Write The Seating Brief Around Activities
Before trialling office chairs with armrests and unspecified standards, list the main activities carried out at the desk. Note where forearm support might be useful and where arms could affect access. Include the expected users, since an assessment for one person asks different questions from a shared seating arrangement.
Turn those activities into a short sequence everyone can follow. Keep equipment placement consistent at the beginning, then record any changes participants make. This creates comparable observations and prevents a chair from receiving credit or criticism for a workstation arrangement that differs from the one used in another trial.
Establish What The Armrests Actually Offer
Armrests being present does not establish whether they are fixed or adjustable. Confirm their operation before judging how they suit the task. Check the position of the support relative to the seat and desktop, and ask users to demonstrate how they place their arms during their normal work.
Look beyond contact with the forearms. Observe whether the arms affect approach to the desk, reaching for nearby items or leaving the chair. If movement is available, test it directly. If the position is fixed, assess that geometry without assuming that another control will compensate for a mismatch.

