Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has specified waiting chairs in a facility that is located in a poor urban area and if so, what is recommended?

Also, does anyone know if in California there is a requirement to provide a certain % of bariatric seating in a waiting area?

Thank you,
Carol

RTKL specified furniture for Cook County Hospital in Chicago and that is certainly a project that had a tight budget and a population which is quite hard on the furniture.

We used Spec furniture in all the waiting areas.  It has held up very well and the company has been excellent in terms of service and replacement parts over the past five years as necessary.  I have been very pleased with this product selection!

Aimee D. Platt AAHID, IIDA

Here is my 2 cents:

Often waiting area seating in poor urban settings must be extremely durable / almost abuse-proof.

If it’s a clinic and the wait times are not terribly long, I suggest a hard molded plastic chairs with metal legs.
They can still be comfortable and definitely cheerful / colorful.

If however it’s a hospital ER, where the wait times are often quite long, I’d opt for comfortable upholstered seating.
I’d select a line that is very strong and has an excellent warranty.
(i.e. nemschoff)
The upholstery should be a very durable crypton or vinyl The seat cushions on the upholstered seating should be spec’d as removable with spare cushions ordered.

Regarding Bariatrics - I have not heard of codes mandating seating minimums (yet), but that does not mean that it has not been done.

Folks from CA should be polled about this.

Thanks much,
Sheila

When specifying furniture for any area, no matter what the economic condition of the region, the product needs to be able to withstand the particular functional, aesthetic and maintenance issues first and foremost. There are many products that fit this need, so I cannot provide a specific recommendation without knowing more about the issues described above.
No matter the economic condition of the population served, they deserve to be treated in a dignified manner.  The most sensitive issue would be to specify products that do not give the appearance that money was spent inappropriately.

- JS