CUSTOMER SALES AND SERVICE COUNTERS

These design guidelines are to be used by architects, project managers, interior designers and

others involved in retrofits/remodels and new construction projects. These guidelines are based

on California Building Code 2020 for Sales and Service Counters with an accessible parallel

approach, national recommendations from ANSI/HFES 100-2007 (Human Factors Engineering of

Computer Workstations) and in accordance with the Campus Ergonomics Strategy for Computer

Workstations http://www.uhs.berkeley.edu/facstaff/ergonomics/ergoatwork.shtml. At the

space must allow for accessibility for customers while incorporating critical workstation design

elements to keep staff safe. Customer sales and service counters are often the focal point when

entering a building or department and additional aesthetic criteria may apply.

These guidelines focus on designing a parallel approach to incorporate accessibility, flexibility,

adjustability, safety and lifetime cost savings for all UC Berkeley and community users. When

incorporating full height adjustable workstations for employees they must lower the height of

the workstation to match that of the counter when there is a perceptible disability or other

obvious need for the accessible sales and service counter.

These guidelines apply to:

Main customer sales and service counters with floor to ceiling walls, Cookson doors, windows or

A. Seated/Standing Workstations at Accessible Sales and Service Counter

1. STAFF DESK HEIGHT:

Preferred Requirements:

 Height-adjustable workstation with height range of 22-48 inches

 Modesty panel on front of workstation facing customer for privacy when desk is

raised above the sales and service counter height is encouraged

 L-shaped height-adjustable workstation, with the computer monitor, keyboard

and mouse on the desk positioned in the corner

 Computer equipment placed directly on top of the desktop. Keyboard trays

unobstructed 33 inch floor-to-under-counter height

o Note: This option does not provide height adjustability and can increase

the employee’s risk of injury

 L-shaped workstation with the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse placed in

the corner or rectangular shape can be used

 Adjustable stool with height range of 25-30 inches with a foot ring and a taller

footrest as needed Ergonomics Requirements for Tall Task Stools at UC

2. STAFF DESK - DEPTH:

Requirements:

 Printer placement to reduce frequent need to get on/off tall stool

3. STAFF DESK - WIDTH:

Requirements:

 Minimum unobstructed horizontal knee space clearance of 30 inches under

computer workstation and under customer sales and service counter

 Minimum width of 30 inches on work surface for placement of keyboard and

mouse

• Adequate desk width for all other frequently-used work tools, including

 Design/mount so counter does not overhang into employee’s work area

 Minimum length: 36 inch length, unless window itself is shorter

 Height: 34 inches, floor to top of counter

• Maximum depth: 9 inches

Tall Seated/Standing Workstations at Customer Sales and Service Counter:

1. STAFF DESK HEIGHT:

Preferred Requirements: (same as seated/standing workstations above except for the

following differences)

 Height-adjustable workstation with height range of 32-48 inches

 Adjustable stool with seat height range of 25 to 30 inches and foot ring

Ergonomics Requirements for Tall Task Stools at UC

2. STAFF DESK - DEPTH:

Requirements: (same as seated/standing workstations above)

3. STAFF DESK - WIDTH:

Requirements: (same as seated/standing workstations above)

4. CUSTOMER SALES AND SERVICE COUNTER

Requirements:

 Directly in front of employee’s work area