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Choosing the right control console for a control room involves answering two key questions:  What type of technology do you need at your center?  and  What does the space of your center look like?  This principle applies to all industries where mission-critical environments are used. Answering these questions will help project managers and planners meet operator comfort and comply with the latest accessibility and ergonomic standards. Understanding the Technology Requirements CPU Requirements : Determine how many CPUs you need. Some control rooms use remote servers, but most PSAPs and other emergency communications centers still rely on local CPUs stored at the dispatcher’s console. Sustema consoles  feature all-steel CPU enclosures with perforated steel sliding trays. These can be oriented to pull the CPU towards the front or back of the console. CPU enclosures can be located in the middle or at the extremes of the console, allowing multiple CPUs inside the workstation. You can also integrate a box-box-file for stationary items and additional storage. CPU enclosures for control room consoles by Sustema. Monitor Configuration : Assess the number and size of monitors. Whether you have a single row of four 24-inch monitors or larger configurations, Sustema control consoles can accommodate various setups. Monitors can be mounted on fixed monitor posts, a slat-wall system, or a monitor focal adjustment array, which offers additional cable management support. Additional Technology : Consider other tech incorporated into the console, such as phones, radios, and touchpads. Electrical Certifications : When selecting CPUs and other electronic components for your control console, it's crucial to ensure they meet relevant electrical certifications  such as UL, CSA, and CE. These certifications guarantee the safety and reliability of the equipment. Understanding the Space Requirements Power Source : Identify where your power is coming from—raised floor, wall, or ceiling. This will affect the console layout. Room Obstacles : Consider any permanent structures like pillars or columns that may impact the console placement. User Capacity : Determine how many users will be in the room at any one time to calculate the required number of consoles. Traffic guidelines : Consider foot traffic when planning passageways : zero traffic areas need no passageways, low traffic areas need narrow ones, moderate traffic areas require wider passageways, and high traffic areas need the widest passageways for frequent access. Departmental Needs : Assess the needs of different departments (e.g., police, fire, ambulance, call-taking, dispatch) and the proximity of supervisors to these departments. Building a New Control Room? We Can Help. No matter which industry you are in, choosing the right control console involves understanding both the technology and space requirements of your control room. By considering these factors and tailoring the setup to your specific industry needs, you can create an efficient and ergonomic mission-critical environment. Whether you're in public safety, power generation, surveillance, oil and refineries, professional trading, air traffic control, or government agencies, we can assist you throughout the process to ensure your control room meets all your operational needs. Reach out to us for expert guidance and support in building your new control room.

The control room is a high-stakes environment where operators monitor and control vital operational activities. They do so through their control room consoles, which are pieces of specialized furniture packed with ergonomic features and technology integrations. However, no 2 control rooms are the same so each instalation requires different accessories to help operators stay productive. Here are the essential accessories to include in your control room. Task light: Control rooms are often dark environments, where each workstation is individually lit using task lights. Operators prefer to work in dark rooms because it helps them to focus on the task at hand. However, on the long run this can be taxing on the eyes. To provide operators with the option to illuminate their workspace, control consoles can implement heavy-duty task ligths that offer good lighting thanks to extremely high lumen output, and most importantly they can be adjusted both in position and in intensity, to illuminate as much as the operator requires. Explore the best task lights  available for control rooms. Status light: In 911 dispatch control rooms, a status light can be attached to the console on top of a monitor post. These lights are not meant to provide lighting but instead to serve as indicators to supervisors and the rest of the staff. The light features as many colors as needed, for example white indicates that there is no one at the console, red indicates the operators requires assistance, green can indicate the operator is engaged in a call, and blue can indicate that there is someone at the console but they are waiting for a call to come through. These lights are integrated into our ConsoleALERT system . Console Alert system by Sustema Retractable monuments: Control room and dispatch consoles are made in a way where electronic devices like CPUs, PDUs, and cables can be stored securely inside custom-designed CPU enclosures.  But ensure access to power and data directly on the worksurface, control room consoles integrate monument outlets into the worksurface. These monument systems  blend into the surface and can be hidden when they are not in use. The configuration of the outlets can be customized to meet the needs and requirements of the operator. Retractable monument outlet for control room consoles Thermostatic fans: With all the energy used by CPUs and other IT equipment, the enclosure can overheat. To overcome this issue, we've integrated silent thermostatic fans to dissipate the hot air outside the enclosure. The thermostatic fans can be programmed to monitor the temperature inside the cabinet and release the hot air as needed to save energy. Thermostatic fans for specialized furniture Powerbars: To improve cable management and improve efficienct in the control room, control consoles can integrate power bars underneath the worksurface, inside the wall structure or the CPU enclosures. These power bars make organizing cable easier by avoiding having too many cables going down the cable chains and hanging underneath the console. Powerbar for control room consoles Console panels: To create a more private and comfortable workspace a plexiglass or glass panel can be fixed on each side of the surfaces, but it can also be an acoustic panel. These panels create a barrier between operators to offer better privacy and reduce noise levels. They can provide a sense of individual space for each operator in an otherwise busy and loud environment. Ergonomic chairs: Prolonged sitting can have serious consequences, thankfully ergonomic furniture like chairs can minimize these negative impacts. A good chair allows the adjustment of the height of the backrest, the height and width of the seat, it features a stable chair base and it dissipates the weight of the user to keep bloodf and oxygen flowing through the body. Ergonomic chair for control rooms Mobile pedestals: Featuring drawers units mounted on wheels and available with 2 or 3 drawers for better organization, Sustema offers storage pieces that are sturdy and long lasting. They are highly adaptable and provide a secure storage for sensible equipment or supplies. Explore our different solutions of storage for control rooms . Monitor arms: In a control room, monitors can be installed horizontally, vertically and on multiple levels. Choosing the right monitor arm for a 911 dispatch center impacts efficiency, comfort, and safety. These accessories are designed for continuos use, for flexibility, to be compatible with modern VESA standards, and stable. Dive into the key considerations  for selecting a monitor arm. Ambient LED light: Control rooms are adding LED lighting strips to the wall system of control consoles, or under the worksurfaces to create a more comfortable and productive work environment. This use of indirect lighting helps with eye strain by reducing the contrast between bright screens and dark surroundings. Renewing your control room consoles?  We can help. Implementing these accessories in a control room can optimize your daily operations. But if you are renovating your control room consoles, we can help you throughout the process. Contact our team  of specialists and start working with us.

Planning a control room involves many critical decisions that can significantly impact its efficiency and functionality. Here are five common mistakes to avoid, along with examples to illustrate their consequences: 1. Poor Ergonomics Leading to Fatigue and Inefficiency Example : Imagine a control room where operators are required to use non-adjustable work surfaces and chairs that lack lumbar support. Over time, this setup can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism. To avoid this, invest in ergonomic furniture that supports various body types and allows for adjustments to suit individual needs. Solution : Implement adjustable consoles , chairs with lumbar support, and monitor arms  that can be positioned at eye level. This ensures operators can work comfortably for extended periods without strain. SITA command center using control room consoles for 24/7 operations. 2. Inadequate Space Planning Example : A control room designed without considering future expansion might become overcrowded as new equipment is added. This can obstruct floor traffic , hinder collaboration, and increase the risk of errors. For instance, a cramped control room in a power plant might lead to delays in responding to critical alarms due to restricted movement. Solution : Plan for adequate space that accommodates current needs and allows for future growth. Use modular furniture that can be reconfigured as requirements change. 3. Ignoring Stakeholders' Experience Example : Failing to analyze workflows during control room design can lead to inefficient layouts that waste time and hinder productivity. For example, if operators frequently need to access certain controls or monitors, placing these elements far apart can lead to unnecessary movement and delays. Solution : Engage with stakeholders early in the design process to understand their needs and workflows. Design the layout to minimize movement and ensure that frequently used equipment is easily accessible using a slat wall  on the control console. 4. Poor Lighting Example : Too much natural lighting can create glare or wash out video displays, while insufficient lighting can strain operators' eyes. For instance, a control room with large windows might experience glare during sunny days, making it difficult for operators to read screens accurately. Solution : Use indirect lighting with the correct frequency and color temperature to promote vigilance. Implement adjustable lighting solutions that can be controlled to suit different tasks and times of day, explore the best task lights  for control rooms. 5. Ignoring Future Planning and Expansion Needs Example : A control room that doesn't account for future technology upgrades or the need for additional workstations  can quickly become outdated. For example, a control room in a transportation hub might struggle to integrate new monitoring systems if space and infrastructure weren't planned for expansion. Solution : Design with flexibility in mind. Ensure that the infrastructure can support future technological advancements and additional workstations. Use scalable solutions that can be easily upgraded. Planning a New Control Room? At Sustema, we specialize in designing control rooms  that meet your needs and stay within budget. Contact us  to build a workplace that enhances efficiency and supports future growth.