Commercial Furniture Industry Terms Glossary

Materials & Finishes

COM (Customer's Own Material) — Fabric supplied by the customer rather than selected from the manufacturer's standard offering. COM is common when a designer specifies a textile from a third-party mill for brand or aesthetic consistency. The manufacturer will apply it during production, but you're responsible for ordering the correct yardage.

COL (Customer's Own Leather) — The leather equivalent of COM. The customer sources and ships leather to the manufacturer for application. Leather requires careful yield calculations because hides vary in size and usable area.

Laminate — A durable, synthetic surface material bonded to a substrate (usually particleboard or MDF). High-pressure laminate (HPL) is the standard for commercial desks and work surfaces. It resists scratches, stains, and moderate heat.

Veneer — A thin slice of real wood adhered to a substrate. Veneer gives the look and feel of solid wood at a lower cost and with greater dimensional stability. Common in executive casegoods and conference tables.

Product Categories

Systems Furniture — Modular workstation components (panels, worksurfaces, storage, power) designed to connect together in configurable layouts. Think cubicles and panel-based workstations. Major systems lines include Steelcase Answer, Herman Miller Canvas, and Haworth Compose.

Casegoods — Freestanding furniture made primarily from hard materials — desks, credenzas, bookcases, file cabinets, and conference tables. The term comes from the cabinetry tradition and distinguishes these pieces from upholstered seating.

Ancillary Furniture — Supporting pieces that complement primary workstations and private offices. Lounge seating, side tables, collaborative benches, and soft seating fall into this category.

Panel-Based vs. Benching — Panel-based systems use vertical fabric or hard-surface panels to divide workstations and route power. Benching systems use shared worksurfaces on minimal frames with little or no vertical division, creating a more open environment.

Certifications & Standards

BIFMA — The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. BIFMA sets testing standards for durability, safety, and sustainability in commercial furniture. When a chair is “BIFMA certified,” it has passed rigorous cycle and load testing.

GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold — Certifications indicating that a product meets strict chemical emission limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). GREENGUARD Gold is the higher standard, often required for schools and healthcare facilities.

TAA Compliant (Trade Agreements Act) — Products manufactured or substantially transformed in a TAA-designated country. Required for federal government purchases made through GSA Schedule contracts.

STC (Sound Transmission Class) — A rating that measures how well a partition blocks airborne sound. Higher numbers mean better sound isolation. An STC of 40+ is a baseline target for panels providing speech privacy.

NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) — A rating for how much sound a surface absorbs (as opposed to blocks). Fabric panels and ceiling tiles are rated on NRC. A value of 0.70 or higher is considered good absorption.

Procurement & Distribution

FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) — A budgeting category that encompasses all movable furniture and fixtures in a commercial space. Architects and project managers use this term to distinguish from construction costs.

Dealer — An authorized reseller who represents one or more furniture manufacturers. Dealers provide design, specification, ordering, delivery, installation, and ongoing warranty support. Most major manufacturers sell exclusively through dealer networks.

Manufacturer — The company that designs and produces the furniture. Steelcase, Herman Miller (MillerKnoll), Haworth, Knoll, and Teknion are among the largest commercial furniture manufacturers.

Rep (Manufacturer's Representative) — A salesperson employed by or contracted with a manufacturer to support dealers in a geographic territory. Reps help dealers with product knowledge, pricing, and specification support.

Open Line vs. Closed Line — An open-line manufacturer sells through any qualified dealer. A closed-line manufacturer restricts sales to a smaller network of exclusive or authorized dealers. Steelcase and Herman Miller are historically closed-line; many ancillary brands are open-line.

Project Terminology

Specification (Spec) — The detailed description of a product including model number, dimensions, finish selections, fabric choices, and options. A complete specification is what the manufacturer uses to build your order.

Lead Time — The number of weeks between order placement and delivery. Standard lead times range from 4 to 12 weeks depending on manufacturer and product complexity. Custom finishes and COM/COL orders tend to extend lead times.

Quick Ship — A program offered by many manufacturers for popular products in standard finishes, with accelerated lead times of 5 to 10 business days. Selection is limited, but quick-ship is invaluable for fast-track projects.

MTO (Made to Order) — Products built specifically to your specification after the order is placed. Most commercial furniture is MTO, which is why lead times exist and cancellations can be difficult or impossible after a certain point.

Punchlist — A documented list of incomplete, damaged, or incorrect items identified during a post-installation walkthrough. The dealer or installer is responsible for resolving punchlist items, typically within an agreed timeframe.

Change Order — A formal modification to an existing order. Change orders can affect pricing, lead time, and scope. They should always be documented in writing and acknowledged by both parties before proceeding.

COI (Certificate of Insurance) — A document proving that a vendor carries adequate liability insurance. Building management typically requires a COI from any company performing delivery or installation work on-site.