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Portable Seating: A Guide to Choosing the Right Chair

A Guide to Choosing the Right Chair

by Stephanie Narron     Added January 01, 2007

As published in Worship Facilities, Jan/Feb 2007

Seating. Not exactly the most interesting topic in today's world of video games and fast cars. However, for a church, whether in transition or not, seating is a critical issue. And whether your sanctuary features permanently installed seating or not, portable seating is in use at most churches at some place in their facility. As churches are being used for more than just the weekend services, the choice for chairs could make the diff erence in a visitor returning or sorely leaving.

So what are the important factors when deciding upon the right chair? Of course, comfort takes the fi rst position. Comfort is not an area where you want to depend on hind sight. According to Global Sales Manager Kathy Sobotta, in the Places of Worship division at Clarin Seating, "Leaders want their congregations to focus on the message, not on their seats. Cushions and appropriately sized chairs to support every kind of person let members concentrate on what is important. [Portable] chairs also should not wobble and should remain level."

Additionally, the thickness of the foam is important in comfort. Many manufacturers have their own patented version of layered foam. Chairtex off ers "Duo-Foam seat construction, which is made from a bottom layer of very dense four-pound foam and topped off with a plush layer of 2.2-pound foam." Bertolini off ers a version called Dual Density Ultrafoam. The Ultrafoam has dual layers consisting of their four-pound foam within each layer. Of course, the best foam test is to ask the manufacture for a sample and have someone do an "in-house sit test."

Another important feature in the area of comfort is ergonomics. Most all manufacturers agree that you can increase comfort by purchasing chairs with 20- or 21-inch frames. The slightly larger chair will comfortably accommodate the typical person's hips and thighs. Additionally, Sobotta states that "rather than sitting on wood or metal seats, varied seat-back pitches and high-density cushions can improve the ergonomic benefi ts for members sitting for long periods on portable folding chairs. Stacking chairs also can be molded to improve lumbar comfort and spine alignment." Also, many companies off er their own unique lumbar system. Bertolini, for example, off ers their patent-pending Ergo-V Support System that supports the lower back and cradles the shoulders.

Durability is another area of prime importance when considering portable chairs. Not only do they have to accommodate a host of people getting in and out of them, they also have to endure continuous set-up and tear-down. Investigate the bracing mechanisms in place on the chair for durability. Additionally, look for a brace that has two rivets instead of the usual one. This will ensure a full life for the chair. Speaking of not holding up, the strength of a chair's frame varies. Certainly, the strength of a chair is related to the construction material. One would assume, the thicker, the better, right? However, you need to balance the durability of the chair with the weight of the chair; otherwise, your set-up and tear-down team may experience excessive back-strain. Durability is measured by the gauge of steel. The lower the gauge, the better, as a lower-gauge steel is actually thicker. For the best advice, seek help from the company representative on frame issues.

Now for the fun part: fabrics, weave, color and style. Gone are the days of basic, plain- Jane chairs. Today, churches have the choice of fabric colors from reds to teals to corals. And many manufacturers will even allow for special orders to match other furniture as long as you give them advance notice. Also, designer fabrics are readily available. Regardless of color, the fabric should be a high quality that sustains lots of wear and tear. According to Chairtex, the company has a standard procedure for testing all their fabric: "Our standard fabrics achieve abrasion test results as high as 250,000 double rubs (sitting and rising from the chair) without showing signs of wear." Additionally, most manufacturers also do a "puncture" test. All fabrics are punctured and the hole must be able to be rubbed away in order to pass.

Lastly, fabrics are tested for their stain resistance and ability to withstand fading from light exposure over long periods of time. Most manufacturers off er stainresistant fabric as a standard feature. While this now appears to be the industry standard, always ask the question just to be certain.

One of the latest features in the portable chair industry is that many manufacturers off er a "build-a-chair" on their website. Individuals can simply go to a website of choice and pick and choose the particular features of a chair. If a weighty congregation is an issue, rather than spending lots of money on designer fabrics, a more sophisticated framing system may be the answer. Regardless, it is important to ask the manufacturer for a sample so that you can make your own comparisons. According to Sobotta, "One of the keys to a successful portable seating plan is ease of chair transportation and maximum use of storage space." Whereas in years past, dollies were the choice tool for set-up and tear-down, today, carts seem to be the most popular choice. This is because carts off er improved manipulation so a load of 40 chairs can be easily moved from one area to the next. Also, carts can handle a larger load of chairs. Dollies are generally equipped to handle a load of 10 or less. Depending on the type of cart and chair, some can handle as many as 100 in one run.

Another advantage to the cart system is that the cart itself can serve as a storage place for the chairs. If no closet or storage room exists, the cart can easily be pulled underneath a platform or even left sitting in a Sunday-only used hallway. Either way, cart systems include those that hang chairs, stack chairs or simply have them fl at and folded. Again, the cart needs depend on the type of chair. And lastly, according to Clarin, "The cart should be made from durable, heavy gauge steel that contains oversized, non-marring casters for enhanced handling without fl oor damage."

It is important to ask the manufacturer for a sample so that you can make your own comparisons. Get the chair and take a seat for at least an hour. If the chair passes the comfort test, and it meets the other requirements for color, fabric, ergonomics and durability, then you know you have the right chair.

QUICK-LINKS
Bertolini Sanctuary Seating
(800) 647-7755
www.bertolinidirect.com

Chairtex
(888) 724-2478
www.chairtex.com

Clarin Seating
(800) 323-9062
www.clarinseating.com