Office furniture can be found in most types of buildings, structures and infrastructure. They are used by staff, teachers, pupils, patients and the general public during the normal operation of a facility, for storage purposes or the general comfort of occupants. They are commonly located in most rooms within offices, schools, universities, hospitals, industrial sites, retail, libraries and civic buildings.

PPE requirements indicated are for guidance purposes only. DRIDS has identified the PPE that is mandatory on all demolition projects and ones that may be required subject to site specific Risk Assessment & Method Statement (RAMS). Hover over the icon to determine the types of PPE required for the removal of this material.

Office furniture in good condition, undamaged, not contaminated and of economic value should be set aside for reuse. Furniture items should be removed, cleaned, segregated and stored carefully and safely to ensure their integrity and good condition. They should be stored away from demolition or refurbishment activities to prevent chips, cracks, contamination and breakage. Preferably they should be stored inside a building or under cover before removal from site. Office furniture destined for recycling or incineration with energy recovery should be free of contaminants, fixtures and fittings before distribution for further processing. Office furniture destined for landfill can be placed in mixed waste skips.

Hammer, screwdrivers, spanners, electric hand tools, flat trolley, box hand trolley, pallet lifter, forklift.

Office furniture is commonly free standing and requires no fixtures, fittings or connections. Large tables, office desks and work stations may be disassembled to ease movement and storage. Some items may have the facility to be moved on wheels or rollers. Some may be fixed in place with brackets, screws, nuts and bolts.

Subject to task-specific Risk Assessment & Method Statement (RAMS). Wear gloves and face mask when handling office furniture to prevent irritation, cuts and abrasion. Use eye protection when moving above-head items to prevent injury from dust or other particles that may have accumulated over time. Use eye protection when using hand tools. Only use a forklift if appropriately trained. Wash hands before eating or drinking.

• Architectural Furniture
• Furniture Reuse Network
• London Reuse Network
• WRAP Office Furniture Reuse Case Study
• Rework Leeds Reuse & Recycling Office Furniture
• Green Furniture Aid
• Recycled Business Furniture
• BCL Green Solutions
• ORS Office Furniture Recycling

• Manual Handling
• Safe Use of Hand Tools