Are you looking for folding chairs for your public building? Do you want to make sure you buy the perfect folding chairs that offer the best possible value? Then you need to read Rosehill’s ultimate guide to buying folding chairs first…
What is a folding chair?
As the name suggests, a folding chair is a chair which can be folded away when not in use. Folding chairs are available in a wide range of styles and types – from basic plastic models to nicely upholstered models with extra features.
Folding chairs differ from other types of chairs in that they are usually designed for limited use, i.e. they’re not designed for sitting all day. Instead, folding chairs are what can be considered to be ‘supplemental’ seating. In other words, they’re for those instances when you need to provide extra seating capacity in your building for an event.
Folding chairs are also rarely left out for prolonged periods of time. They are almost always folded and stored away once they’ve finished being used.
It’s possible to buy folding chairs that are designed for both indoor and outdoor use – or models which are designed solely for indoor use.
Folding chairs are typically bought in bulk, and can often be bought as a package with an accompanying trolley which can be used to store and move the chairs.
Finally, all the folding chairs that we sell here at Rosehill are of contract quality. This means that they are designed for use in busy, high-traffic public environments. They feature robust designs and have been manufactured in such a way that they’re able to withstand the rigours of being used by the public day in, day out.
What types of folding chairs are there?
Like other types of chair, folding chairs are available in a broad range of types and styles.
Whether you’re looking for a basic chair that folds to provide extra seating for high-capacity events, or you’re looking for a more upmarket folding chair for an arena or hospitality setting, there’s bound to be one available that fits your requirements.
Below, we’ve detailed the most common types of folding chair.
Plastic folding chairs
Plastic folding chairs almost without exception feature a metal frame with a plastic seat and plastic back.
They are designed to be lightweight, durable, easy to clean and (in many instances), suitable for use both indoors and outdoors.
Despite being plastic, the seat and back of these chairs will be shaped to provide a degree of comfort. The plastic will normally also flex slightly, adding further comfort.
Some plastic folding chairs feature holes within the seat and back. These holes are a design feature that helps to drain away rainwater should the chairs be used outside. Holes can also help with breathability.
Upholstered folding chairs
Upholstered folding chairs will normally have a metal frame accompanied by an upholstered seat and back.
In addition to being upholstered, the chair’s seat and back will normally be padded to provide additional comfort to the user. On the more high-end models, this upholstery can usually be specified in a variety of colours and fabric types.
Upholstered folding chairs are ideal for environments such as hospitality (e.g. events venues), or for settings in which additional comfort is required (e.g. church halls).
Wooden folding chairs
Contract-quality wooden folding chairs differ from the sort of wooden folding chairs you can find for the home in that they feature metal frames.
A metal frame offers far more durability than a wooden one, hence ‘wooden’ folding chairs feature only a wooden seat and back.
In the majority of cases, wooden folding chairs are designed for outdoor use and as such feature ‘slatted’ seats and backs, meaning rainwater cannot pool and collect.
Many wooden chairs are available as a package with an accompanying folding table – making them perfect for cafés, pubs, and street food vendors that have outdoor seating areas.
The features to look for in a folding chair
As well as giving some thought to the type of folding chair you want (e.g. plastic, upholstered or wooden), there are a number of features that you should look for.
Folding mechanism
This is arguably the most important feature to look for in a folding chair – it’s central to the chair’s design, after all!
You’ll want the folding mechanism to be strong, yet smooth, and easy to fold. Some folding mechanisms are piston-assisted, making them even easier to fold and unfold.
Ultimately, you should ensure that the folding chair you buy is manufactured to contract-quality. This will ensure that the folding mechanism has been designed to cope with very heavy repeated use without failing.
Folded depth
Aside from the mechanism itself, you should check the degree to which your chosen chair can fold.
Some chairs – such as our 4100 Series Folding Chair – have a folded depth of only 44 mm. This is exceptionally slim, and means you’ll be able to fit more chairs on a trolley or in a storage area.
Portability
After the folding mechanism and folding depth, portability is one of the most important considerations when selecting a folding chair.
Folding chairs which have tubular metal frames are generally a good option as they are strong whilst also being lightweight.
Some models of folding chairs also feature ‘grab handles’ that make them easier to pick up and move around.
Should storage be of particular concern, then look for folding chairs which come as a package with an accompanying trolley. This allows for the chairs to be stacked and moved out of the way when not in use.
Cross brace
If you want to ensure that the folding chairs you select are both lightweight and strong, then look for chairs which feature a cross brace.
A cross brace will limit the chair’s lateral movement when it is in use. This prevents twisting damage to the frame of the chair.
Some models of folding chairs use a cross brace to not only strengthen the chair, but to prevent it from sinking into soft grass. The cross brace is placed near the bottom of the rear legs of the chair, thus providing a platform that stabilises the chair on soft surfaces.
Feet
If you want to prevent damage to the floor of your public building, then make sure the folding chair you select has feet.
These feet will normally be made from either rubber or plastic and will enclose the end of each chair leg.
Feet will also prevent the chair from moving around when in use and provide additional stability. Some of the higher-end models have self-adjusting feet, for stability on uneven floors too! That can be ideal for older buildings with stone or wooden flooring.
Linking
Many folding chairs are available with integral links. These allow the chairs to be connected together in long, straight rows.
Linking is more important than many people realise. As folding chairs are lightweight, they can be moved about easily and put out of arrangement.
With your folding chairs linked together, you can also prevent the ‘scatter effect’. This is a scenario where the chairs become scattered if people try to leave your building in a hurry.
As you can imagine, the scatter effect can have a major impact on fire safety. Imagine a scenario in which somebody shouts ‘FIRE’. If your chairs aren’t linked, they’ll scatter around, blocking the routes to escape.
This is a big consideration if you hire out your halls for concerts or events where the seats are used in rows.
Frame finish
Another significant thing to consider when picking a folding chair is the finish of the frame.
Folding chairs with metal frames will typically have one of two finishes; chrome or EPC.
Chrome has a deep lustrous finish and is also resistant to scratches and corrosion. However, chrome plating isn’t the most environmentally-friendly of processes. Because of this, many people are now selecting folding chairs that have an EPC finish.
EPC stands for epoxy powder coating and involves coating the chair’s metal frame in dry powder paint and then ‘baking’ it on. Like chrome, EPC has a tough, durable finish. Unlike chrome, EPC is available in a wide range of colours.
Guide – want to know more about EPC and chrome finishes? Then read our guide to EPC and chrome now.
Upholstery
If you’re buying an upholstered folding chair, then you’ll want to check that it is covered in a high-quality contract quality fabric.
Contract fabrics are designed to withstand a huge amount of wear and tear and will also comply with the relevant fire, safety and quality standards.
Guide – for more information, read our complete guide to contract fabrics.
Standards
When selecting folding chairs, make sure you choose a model which is designed and manufactured to the appropriate quality and fire safety standards.
If you want to find out more about these standards, and which should apply to your particular context, we have produced two detailed guides:
- What fire safety standards apply to contract furniture?
- A guide to contract furniture strength and weight testing standards.
Support
Related to the above point, you should also give some thought to how much support your folding chairs will need to provide.
For example, folding chairs like our 2300 Series BIG Classic Folding Chair are able to support weights of up to 230 kg. It also features a wider, more spacious seat and back.
Comfort
Are your folding chairs going to be used for long periods of time on a regular basis? Or are they just going to provide extra seating capacity on an occasional basis?
How you answer those questions should influence what type of folding chair you purchase.
For example, if your chairs are going to be used on a regular basis and are likely to be accommodating people for the length of a show or conference, then choose upholstered, padded chairs.
If they’re only going to be used occasionally for short periods of time, then comfort is less of an issue, and you should select a cheaper, plastic chair.
The key point is that you should think about who will be using the chairs. For example, if your chairs are going to be used by older users in a parish hall, then they’ll appreciate padded, upholstered seats.
To take a contrary example, if your folding chairs are going to be used by youth groups or scout groups, you’ll want to buy easier to maintain folding chairs that feature plastic seats and backs. You may also want to err on the more budget end of the scale given the wear and tear they are likely to be subjected to.
Cost-effective
This isn’t a feature per se, but it’s an important part of the buying process.
When choosing folding chairs, you should think about how often you’ll be using them.
If your folding chairs are only going to be used irregularly to provide supplemental seating, then you won’t necessarily want the most expensive, richly upholstered seats out there.
Likewise, if your folding chairs are going to be seeing a lot of regular use (e.g. at an events venue or music venue), then it’s worth investing as much as possible to get chairs that’ll last for years and provide great levels of comfort. Also, if you hire your venue out, some people will expect a certain level of comfort and design to the seating you have within the package you offer.
Guarantee
In order to get the best value folding chairs for your building, you’re going to want to buy chairs that come with a decent guarantee.
Here at Rosehill, many of our folding chairs come with at least a five-year guarantee. The double-roll steel models have an impressive 10-year guarantee.
Folding chair trolleys
An essential part of buying folding chairs for your venue or public building is to give some thought to how you’ll be storing and moving your folding chairs in bulk.
There are three main types of folding chair trolley.
Folding chair standing trolley
Standing trolleys – as their name suggests – stand the folding chairs upright, allowing you to line up your chairs in a row.
Being stood up like this makes access and handling of the folding chairs easy, helping you to load/unload the trolley more quickly. The chairs are stored in these the right way up.
Folding chair stacking trolley
A stacking trolley allows you to stack your folding chairs vertically, one on top of the other.
This type of trolley has the benefit of having a small footprint, meaning you can store numerous chairs in a relatively small space. The only drawback of this type of trolley is that it can be difficult to access the chairs at the very top.
This trolley type is only suitable for chairs that both stack AND fold, as the shape of the backs fit together like a jigsaw. With soft pads, upholstered models won’t work as the stack would be unstable.
Folding chair hanging trolley
The third type of folding chair trolley is a hanging trolley. This type of trolley allows you to hang your chairs vertically.
This type of trolley is a good choice if you have different sizes and types of chairs that you want to store. This is because you’ll have a choice of racks to hang the chairs from, so you can allocate different chairs to different racks on the trolley.
Like stacking trolleys, hanging trolleys also have quite a small footprint, allowing you to store many chairs in a small space.
Note – it’s also possible to buy ‘double-decker’ hanging trolleys, which allow you to store even more folding chairs.
What is the lead time on folding chairs?
If you’re selecting an ‘off the shelf’ folding chair, then you’ll find that the lead time is between one to three weeks.
This is because manufacturers tend to make folding chairs in bulk and keep them in stock. The stocked models are available in the most popular two to four colours of each design.
However, if you’re buying a folding chair which you have customised e.g. you’ve specified a particular colour or type of fabric for the upholstery, then you’ll find that the lead time is longer than three weeks. This is because the chair will be manufactured specifically to your order, aka made to order (MTO).
Folding chair maintenance
As long as you buy contract-quality folding chairs from a reputable supplier, you should find that your chairs are practically maintenance free.
However, it’s always a good idea to periodically check the condition of your chairs – especially if they’ve been in use for a number of years.
Things to look for include:
- Any damage to the frame – particularly dents, cracks, or corrosion.
- Any damage or faults with the folding mechanism.
- If the chair has a plastic back and seat, check if it is cracked or stressed.
- If the chair is upholstered, look for tears in the fabric or other damage.
Guide – for more information, check out our guide to the most common causes of damage to furniture.
Don’t forget your folding tables!
If you’re on the hunt for folding chairs, then you’ll likely benefit from some folding tables too!
Like folding chairs, folding tables are available in a wide range of different types, sizes, and styles.
Here at Rosehill, we have a huge range of folding tables to choose from.
Shop folding tables at Rosehill now.
Alternatives to folding chairs
If you’re not entirely sure if folding chairs are the right choice for your public building, then luckily there’s a great alternative.
Stacking chairs.
Stacking chairs are now available in high-density versions, and can be stacked up to 60 high. This makes them ideal for use in venues that require large amounts of seating and which may have limited storage space.
Historically folding chairs were the most space efficient seating option to store. However, in recent years the HD stackers can now make that claim.
High-density stacking chairs also don’t feature any moving parts (such as a folding mechanism), so there’s less chance they’ll become damaged over time and many include longer guarantees for that reason.
Guide – for more information, read our guide to high-density stacking chairs.
The best folding chairs UK
Have you decided that folding chairs are the best option for your public building? Then select one of the models detailed below. These are our most popular folding chairs and cover a range of price points.
2000 Series Folding Chair
If you’re looking for an affordable, yet highly practical folding chair, then select the 2000 Series Folding Chair.
Featuring a lightweight yet robust metal frame and a double riveted rear cross brace, the 2000 Series is a chair that will provide years of unfaltering service.
The contoured plastic back and seat offers comfort, whilst the integrated grab handle makes picking up the chair a breeze.
It’s a chair that’ll also handle a wide range of people, conforming to the BS EN 15373: 2007 (Test Level 3) severe contract use standard. It’ll also handle weights of up to 115 kg.
The 2000 Series Folding Chair is available in four distinct colours, so it’s easy to select one that’ll complement your building’s decor. It’s also available with a Transport Dolly and Storage Straps in a package deal.
2900 Series Comfort Deluxe Folding Chair
For a more premium experience, select the 2900 Series Comfort Deluxe Folding Chair.
With a thickly padded seat and a finely contoured padded back, the 2900 Series is one of the most comfortable folding chairs you can buy.
Featuring a sturdy steel frame with an EPC finish, the frame includes integral linking as standard, allowing you to securely lock the chairs together in rows.
The 2900 Series can be upholstered in one of three distinct colours; grey, red, or blue. These fabrics are all Crib 5 fire retardant, meaning they’ll be safe for a wide range of settings.
2600S Series Folding Chair
Offering a great balance between comfort and practicality, the 2600S Series stands out from the crowd thanks to its upholstered seat and plastic back.
Because of this, the 2600S is ideal for multi-use facilities and can be easily folded, stacked and stored on a trolley. The integrated grab handle makes moving and folding this chair super easy.
With two cross braces, the 2600S is strong enough to withstand repeated, daily use in demanding settings.
The back and seat pad of the 2600S can be specified in one of three distinct colours; blue, red, or charcoal. The stock seat pad fabrics are Crib 5 too.
Also available in MTO upholstery options on request.
4000 Series Folding Chair
Should you really want the best folding chair on the market, then there’s the 4000 Series.
This is our premium range folding chair, designed to excel as an arena, theatre, concert and conference seating option.
With a double-rolled steel frame, the 4000 Series is exceptionally strong and robust. It’s also sumptuously comfortable thanks to its thick seat cushion and shaped back pad.
The unique ‘Flexi’ frame also keeps the chair safe and wobble free when used on uneven floors.
The 4000 Series is also highly versatile and practical, coming with integral links and stain-repellent Crib 5 fabric as standard. Should you wish to customise the chair further, you can select from one of three frame finishes.
Furniture buying advice
If you require any help in selecting and purchasing the right folding chairs for your building or facility, then Rosehill is happy to help.
Our expert, friendly sales team is happy to provide you with advice and information and help guide you in your selection. You can contact them on 0161 485 1717 or at: sales@rosehill.co.uk.
Shop folding chairs at Rosehill now
For more contract furniture buying guides, information and advice, read the Rosehill blog…
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