Allsteel's 8-step desktop audit: which items can be written into office chair procurement acceptance

In National Ergonomics Month 2026, Allsteel released an 8-step desktop audit and claims about the Levra task chair. Items such as seat height and seat depth can be quantitatively accepted, while statements such as the product's "first-of-its-kind" claim remain the manufacturer's own account. ^¹

Office furniture manufacturer Allsteel released a step-by-step ergonomic setup guide in October 2026 for National Ergonomics Month, with content provided by Lauren Gant, the company's senior workplace consulting manager.

The guide is a set of 8-step, bottom-up desktop audit methods aimed at individuals adjusting their workstation setup, rather than a renovation plan for an entire office building.

The seat height item gives quantifiable conditions for acceptance: both feet flat on the floor, knee angle of approximately 85° to 100°, hips level with or slightly higher than the knees, and thighs horizontal or sloping slightly downward.

The seat depth item requires a 2 to 3 inch gap between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees, to maintain leg blood circulation and allow the back to rest against the backrest.

When the seat is too high relative to the desktop, the guide suggests raising the desk with desk leg risers or switching to a height-adjustable desk. This is a setup recommendation, not a mandatory requirement for any product category.

Gant summarizes products that are "ergonomic in themselves" into 4 aspects: fit, movement, comfort and intuitive ease of use. This is the manufacturer's design framework and is not accompanied by third-party test conclusions.

The Levra task chair mentioned in the article uses a structured knit backrest and a weight-sensing responsive mechanism. The related "first-of-its-kind" and "patent pending" statements come from the manufacturer's own account, and certificates and patent status need to be separately verified during procurement.

The guide points out that ADA is only a baseline requirement for accessibility and may not cover comfort and efficiency. Therefore, ADA compliance cannot be directly treated as the basis for passing ergonomic acceptance.