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Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

In order to help you navigate the systems furniture world, much of the common lingo that's used in our field is sprinkled throughout the pages on our website and marketing materials. To help you understand the specific terms that we use, we've created a mini-dictionary of the most common words you'll likely encounter when dealing with systems furniture. And if you don't find it here, by all means, ask us to explain.

• Base Feed - A flexible, electrical conduit that hardwires to the building and plugs into the furniture.
• Beltline Power - An access point located directly above the worksurface providing users with faster access to power, data and communication connections, emphasizing a plug-and-play usability.
• Bin Box - An overhead storage cabinet with opening and closing doors.
• CAD - Is an acronym for Computer Aided Design software application; AutoCAD is a specific brand of CAD. We use a sister to AutoCAD which is called Giza and is fully interchangeable with AutoCAD. We use this CAD software when configuring your office's new workstation layout giving you the ability to see your project floor plan before we begin working. Our software even allows us to show your space in 3D, giving you a more unique prospective than a simple 2D plan.
• Cantilever - A bracket that mounts to office panel systems in order to support the worksurface therefore eliminating the need for support legs.
• Data Pole - A service pole that contains no electrical or data wires. It is a means, however, to get those items from the ceiling to the workstations and, like the power pole, is typically used for furniture that is islanded within an office.
• Low-Voltage Cabling - Otherwise known as data and telephone wires, these wires run from the phone/server room to the individual workstation.
• Ped (or Pedestal) - A drawer unit, sometimes called a file cabinet, located beneath the worksurface and is used to house files and other miscellaneous personal items.
• Power Pole - A pole that is used to connect power and low-voltage cabling above the ceiling to furniture that is islanded within an open office.
• Raceway - A concealed cavity within the panel system where power and low-voltage cabling is distributed. This cavity is typically located in the bottom of a panel, but may also appear in the middle and top portions.
• Work surface - A high pressure, commercial grade composite wood core table top typically covered with a laminate or even veneer. The work surface is used in cubicles and serves as a writing/working surface.

For terms not covered here, please contact us for more information.