial efficiency, particularly on and around desks where space is at a premium. Its central location (in the utility area along with the photocopier) is a high traffic zone, and represents an efficient choice: staff move to or through the area often and visiting the site won’t disrupt other staff. It’s a choice that’s likely to enhance productivity.

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Recycling receptacles and worm farm

A comprehensive set of recycling systems have been established to handle most materials, so that very little waste goes to landfill.

In the fitout, space was made available in the central utility/storage area for the office’s rainbow of collection bins including:

• a blue and red 240-litre wheelie bin, for paper and cardboard
• a red 240-litre wheelie bin for a range of comingled items such as cans, glass and plastic bottles etc
• an orange 240-litre wheelie bin for confidential paper (to be shredded and recycled)
• a yellow 240-litre wheelie bin for soft plastics (eg cling wrap, food and stationery packaging etc)
• a smaller bin for deposit containers.

NB: The colour of collection receptacles may vary from office to office.

In the kitchen, Zero Waste SA has a worm farm for composting of food waste, and the reception area houses boxes for used fluorescent tubes, which are sent for processing to recycle the glass, metal and mercury they contain.

Unlike most offices, each workstation does not have its own waste bin; instead, several small bins are used by all staff for the small volume of residual material that cannot be recycled.

As part of promoting recycling, Zero Waste SA have some aspects of their recycling system on display for visitors to the office such as its worm farm.

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