seat
furniture that is designed for sitting on
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise seating furniture, assess its suitability and condition for an intended sitting task, and identify supported uses, adjustments and maintenance actions.
A seat is an item of furniture designed to support one or more people in a sitting posture, with or without a backrest or armrests.
It can be Identify intended sitting positions and distinguish available places from furniture-unit count.; Compare recorded geometry and supports with an intended sitter and sitting task, marking missing evidence.; Select a documented sitting configuration and operate supported adjustments or deployment mechanisms.; Inspect the sitting surface, load-bearing supports and locking mechanisms to inform use or maintenance decisions.; Move, stack or store the seat where its design and documented handling instructions support those actions.; Clean, repair or replace seating components using applicable material and component guidance..
Distinguishing features
Its intended function includes supporting a person in a sitting posture; the ability to sit on an object incidentally is insufficient.
A backrest or armrest is optional, so their absence does not exclude stools or backless benches.
The modelled whole includes the means of supporting or attaching the sitting surface; a replacement cushion or seat pan alone is a component.
A continuous sitting surface can accommodate several people without becoming several separate furniture units.
Convertible furniture qualifies in its designed sitting configuration, with other configurations recorded as related functions.
Scope
+ Single-person and shared seating furniture, including chairs, stools, benches and sofas as forms within the seat boundary
+ Sitting surfaces, supporting frames, bases and optional backs and arm supports
+ Seat geometry, occupancy capacity and suitability for intended sitting tasks
+ Fixed, movable, folding, reclining and adjustable seating configurations
+ Condition and permitted actions affecting sitting support, stability and serviceability
- Tables, shelves and other surfaces used incidentally for sitting but not designed as seats
- Beds and mattresses whose primary design purpose is lying down, except the seating configuration of convertible furniture
- Wheelchairs and other mobility devices as complete systems, including propulsion and mobility controls
- Vehicle occupant systems, including crash protection, restraints and vehicle attachment requirements
- Ticketed places, electoral seats, institutional offices and other non-furniture meanings of seat
- Clinical assessment of a sitter and room-wide accessibility or evacuation planning
Characteristics
- Seating form
- chair; stool; bench; sofa; other documented form Identifies the arrangement of sitting places and supports without treating a product name as the registered kind.
- Intended sitting task
- task work; dining; waiting; resting; spectator use; other documented use Provides context for judging posture, duration of use and required support.
- Sitting-surface geometry
- height, usable width and usable depth in mm; inclination in degrees; configuration and loading condition recorded Supports assessment of access, body fit and compatibility with the intended activity.
- Occupancy capacity
- number of intended simultaneous sitters; designated positions or allocation basis recorded Distinguishes furniture-unit count from sitting-place count.
- Documented load rating
- kg or N as stated by the source; per-place or whole-unit basis and applicable configuration recorded; unknown if undocumented Prevents an agent from inferring supported loads from appearance or confusing total and per-person limits.
- Body-support arrangement
- back support, arm support, head support and foot support: present, absent or configurable Describes the support available for sitting and transitions into or out of the seat.
- Support and attachment arrangement
- legs; pedestal; sled base; rocker; suspended; floor-fixed; wall-fixed; other documented arrangement Identifies how sitting loads reach the supporting environment and which interfaces need inspection.
- Adjustment and deployment state
- current height, recline, swivel, fold and lock states where applicable; unknown where unverified Distinguishes a usable sitting configuration from storage, transition or malfunction states.
- Sitting-support condition
- observations of wobble, deformation, joint looseness, surface damage, support loss and mechanism faults Records evidence affecting continued use without equating a visual inspection with a verified load assessment.
- Design and configuration reference
- links to product design, manufacturer instructions, compatible components and documented configuration Connects unit-level observations to the instructions and limits that actually apply.
Analytical facets
- substance
- material
- origin
- manufactured
- agency
- inert
- mobility
- portable
- scale
- handheld
- affordances
- graspable
Also called
+54
Where this came from
oewn:2024 · CC BY 4.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions.
Seating identity Establishes what makes the thing seating furniture and where its furniture-unit boundary lies.
Seats are easily confused with incidental sitting surfaces, replacement parts and allocated places.
Designed sitting function
Separates intended seating from surfaces that merely permit sitting.
Intended sitting role
Record evidence that the object was designed to support sitting and identify the intended activity.
- What design description or other evidence establishes that this furniture is intended for sitting? definition
- Which sitting activities and durations does its documented intended use cover? provenance
Unit and place boundaries
Distinguishes a furniture whole, its components and the sitting places it provides.
Seating whole
Describe which surfaces and supports constitute the furniture unit and how sitting places are allocated within it.
- Is the referent a complete seat, a seating component, a product design or an allocated place? boundary
- How many sitting places does the furniture provide, and are those places physically designated or inferred from continuous usable space? measurement
Sitting fit and support Describes the relationship between seat geometry, body supports and intended sitting tasks.
A seat can support sitting while being poorly matched to a particular sitter or activity.
Sitting-surface geometry
Captures the dimensions and shape of the surface that supports the sitter.
Usable sitting envelope
Record usable dimensions, contour and inclination with the seat configuration and measurement conditions.
- What are the sitting-surface height, usable width, usable depth and inclination in the intended configuration? measurement
- Were these dimensions measured unloaded or under a stated load, and how does cushioning affect the usable surface? measurement
Posture and transfers
Identifies supports and clearances relevant to sitting down, remaining seated and standing up.
Body-support fit
Describe back, arm and foot supports and their relationship to the intended sitter and nearby task surfaces.
- Which body supports are present, and what are their positions and adjustment ranges relative to the sitting surface? measurement
- What support or clearance information is needed to judge sitting down, standing up and performing the intended task? action
Load support and stability Records how the seat carries occupants and remains supported in its intended environment.
Occupant capacity, structural condition and stability depend on different evidence and should not be collapsed into a single capacity label.
Occupant load support
Connects sitting places to the surfaces, joints and supports carrying their loads.
Rated seating loads
Capture documented occupant and load limits, their scope and the configuration to which they apply.
- What source states the occupant or load limit, and does it apply to each sitting place or the complete furniture unit? provenance
- Which sitting surfaces, joints, frame members and attachments carry the occupants' loads? definition
Base and installation
Describes the seat's contact with or attachment to its supporting environment.
Stable support conditions
Record the base, floor contacts or mounting interfaces and the conditions required for intended support.
- Does the seat rely on floor contact, anchorage, suspension or a combination, and what installation evidence is available? provenance
- What observations of rocking, sliding, uneven contact or loose attachment require resolving before the intended use? action
Seating configurations and motion Models adjustments, intentional movement and transitions between sitting and storage configurations.
Folding, reclining, swivelling and rocking seats have meaningful states that fixed-seat descriptions miss.
Sitting adjustments
Identifies adjustable features, their controls and the current sitting configuration.
Adjustment operation
Record available adjustments and distinguish intentionally free movement from positions requiring a lock.
- Which height, tilt, recline, swivel or support adjustments exist, and what ranges or positions are documented? measurement
- Which controls and locking conditions apply when changing position, including any restrictions on adjustment while occupied? action
Deployment and storage
Separates configurations intended for sitting from folding, stacking and conversion states.
Ready-for-sitting state
Capture the deployment steps and observable conditions that establish a documented sitting configuration.
- What distinguishes a fully deployed sitting configuration from a folded, stacked or partially converted state? definition
- What documented sequence, clearances and latch checks apply when deploying, folding, stacking or converting this seat? action
Seating condition and care Tracks deterioration of occupant-contact surfaces and sitting supports and relates observations to maintenance decisions.
Cushioning, upholstery, structural joints and mechanisms can deteriorate separately and require different responses.
Occupant-contact surfaces
Describes the materials and condition of the surfaces encountered during sitting.
Surface and cushion serviceability
Record tears, exposed edges, contamination and cushioning changes together with applicable care information.
- What materials form the sitting surface and upholstery, and what damage or cushioning changes are observable? measurement
- Which cleaning methods and replacement covers or cushions are documented as compatible with this seat? action
Support and mechanism serviceability
Connects observed structural or mechanism faults to repair and return-to-use decisions.
Repair and use evidence
Record looseness, cracking, deformation, unintended movement and repair history without assuming appearance proves load-bearing adequacy.
- What inspection or repair records address joints, legs, mountings and any folding or adjustment mechanisms? provenance
- What documented criteria determine whether an observed fault requires repair, withdrawal from use or further assessment? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Standards are recalled by designation and scope; their current editions and applicability to particular products require verification.
- Dimensions are approximate descriptive ranges for conventional adult chairs, not universal ergonomic requirements or compliance limits.
- Whether vehicle seating and built-in architectural seating belong in this registry entry should be checked against its furniture boundary.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Chair
- Stool
- Bench
- Sofa
- Armchair
- Recliner
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- EN 12520, issued by CEN: safety, strength and durability requirements for domestic seating.
- EN 16139, issued by CEN: safety, strength and durability requirements for non-domestic seating.
- EN 1728, issued by CEN: test methods for the strength and durability of seating.
- ANSI/BIFMA X5.1, developed by BIFMA and approved by ANSI: tests for general-purpose office chairs.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Supporting seated activities such as eating, working and studying.
- Providing rest and social seating in homes and public spaces.
- Accommodating audiences in theatres, assembly halls and other venues.
- Providing seating in waiting areas.
- Supporting reclining and relaxation.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Seat height above floor for conventional adult chairs - 400-500 - mm
- Seat depth for conventional adult chairs - 380-500 - mm
- Seat width per person for conventional adult chairs - 400-550 - mm
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Structural collapse caused by failed joints, cracked members or excessive loading.
- Tipping caused by instability, leaning or uneven supporting surfaces.
- Pinching or entrapment in folding, adjustment or reclining mechanisms.
- Wear, corrosion or loosened fasteners reducing strength and stability.
- Ignition and smoke hazards involving combustible frames, upholstery or fillings.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Seating traditions differ in their use of floor-level, low and conventional chair-height furniture.
- Upholstered seating flammability requirements vary by jurisdiction and intended setting.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Furniture - Furniture is the broader category; a seat is distinguished by its intended sitting function.
- Chair - A chair is generally a seat for one person with a backrest; seats also include backless and multi-person forms.
- Bed - A bed primarily supports lying and sleeping; a seat primarily supports sitting, although convertible furniture can serve both functions.
- Footstool - A footstool primarily supports the feet; it qualifies as a seat only if also designed to support a seated person.
- Seat surface - The seat surface is the part supporting the sitter's buttocks and thighs; the requested sense denotes the furniture item as a whole.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of seat this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own seating furniture, requiring this registry entry to link to it instead of receiving a separate publication?
- How does the registry assign boundary cases such as vehicle seats, floor cushions, beanbags, built-in seating and convertible sofa beds?
- Which primary sources establish applicable testing methods and standards for each intended seating context and jurisdiction?
- Which measurement conventions should govern compressed cushion height, contoured surface depth and occupancy estimates for continuous benches?
- What evidence is sufficient to assess undocumented, repaired or modified seats when original load limits and component specifications are unavailable?