Desking and screen mounting solutions for the financial services sector

Large financial trading floors may have up to 1000 trading workstations in a single expanse, which presents significant access and environmental management requirements. Steve Montgomery considers the implications on desks and terminal mounting devices that ensure maximum comfort and operational efficiency to traders.

The financial services sector presents significant challenges to suppliers of furniture and computer equipment. Trading and dealing floors are often packed with desks in close proximity, each housing several computers and supporting several screens and keyboards, along with the essential trading terminals and phones.
The high density of heat-generating computers and screens, as well as the number of human bodies packed into these offices can significantly load the building’s ventilation and air-conditioning system. Heat generated across the floor has to be removed quickly and efficiently in order to maintain a comfortable environment and reduce the stress in an already highly stressful environment.

In addition, to operate effectively in markets in which seconds count, financial traders need to have the best possible view of market conditions, which means they need to be able to view the vast array of information presented to them over several computer monitors. Not only must equipment be positioned to deliver the best possible view, but any equipment failures must be rectified speedily if market opportunities are not to be lost.

The unique requirements of the financial services sector has led to the design of highly specialised mounting solutions. There are three main features that should be addressed in any proposed installation: heat management, equipment access and screen support.

Heat management
Waste heat needs to be removed from desks which may contain several computers and be located in the centre of a large trading floor. Heat needs to be taken away from the CPU unit itself, either by convection or fan coil units, to allow the computer to run as cool as possible for maximum reliability and equipment lifetime. That heat must also be removed from the vicinity of the desk or workstation to create a comfortable environment for staff. By cooling technology at source, the organisation benefits from a solution that is invariably more efficient than the building HVAC system. Elimination of heat radiation for staff makes them more comfortable and productive. Other benefits include the prolonged life of equipment and a reduced need to make expensive changes to more fixed building infrastructure.

Good access to computer units
Together with cable routes that keep cabling organised, are necessary to replace failed equipment quickly and efficiently and aid servicing. The computer storage areas within desks should be well-ventilated and spacious in order to offer good cooling to the equipment and ensure that cables are not damaged through internal restrictions or obstructions.

Positioning of computer trading screens and terminal equipment
Ideally desks should be height adjustable by means of manual, gas or electric lifting mechanisms to offer complete control over the working environment. Screens are normally installed in multi-screen arrangements using support arms. They must be able to be positioned in any location to suit the individual trader using the desk without moving or flexing over time. Although the current generation of LED display monitors is lighter than earlier versions, the combined weight of several monitors can be considerable and the support mechanism must be adequate to mount screens securely and sacredly and to manage several cables that are necessary to provide power and data signals.

Installation of desks and trading workstations on a large trading floor represents a significant investment in furniture and associated cost. While the initial configuration may suit the original requirement exactly, it is highly likely that the layout may need to be changed in future. For this reason many desk systems are modular and some have interchangeable parts and worktops to facilitate new layouts, allowing the room layout to be changed and reconstructed with minimum ease and maximum speed, to limit the disruption to service as much as possible

Useful links:

NEC Displays – Corporate Solutions

DAS

Published on: 11/11/2014