Open space concepts, flexibility and new working styles will characterise offices of the future. This offers numerous benefits, breaking down rigid structures while fostering seamless communication and collaboration. Working in close proximity, featuring flexible meetings and spontaneous exchanges, we are actively reshaping our workspaces in daily life. Today’s employees are empowered to choose where and how they accomplish their tasks, often experiencing different work scenarios. From focused, solitary work to dynamic teamwork, or even moments of retreat and relaxation.
However, some tasks require focus, silence, and insulation from external distractions. Enter the office cube solution, a design innovation that provides a sanctuary from external influences, keeping disruptive noises at bay. One notable example is the se:cube from Sedus, designed with acoustically effective components. This innovative solution creates an enclosed workspace that effectively disrupts the propagation of sound, significantly reducing external disturbances.
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 awarded the “Tested Safety” certificate by the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV), one of the most coveted test seals 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. The seal includes the certification “type tested”. In addition, all electrical components have been tested and found to be safe.
1. The 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.
2. The 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.
3. The 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.
4. The 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.
With its adaptability and chic design choices, Sedus office cubes emerge as a perfect fit for enhancing any open office landscape.
