Height-Adjustable Benching: Planning Panels and Power Runs

Start with the power run, not the desktop

In an open office benching layout, power and data routes determine where benches can sit, how panels attach, and whether height adjustment is practical for each seat. Before comparing finishes or handset options, trace the path from the floor box or wall outlet to every proposed workstation.

The KINEX Height Adjustable Benching integrates height adjustability, built-in power and data, and more options for open office environments. That integration means the power plan and the desk plan are the same plan—not two separate decisions.

Map the bench run in four passes

1. 1. Mark the fixed power sources: Locate floor boxes, wall outlets, and any existing data drops. These anchor points limit how far a run can extend without added infrastructure.
2. 2. Choose single or double runs: KINEX can be specified in both single and double runs. Double runs share a power spine between facing seats, which can reduce the number of floor connections but concentrates cable paths along the center line.
3. 3. Decide fixed height or height adjustable: KINEX offers fixed height with 1-stage legs, or height adjustable benching with 2- and 3-stage legs. Fixed-height benches simplify power routing because the desk surface does not move; adjustable benches need slack in cables and clearance for the leg stages.
4. 4. Place panels after the power path is clear: Fabric privacy screens and end panels define personal space and add aesthetic appeal. Set their locations only after confirming that power and data access points remain reachable.

Where panels help—and where they block access

Benching with panels is not just a privacy decision. A screen between facing seats can hide cable trays or make it harder to reach a shared power module. End panels can close off the end of a run, which is useful for defining a team zone but may obstruct a floor box that sits at the run’s edge.

Use panels to separate sightlines and define personal space, but keep at least one accessible side of each power module. If a panel would cover the only route to a data port, move the panel or relocate the port before ordering.

KINEX features that affect the plan

• KINEX Height Adjustable Benching: KINEX Height Adjustable Benching integrates height adjustability, built-in power and data, and more options for your open office environments. Power and data are part of the bench system, so the electrical layout and the furniture layout must be coordinated from the start.

  

• KINEX Height Adjustable Benching: Specify fixed height with 1-stage legs, or height adjustable benching with 2- and 3-stage legs. The leg stage you choose changes how much clearance and cable slack the bench needs, especially in double runs.
• KINEX Height Adjustable Benching: Fabric privacy screens and end panels define personal space and add aesthetic appeal. Panels are the main tool for privacy, but their placement must leave power and data points reachable.

Choose the handset before you finalize the layout

KINEX offers 1-touch mobility with two handset options: standard up/down controls or an upgrade with four memory presets. The handset choice affects where users stand and how often they adjust the bench. In a shared bench run, a standard handset may be enough; in a hot-desk setting, memory presets can reduce setup time for each user.

Decide the handset option before you place panels and power modules, because the handset location should remain unobstructed and within reach from the seated position.

Single run vs. double run: power and panel trade-offs

• Single run: One row of benches facing a wall or aisle. Power can be fed from a wall or floor box along the run. Panels typically sit at the ends or between seats. Simpler to route, but uses more floor depth per seat.
• Double run: Two rows of benches facing each other, often sharing a central power spine. Panels between facing seats add privacy but can complicate access to shared power. More efficient for open office benching layout, but cable paths must be planned carefully.

Checkpoints before you commit

Confirm that every seat has a reachable power and data point after panels are placed. Verify that height-adjustable benches have enough cable slack for the full range of motion—the supplied information does not specify a required slack length, so check with the installer or manufacturer. For fixed-height benches, confirm that the 1-stage legs fit the intended desk height without blocking floor boxes.

Finally, walk the run with the handset in mind: can a seated user reach the controls without leaning past a panel? If not, adjust the panel layout or handset position before ordering.