10 Crucial Features for a Modern Control Room Console
A well-designed control room console can make all the difference for the operators who rely on it. It’s not just about having a place to work; it’s about creating a space that boosts productivity, comfort, and efficiency.
This blog covers the ten essential features that every modern control room console should have. By integrating these features, you can create a workspace that truly supports your needs and helps you stay on top of your game.
1. Flexible monitor arm
You'll need a specialist monitor arm if you're using multiple screens. Control room operators often use 4-8 monitors, so robust monitor support is essential.
Post mounted monitor arms are ideal for anyone using tiers of screens. They are very flexible allowing you to finely adjust the monitor height and easily add or remove monitors. You can position your screens in either landscape or portrait orientation.
Optimising your monitor position to suit your body and working situation helps you feel more comfortable and focused, which is vital if you're working long shifts. Post-mounted monitor arms let you easily change the layout of your monitors. It's easy to add additional screens without disrupting your existing monitor layout.
SmartArm post mounted monitor arm
2. Height adjustability
A height-adjustable desk can be a game-changer. It allows you to switch between sitting and standing, helping you stay alert on long shifts. This change in posture prevents fatigue and helps keep you focused.
In a 24-hour control room, different shift workers might share consoles. With sit-stand desks, everyone can easily adjust the work surface to their preferred height and even save those settings.
Sit-stand desks have some tremendous physical perks. They can boost circulation, lower the risk of developing musculoskeletal issues, and help prevent back and neck pain. Plus, by keeping you moving throughout the day, these desks help combat the health risks of sitting too much, like obesity and heart problems.
3. Legroom under your control room console
The European Standard BS EN 527-1:2011 specifies dimensions of work tables and desks for office tasks to be undertaken in a seated, sit stand or standing position.
With these dimensions applied the console will have enough depth underneath to allow you to sit comfortably and stretch your legs. Plenty of legroom is crucial for control room operators who often work long hours. You need enough space to stretch out and move around easily. This helps you stay comfortable, promotes good circulation, and reduces the chances of getting sore or stiff.
Good IT storage and cable management help create enough below-desk space to sit comfortably and maintain an ergonomic posture.
Laminated desktops with polyurethane (PU) edging and front finger pull
4. Durable desk surface
In a 24/7 control room, consoles need to be built to handle nonstop use. These specialised desks are a big investment, so they should also ideally last for at least a decade.
That's why laminate surfaces are perfect for control room desktops. Laminate is incredibly durable, resistant to scratches and dents, and can withstand moisture and stains—no worries if you spill your tea!
For a control room console, a 1mm layer of laminate is applied to an MDF board to create a desktop. Unlike solid wood, MDF isn't susceptible to expanding or contracting due to weather conditions. It's also more solid and durable than chipboard. For a 24/7 environment, laminate-coated MDF is the material to go for.
Polyurethane edging is also useful. It not only makes the desk look good but also has practical benefits, like spillage lips that prevent drinks from dripping into the electronics underneath. Plus, moulded polyurethane below the desk provides finger holds, so you can easily pull yourself closer while seated.
Rear below desktop housing/cable tray housing power sockets, small form factor PCs and all cabling
5. PC storage
When choosing a control room workstation, think about the type and number of computers you'll be using and where they will be located. Remote processing might also be a consideration where a server links with thin clients located in the desk.
PCs can be stored in heat managed cabinets in the desk, and these can be customised to fit your needs.
This PC housing can be bespoke and is available in various designs, including dynamic systems that move with a height-adjustable desktop. You can also get expandable cabinets catering for 'day two' IT requirements.
6. Heat management
Control room operators use powerful IT systems to process complex data. Having more than one PC below your desk could quickly lead to an overly hot working environment without effective heat management. That’s why PC cabinets below the desk need to be designed to expel hot air effectively.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD ) PC cabinet model showing hot air being expelled from the rear of the PCs and ejected via venting at the top
There are various ways of doing this. A purposely designed desk flue or vents can eject hot air from the PCs by natural convection. Forced air cooling is a temperature control method in which chilled air from within the raised floor enters the cabinet via a swirl diffuser cut into the floor tile.
PC cabinets need an air inlet and outlet that allows the PCs to stay within normal operating temperatures. cabinets should also be insulated at critical points, which helps prevent hot air from being radiated out onto the user.
Thermally controlled cabinet fans can also be added to aid the airlow in and out of the PC housing.
image showing cable chain to desktop and below desktop cable tray with power
7. Cable management
Control room operators use plenty of tech and equipment. This will need a robust cable management system so you don't end up with a messy tangle of cables below your desk.
A specially designed tray below the desktop can contain the cables and plug sockets. The tray's location below the desk keeps the cables discreetly out of the way. A sliding desktop makes them easily accessible when you need to make adjustments. Quick-release cable chains are also an excellent way to manage your cables while making them easily accessible.
Technology Desking can design bespoke cable management accessories for your specific needs.
image showing PC trolley cable chain and PC power
8. Task lamp
A task light is essential if you're doing work where you need to stay focused for a few hours. Control rooms often have dim lighting to allow operators to see the video wall. A task lamp helps operators see their equipment.
Dual desktops with single tier SmartArm monitors incorporating task lights
Task lamps have more advanced features than ordinary desk lamps. They often include adjustable arms, swivel heads, and variable light intensity. This extra flexibility allows you to direct the light precisely where you need it.
Task lighting is usually integrated into the control room console's design. This prevents it from cluttering the desktop and obstructing vital equipment.
9. Curved control room console desktop
Control room operators often arrange their monitors in a curved setup. This makes it much easier to view the screens since they’re all at a similar distance from your eyes, unlike in a flat arrangement.
A straight desk edge just doesn’t work with a curved monitor array, so a curved desktop is the way to go. The curve of the desk matches the curve of the monitors, allowing you to view them easily and comfortably. It’s like sitting in a cockpit, with everything within easy reach.
Curved monitors are becoming more popular, and having a curved desktop makes working with them a breeze. Technology Desking can design a custom desktop precisely measured to match the curve of your monitors.
desktop power/data mounted to the monitor rail
10. Desktop connectivity
If you use a lot of tech, the last thing you want is to constantly lean under the desk to plug things in. That’s why having a desktop unit with power, data, and USB sockets is essential for control room operators. It keeps everything within easy reach, so you won’t have to break your focus to find a plug socket under your desk.
You can attach a desktop power unit to the top of your desk with clamps, mount it onto your monitor beam or even have it fitted onto the desktop surface keeping your workspace neat and efficient.
Looking for the perfect control room console? At Technology Desking we stock a range of solutions for your workspace. Take a look at our products here