Choosing the best conference room chairs

Busy event managers need practical, hard-working conference chairs that will do the job. Here is our guide to choosing the best conference room chairs.

Stackable conference room chairs

Storage space is often at a premium in an event venue where furniture is moved around meeting and event rooms every day, depending on the requirement for the booking. Stackable conference chairs save space. Put simply, you can store twice as many chairs when you can stack them 10 high, compared with chairs that can only stack 5 high.

Stacking conference room chairs need strong frames that don’t buckle when stacking or in use. The frames need to be able to withstand constant use at events and movement between rooms and storage facilities. Conference chairs are subject to bumps and scrapes when being moved around a busy venue, so a robust finish on the frame is a must.

Comfortable chairs for your guests

Conference room chairs that are designed to be comfortable for your guests, even when they are sitting in the chairs for prolonged periods during presentations and conferences are essential to keep guests happy and uncomplaining.

Ergonomic conference chairs provide support for the back and spine and reduce strain on the neck and shoulders when sitting. Look for conference chairs that have extra padding for lumbar support.

Meeting legal requirements

Make sure that conference chairs bought for commercial (non-domestic) use meet the legal requirements for fire safety. Contract furniture falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) which makes the responsible person fully liable for corporate liability. Contract furniture needs to be manufactured with flame retardant materials so that it complies with the relevant Standard. Check that any conference room chairs are labelled with the Standard that they meet. 

An advantage of conference room chairs that have lightweight frames is that they put less strain on staff carrying and moving them around the venue. preventing staff injuries and absences. Choose chairs that weigh less than the maximum safe lifting weights according to the manual handling guidelines in order to comply with Health & Safety regulations. 

Budget constraints

One of the most obvious considerations when choosing a conference room chair is budget. Unless you have the budget to replace all of your conference chairs at once, you will need to choose a material that matches, or is at least compatible with, the other chairs in use in the room.

Choosing a practical, hard wearing or wipe clean material means that you can continue to use the chairs for the long term, saving on your capex budget. The durability, quality and any available guarantee of the materials used for the manufacture of your conference room chairs is key.

Conference room type

The type of conference chair you choose will depend on your venue capacity. A mid-size conference room will likely use office conference chairs around an oval or boardroom table.

For larger capacity conference rooms remember that delegates are likely to want to use a laptop or device during sessions so you may need chairs with tablet supports if you are not using tables between each row of conference chairs. You may also want chair links to form bench seating for an auditorium.

Finally, consider whether your conference room chairs will be used for other event types. For example banqueting chairs can be used in conference rooms and in banqueting halls, making them flexible use.

For friendly advice on the right chair for your conference room, contact our sales team who would be happy to discuss your requirements.