Industry Glossary
A-D
E-K
L-R
S-Z
L-Unit
 Consists of a front desk piece with a connecting "return" extending on either the "right" or "left" side, normally dependent on columns and entry door positioning.
Layout
 (Space Plan) A plan created by an interior designer or architect showing locations of tenant improvement and space utilization by the tenant.
Leather
 Animal skin or hide4 that is tanned to preserve an otherwise perishable skin and protect it from water damage or bacterial decay. Various tanning methods give leather their unique character and quality. The tanning process lubricates the skin with oil, to make it as pliable as possible.
Leather-Dyed
 Three processes are used to dye leather: aniline, semi-aniline and pigment (i.e., opaque color). The aniline process is used on top-of-the-line leather furniture in natural or full-grain leather. For skins with somewhat uneven color, a semi-aniline process is used that combines aniline dying and a pigment solution to make the colors more opaque. Pigment is used on the mostly heavily marked skins to completely cover them with opaque color.
Leather-Full-grain
 The thin, outer layer of a hide. Often the finest, most delicate, best quality and sophisticated in design. Aniline finishes are generally used to preserve full-grain leather.
Leather-Natural
 A leather which has a distinctive smooth and supple feel, and a slightly shaded color due to the application of two-tone aniline or semi-aniline.
Leather-Pigment
 A more durable leather capable of withstanding higher wear and tear. Made by a mid-priced process using more opaque pigments of semi-aniline dying.
Legal Size
Sized for 8 1/2" x 14" documents.
Letter Size
Sized for 8 1/2" x 11" documents.
LTL
Less-Than-Truckload shipment on a common carrier
Lumbar
 The lower section of your back between the thoracic vertebrae and sacrum.
Management Chair
A mid-back chair designed for the person who spends a lot of time seated at a desk. Usually a chair with a 5-prong base fitted with casters.
Mechanism
 The part of a chair that connects the seat assembly to the base and allows adjustments such as tilt, swivel seat height, etc. to allow a user optimum comfort and productivity.
Melamine
 A misused term often thought of as a type of laminate. Actually it is a component layer found in laminate walls.
Mesh Seat
Seating products that have backs and/or seat cushion support derived from a porous, posture-fitting material.
Mid-Pivot
 A control in which the pivot point is located toward the front of the seat, allowing minimal rise of the front seat edge.
Mitered
 A joinery technique where two solid angled, beveled wood pieces are glued together at the corner of a top.
Modular Desking
Groups of freestanding tables, storage pieces and privacy pieces combined to give the appearance of a panel system but offering user-friendly reconfigurablilty.
Molding
 A decorative plane or curved strip giving ornamentation or finishing
Naugahyde
 (Textiles) A brand of vinyl
Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Any of several esters of nitric acid formed by the action of nitric acid on cellulose (paper) and used for making varnish.
Non-Directional Fabric
A fabric which will appear smooth, with no visible pattern.
Non-Expanding Vinyl
A thin vinyl where the color is on the surface only. Although fairly durable, it does not meet the same flammability codes as expanded vinyl.
NPV
 Net Present Value
NRC
 Noise Reduction Coefficient used to meassure sound privacy.
Open Plan Offices
The general office administrative areas divided by panels.
Outsourcing
 The transfer of some or all facility management functions to an outside firm to help reduce costs and add expertise
Overhang
 A desk's front area that overhangs the body or panels, normally 6" - 12" that allows guests to move closer in.
P-Top
 (Peninsula) A rounded end top used in offices and/or workstations to accommodate meeting space.
Packing Slip
The shipping statement that documents what order items shipped in.
Panel Systems Furniture
Modular furniture consisting of various height panels dividing space and creating privacy in gereral office areas. Configured with worksurfaces and storage pieces.
Panels
 Modular furniture sections used to define the limits of a workstation. Panels do not extend from floor to ceiling.
Particle Board
A higher quality board composed of distinct wood particles bonded together with a synthetic resin or other glues to form basic flakeboards or higher quality fiberboards.
Partition
 Inside floor-to-ceiling structures not otherwise meeting the criteria of walls. Partitions are moveable or removable.
Pedestals
 Storage components which consist of drawers in various configurations under a worksurface area.
Plywood
 Wood sheets glued together in three or more laminations.
Pneumatic Lift
A lever located beneath the seat that utilizes a gas cylinder to quickly raise or lower the seat height.
Pocket door
Storage doors that recess into the interior cabinet shell.
POE
 Post-Occupancy Evaluation.
Polyester
 A group of polymers that can be used to make fibers or plastics.
Polyurethane
 Various polymers used in flexible, rigid foams, elastomers and resins.
Post-Form
 Fully or partially-shaped curved laminate made by reheating over a mold.
Posture Control
Allows a backrest to tilt independently, allowing for adjustments in back pitch.
Power Pole in-Feeds
An electrical device used to accommodate a building's power transmission from the floor or ceiling in a panel system cable base. Ceiling feeds also known as Power Poles.
Private Office
Offices enclosed by floor-to-ceiling walls.
Punch-List
 A list of deficiencies, items incomplete or unacceptable work compiled by the project manager during the final inspection of a project.
PVC
 Plyvinyl Chloride.
Railroading
 (Textiles) Weaving a pattern so the correct direction of the design runs the length of fabric versus width.
Reconstituted Veneer (Re-Cuts)
 Thin layers of wood glued together as a block, cut sideways and stained to imitate real wood. Offers particularly stable appearance and pattern consistency.
Remote Telecenters
Off-site locals having technology and administrative support, placed near customers and staffed by workers, either permanent or who split time between sites.
Repeat
 (Textile Patterns) The length and width measurement of a reappearing design or imprint on a fabric.
Retrofit
 The act of improving an existing product with a newly introduced feature or attachment.
RFI
 Request for Information
RFP
 Request for Proposal
RGA
 Returned Goods Authorization
RMS
 Repetitive Motion Syndrome
Routing Detail
The act of improving an existing product with a newly introduced feature or attachment.
RTA
 A Ready-To-Assemble good.

 
 
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