Sedus office cube solutions: a symbiosis of proximity and distance

Open space concepts, flexibility and new working styles will continue to be defining characteristics of the office of the future. They offer a number of advantages by eroding entrenched structures and supporting collaboration and communication. When people work in close proximity, with flexible meetings and spontaneous exchanges, they are able to determine the shape of each working day. Employees are increasingly deciding for themselves where and how they can best manage their tasks. Concentrated individual work shifts seamlessly into collaborative work and teamwork precedes periods of retreat or relaxation. For certain tasks, focus, silence and a sense of distance from the outside environment are essential. The office cube solution is one way of insulating people from interruptions and unwelcome noise. As an enclosed cubicle and thanks to its acoustically effective components, se:cube from Sedus can minimise acoustic and visual disruption.

“se:cube is the office cube element that creates a perfect symbiosis of proximity and distance,” explains Ernst Holzapfel, Head of Marketing at Sedus Stoll AG. “The bright design and the large glass surfaces allow transparency, so there is no complete isolation. It is a place to withdraw and work in a concentrated manner without losing contact with the outside. The different sizes and design options make the office cubes from Sedus variable, flexible and stylish. They are an ideal design element for any open office space.”

The se:cube product family has been certified by the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV), one of the most coveted accreditations on the international market. The TÜV seal guarantees to customers and users that the Sedus office cube solutions meet international safety standards, quality criteria and norms.

Lighting

For optimal illumination, an LED panel is mounted on the ceiling in each se:cube and the light intensity is preset so that the required workplace standard of 500 lux is met on the work surface. Fully automatic control is achieved via the presence detector in the luminaire. For manual dimming (e.g. for a presentation on a screen), se:cube can be supplemented by with a dimming switch. In addition, a red or blue LED light around the outside of the cube indicates whether the module is currently occupied. The lighting is now TÜV-certified.

Ventilation

Air exchange rates were also closely scrutinised by TÜV. With the building-independent ventilation of se:cube, fresh air is supplied via the air inlet above the ceiling light. Stale air is drawn into the lower part of the wall panel and released back into the surrounding room through the fans above the wall. Large cross- sections and sound-insulated ventilation ducts ensure that the room can be comprehensively ventilated, and that sound is not transmitted at the same time. The large cross-sections of the ventilation ducts reduce noise and minimise perceptible draughts. As part of the redesign of the se:cubes, Sedus supplemented the ventilation system with a new radial fan. This fan can achieve better efficiency even with high air resistance, e.g. with insulated supply and exhaust air.

CO² sensor

 For certification, Sedus has incorporated a new, safety-relevant feature into the se:cubes that is currently unique in office cube solutions: an optical warning signal in the event of poor air quality. The CO² sensor is linked to the control system and the lighting. If the CO² level in the cube rises above 1000 ppm, the smart control automatically increases the ventilation. From 1400 ppm, the air quality is described as poor. Should 1300 ppm be reached because, for example, an employee manually regulates the ventilation down again, the lighting in the se:cube starts to dim significantly until the CO² level has decreased again. This feature alerts users to the bad air and they can turn up the ventilation or open the door of the cube. This feature is a precondition for GS certification.

Acoustics:

 Wherever people are present, there is a certain amount of background noise. Typing on the computer, the rattling of the printer and the small talk of colleagues can quickly be perceived as disturbing and distract from one’s own tasks. The se:cube product family offers soundproofed retreats for temporary use, which have now been tested and certified by TÜV as a complete system.