Answer®by Steelcase

A Closer Look at the Answer® Systems Furniture

At a glance, systems furniture might look pretty much thesame. While you’re looking at new systems furniture, weencourage you to take a very close look at the benefits ofany system you’re considering. Here are some things toconsider.

Key panel features:

Frames – Are the frames welded and inflexible or non-dedicated and very flexible?

Technology – How easily can wiring and cabling bedistributed and accessed? Architectural grade modularpower – make changes without an electrician.

Skins – Can panel surfaces be easily removed toaccess wiring and cabling or to replace damagedsurfaces or change aesthetics without purchasing awhole new panel?

Off-modularity – For maximum planning flexibility, canpanels be attached off-module? Can overheads beattached off-module? Can off-module panels be adifferent height?

Stackability – Can panels stack or de-stack to easilychange required privacy levels without ordering a wholenew panel? Can they de-stack without ordering astacker or a new panel?

Part of a Platform – Answer shares a commonarchitectural dimension and visual language with abroad array of new products, including the 4” PathwaysTechnology Wall, Post & Beam, and our new universalworksurfaces and storage products.

Answer

Panel System Generations

Think about what generation the system is that you’re considering. Earliergenerations of panel systems had far less flexibility than panel systemsdesigned in the last few years. Typically, the newer the system, the higherthe capability to address today’s and tomorrow’s office needs. AGeneration 1 panel generally has a welded frame, a closed core, a non-removable surface, and very limited or no access to power and cablesinside the panel except at the base cavity. A Generation 2 panel generallyhas removable surfaces (skins), wiring and cabling access at the basecavity and worksurface height, and may have some stacking or off-modulecapabilities. A Generation 3 panel has non-dedicated frames allowing foreasy changes in height, removable skins for easy access to wiring andcabling, stacking and de-stacking capabilities, off-module planningconfigurations, and far superior technology capabilities.

Answer is a generation 3 panel system. Using the knowledge and researchthat Steelcase has accumulated this panel system was developed to meettoday’s changing office needs. The system offers features and benefits farbeyond what earlier panel systems could offer. Answer worksurfacecomponents can be panel mounted, made freestanding, or be applied in acombination of both for open plan or private office applications.

Answer

Why Answer?

Because it’s the ultimate in flexibility. Answer is a third generation product withan abundance of features and options. We designed Answer withbuilt-in flexibility that is unsurpassed in the market. Answer's dynamic designensures that you are never locked into one choice of panel size, technologydistribution, or aesthetic look…you could say that Answer is virtually future-proof and scalable. It changes as your needs change, and can grow as yourcompany grows.

Non-dedicated Frame—Answer's panel frame is dynamic. Unlike a staticpanel, which has a fixed height and width, Answer's panel frame is made up ofvertical junctions and horizontal beams (very similar to a building constructionof columns and trusses). That means you can change panel height and widtheasily, without purchasing a new panel. Best of all there is no hardwarerequired for installation.

Technology—Answer is more than a flexible structure that divides space;Answer is a complete Utility Distribution System with the ability to support thetechnology of today and the advancements of tomorrow. With both shared andseparate neutral wiring schematics available, Answer's architecturally ratedmodular power system easily accommodates building interface, systemdistribution, and user access. Because the power system is modular, andarchitecturally rated, there is no need for an electrician to connect power duringa reconfiguration (depending on local electrical codes and requirements).

Aesthetics—The image of your organization needs to reflect who you aretoday…and tomorrow. That is why Answer was designed to reflect diversestyles—from traditional to tech. Answer can have a monolithic appearance, asegmented appearance or a combination (one side of panel segmented, oneside monolithic). Skins are available in fabric, glass, ribbed steel, slatwall,perforated steel and flat steel in a wide array of paints and fabrics. The skinsare removable and can be mixed and matched for the highest degree ofaesthetic variety and price points. Because change is constant, we madeAnswer ready to change right along with you.

Answer

Answer

Answer supports the 6 key aspects of a High Performance Workplace...

Balancing Privacy

Making Work Visible

Managing Connections

Supporting Diverse Work Styles

Offering Inspiring Spaces

Managing Facilities Strategically

with the following features:

ways to differentiate

Answer 15

1Saves you $$$$ – The post and beam construction of the Answer frame allows you to change the height and width of the panel using the existing kit of parts vs. buying a whole new panel.

Saves you $$$$ – Minimizes parts that go into inventory and the warehouse space and costs required to house it.

Maximum Planning Flexibility – You can reconfigure a panel to make it whatever size you need it to be.

More Environmentally Friendly – Product is already separated for recycling (in fact it already utilizes recycled steel with no VOCs and can be specified with environmentally friendly fabric).

non-dedicated

frames

Answer

2Saves you $$$$ – No need to specify or inventory different panels for different needs. Answer’s one panel can be segmented or monolithic; powered or non-powered (power is also retrofittable anywhere); non-dedicated height configuration and stackable; used with on or off-module planning.

Saves you $$$ – Reduces the number of panel standards required to support the various applications that can be found in the workplace. It reduces your costs to administer and manage your inventory when fewer “dedicated panels” are required.

Increases your planning flexibility because you don’t have to worry about keeping track of what “special” panels are where. Every panel has the maximum flexibility available.

one panel does it all

Answer

3Saves you $$$ – Minimizes inventory costs because the same power kit is used in every location within the panel.

Increases planning flexibility – Access power at the base, at desk height, at standing height or even inside an overhead binder bin – you decide – and it doesn’t cost any more.

universal 2-sided power available every 12” vertically

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4Saves you $$$ and time – With the modular connection, there is no need for an electrician to connect power during a reconfiguration.

No additional overtime charges while they wait for stations to be set up or torn down. A furniture installer can make the connection during the installation!

And best of all, the same modular power component can be run under a raised floor, through building walls, over a drop ceiling andinto your furniture.

Power planning flexibility – Modular power gives you the opportunityto do zone power distribution to ease installation and planning time.

architectural grade

modular power

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5Saves you $$$ – Fewer parts means less cost. One 72” w panel or overhead storage unit can take the place of two 36” w units or a 48” w and 24” w combined.

72” W panels and storage as standard

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6Design Flexibility – The non-dedicated skins allow you to provide a variety of different looks that will address every design application you plan to utilize – all using the same platform.

The ability for color blocking provides more visual interest to the panel than the traditional segmenting.

Saves you $$$$ – It allows you to reuse existing inventory in different applications. Simply by moving skins from one frame to the next you can change the entire look of your workspace.

color blocking with no

dedicated skins

ribbedglass

slatskinwhiteboard

fabric perforated passthru

flat steel

panel top

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7Saves you time and $$$$ – Some panel systems are shipped with the skins on, but need to have them removed on site to be able to connect the panels together, as well as install any power and cable. We shipours knocked down to speed up the staging process and reduce the waiting time for the cable installers.

The open post and beam also speed up the installation of the cable into the system because the cable installer has complete access to the lay in cable trays and termination points.

Saves you $$$ – Because the Answer product breaks down to the kit of parts, the unassembled product can be stored on pallets for easy warehousing..

frames shipped

unassembled & unskinned

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8Minimizes disruption during installation – Because the quick lock mechanism won’t ever be missing parts (since there is no hardware), it will never slow down an installation and cause undue delays.

We also use a special “quiet” tool to minimize the sound disruption if people are working nearby.

Saves you $$$ and time – The quick lock mechanism is an integral part of the panel support. Since there is no hardware, installation time is reduced and you never have to worry about ordering missing hardware in the future.

quicklock mechanism

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9Flexibility & Consistency in Design – Answer was designed to be a 3 in 1 system; freestanding, panel mounted or a combination of both. Now, by adding casters and making it mobile, it’s a 4 in 1 system.

Saves you $$$ – Minimizing your cost of ownership, because not only is Answer a 4-in-1 system, but it was also designed to integrate into the Pathways portfolio of products for future applications.

4-in-1 design

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01A Consolidation Point kit can be accommodated inside an Answer panel to provide easy-to-access connection points for data/voice networks. The power and communication capabilities of the panel are unimpaired. Consolidation Point kits are designed to hold data/voice cabling and network hardware, such as punch down blocks and 19” patch panels.

Saves you $$$$ – Consolidation Point kits allow for future cabling flexibility by eliminating the need for computer closets (saving you Real Estate $$$) without having to replace products to address future cabling needs. Consolidation Point kits can typically accommodate upto 72 connections and are available with a removable locking door for data security.

consolidation point kit

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11Saves you $$$$ – Allows maximum privacy flexibility. Easily change panel heights without the need to take panels out of their cluster. Stackers are available in heights of 12 and 24 inches. Two stackers can be used on a base panel, up to an overall maximum stacked height of 90”. The first stacker is load bearing.

Stacking junctions are versatile and easy to use. Skins on the base panel do not need to be removed to install a stacking junction in most cases. All existing base panels can accept a stacking junction which maximizes the flexibility of the Answer panel.

stackability

Answer

21Flexibility– Answer provides the ability to attach other Answer panels off-mod using SAME height panels or DIFFERENT height panels, allowing for maximum panel planning flexibility.

Answer allows the Universal Curved Front Bin to be hung up to 12” off-mod to the left or right of the supporting panel.

Saves you $$$$ - Answer’s off-mod capabilities save money by providing greater planning flexibility.

off-modularity

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31Answer

upmounting capability

Saves you $$$

Increased privacy and storage. Every panel has the ability of accepting an up-mounted bin so you can address the increased need for privacy quickly and easily.

Improved access to information. Support increased needs for active and anticipated storage without the disruption of having to add a high panel to support a bin or shelf.

Support different workstyles using the same kit of parts. Up-mounting allows you to put overhead storage on any panel to support how and where the user wants to work.

Reduce initial and ongoing cost of ownership. By up-mounting storage, you can specify lower height panels throughout the workspace, saving money over the price of taller panels, and reducing the number of different size panels to inventory.

41Answer

wood on panel trim,storage fronts

and worksurfaces

Design Flexibility - Beautiful wood veneer is available for the most discriminating office on our Answer panel trims, worksurfaces and storage fronts.

Saves you $$$ - No need to worry about the proper consistency of wood on your products. Steelcase carefully selects veneer and solid wood for consistent color and grain structure. Veneers are flat cut and are matched for proper balance and consistency. Two finish selections are available on our Answer wood products. The open-pore finish is a medium gloss finish that leaves the wood texture visible to the eye. Our full-fill finish is a medium-gloss finish available on our wood worksurfaces that completely fills the grain texture, yet allows the grain pattern to be seen.

51Answer

Answer as partof a platform

Steelcase is committed to its introduction of new products using a UNIVERSAL platform that was designed to work with Answer components, expanding your functional and aesthetic options without having to invest in special hardware to use them.

Saves you $$$ - Why not “Future Proof” your investment? Answer shares a common architectural dimension and visual language with a broad NEW portfolio of Steelcase products. For example, buy basic Answer panels today, knowing that as needs change, Answer can be integrated with our beautiful Post and Beam space division products or our new 4” thick architectural Pathways Technology Wall, the most flexible and technology enabled panel available today.

FrameThickness Frame type Open Core Heights Widths Top caps,end trims, base trimsTop caps and end trims Connector 90 and 120 degree planning Recycled steel w/ no VOC’s

SkinsRemovable Replaceable Reconfigurable Reusable Monolithic Segmented Tackable/Acoustical Environmentally friendly fabrics

YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

3” Non-dedicated

Yes30-42-54-66-78

18-24-30-36-42-48-60-72SteelWood

Integrated cam lockYesYes

Answer bid specification information

TechnologyStd top cap lay-in Std base lay-in Cabling within frame Power avail at base Power avail at belt Power avail other locations Power feeds use receptacle openings Same power kit can be used anywhere Architectural grade power Wiring schematics offered Shared or separate neutral power schematics

Off-ModularityPanelsOverhead Storage

StackabilityStackers availableGlassFabricPerforated SteelLoad bearingInterferes with top cap cablingStack/de-stack using:

YesYesYesYesYes

Every 12”

No

YesYes

3

Yes

YesYes

12” and 24”YesYesYesYes No

Vertical UprightsStackers

Privacy Screens

Answer bid specification information

What generation system is the manufacturer positioning?

Can the same panel be scaled up or down for aesthetic, technology, and price considerations?

Are frames dedicated or non-dedicated?

Is the frame open core for easy access to power and data? To change skins?

Are the skins removable? replaceable? reusable? reconfigurable?

Are all the skins tackable acoustical or would additional tackboards need to be ordered atadditional cost?

Is top cap cable management standard, or available as an option with an upcharge?

Does stacking interfere with top cap cabling?

Can cables be easily routed within the frame?

Are cables - in areas other than top cap and base - protected from accidental contact withhang-on components?

Are cables hidden from view, or are plastic covers needed?

Is the power system architecturally rated, or just furniture rated?

Can the same power component be used and reused anywhere on the frame?

Are shared and separate neutral wiring schematics offered?

Is power, voice and data available at locations other than the base or belt?

Can power be distributed without using receptacle openings?

Can the same receptacles be used anywhere in any power location?

Are top caps, end trims, and base trims steel, or is plastic being used?

Other manufacturers’

systems: questions to ask