Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

Who is Sedia Systems?
For more than 20 years, Sedia Systems has been a leading global manufacturer of lecture hall and auditorium seating. The company was founded on the belief that fixed seating could be both highly functional and beautifully designed. Building on our expertise in shaping spaces for people to gather, learn and perform, we have expanded our offering through Akouo Acoustics to provide acoustic solutions that support the comfort, function and aesthetic of each environment. Today, Sedia Systems offers one of the industry’s most extensive portfolios of innovative seating solutions for educational, corporate and performing arts spaces around the world.

Is Sedia Systems a US company?
Yes, Sedia Systems is a US-based company. Our corporate office is located in Chicago, IL. Our primary manufacturing facility is in Asheboro, NC. We also have our Sedia Systems EMEA office in Dublin, Ireland servicing our customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Who is my local contact?
Please refer to our Rep Locator to find your local Sedia Systems representative.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we can ship to any part of the world. With offices in both Europe and the US we can service and support installations worldwide.

How do I buy Sedia Systems products outside of the United States?
For projects in Europe, Middle East and Africa, contact James Rush at jrush@sediasystems.eu. For all other international markets, contact Roy Koch at rkoch@sediasystems.com.

Do you offer CAD drawings/layouts?
Yes, in fact this is a service we provide at no charge to guarantee a high-quality installation. Our drawings will ensure that we optimize your seat counts and achieve the seating capacity and functionality that you desire. This process takes 2-4 days depending on project information provided and the time of year.

What is your lead-time?
Lead times vary by product and time of year. Standard lead-times for most products are approximately 6-8 weeks from the receipt of an order, field verifications and all signed submittals and documents. JumpSeat® lead-time is 2-4 weeks depending on order size, finish and fabric availability. During our peak season (June-August) lead times may increase by an additional 2-4 weeks. If lead times are critical, please contact your local Sedia Systems representative for more detailed and up-to-date information.

Do you provide installation?
For our lecture hall and auditorium solutions we provide a Sedia Systems Certified Installer to guarantee that our products are installed properly and seamlessly. Our warranty may not apply if products are installed by someone other than a Sedia Systems Certified Installer.

What type of anchor is required for proper installation?
The most common floor types are concrete, wood floorboards and raised surfaces; we supply anchors for every installation application. Assembly instructions for construction requirements are found on the product detail pages of our website.

What is your warranty?
Our Standard Warranty is 10 years structural, 5 years on electrical and moving parts, and 1 year on upholstery. Any custom solutions or parts have a one-year warranty. For projects completed through the Sedia Systems Refresh Program, warranty coverage is renewed on replaced components.

How can I get budgetary pricing?
Please reach out to your local Sedia Systems representative for budgetary pricing and be prepared to answer a few key questions so they can expedite your request. The questions that you will be asked include:

• What kind of seat count are you trying to achieve in the room?
• Is this a renovation or new construction?
• If it is a renovation, are you planning a complete seating replacement, or would you like us to evaluate whether your existing fixed seating may be a candidate for the Sedia Systems Refresh Program?
• Do you have a CAD drawing so we can see the room layout and whether it has a sloped floor, flat floor or risers?
• When do you want to have the seats installed?
• Please provide any details about the delivery site such as access to the rooms, freight elevators or any other conditions that may impact how the product is delivered.
• And finally, the address where the furniture will be shipped.

How can I order a product sample?
Please contact your local Sedia Systems representative or contact us directly at samples@sediasystems.com.

What is the lead-time on product samples?
Standard product samples are available in 2-3 weeks; project specific product samples are available in 2-4 weeks, depending on fabric availability. Additional notice is preferred during the peak season (June-August).

How do I order hardcopy literature?
Please contact your local Sedia Systems representative or send an email with your literature requirements, name, company, address and phone to samples@sediasystems.com.

Do you offer non-standard finishes?
Yes, we offer a number of non-standard fabrics and finishes, including COM fabrics, special laminates and custom wood stains. Please contact your local Sedia Systems representative for more information.

Can I visualize my product without ordering a sample?
Our website product configurator is available on select auditorium products. It’s easy to use and will help visualize the product with your project finishes. You can download a PDF, high res image or 3D model with your selected finishes. The configurator is currently available on the FT20, FT20 Mesh, G20, J30 and R40 auditorium chairs.

Is there a standard size for writing tablets?
No, unfortunately there is no universal size or weight capacity for tablets. Every company manufactures their tablets to work with their chairs. Some products have certain dimensional limitations forcing the tablet to be smaller; other tablets may be larger and/or test to a higher weight standard due to their application in high use and abusive academic environments. The best thing to do is contact your local Sedia Systems representative and describe the application you are seeking a tablet for and allow them to show you the best options for that application.

What is the Sedia Systems Refresh Program?
The Sedia Systems Refresh Program is a lifecycle modernization program designed to extend the useful life of existing fixed seating systems without requiring a complete replacement.

Rather than starting over, Sedia Systems evaluates the existing seating to determine what can be preserved and what should be renewed or upgraded. Depending on the needs of the space, Refresh can renew chairs and upholstery, replace swing arms with the Gen3 design, upgrade power modules to include USB, improve long-term performance and renew warranty coverage on replaced components.

Refresh is available through two paths that can be implemented individually or together:

• Refresh CORE — Chairs + Gen3 Swing Arms
• Refresh TECH — Power Modules

The goal is to improve the appearance, comfort and functionality of the space while reducing the cost and disruption associated with replacing an entire fixed seating system.

Should I refurbish or buy new chairs?
The answer depends on what you have installed and whether you need to remove the entire chair to refurbish the seat and back cushions or whether you can leave the stanchions in the floor and just remove the cushions. If you have to remove the entire chair from the floor, including the stanchions, it’s likely that refurbishing will be significantly MORE expensive than buying new. The reason being, you will pay for chair removal, seat and back removal, refurbishing of cushions, reinstalling the seat and back cushions and finally, reinstalling the chairs. Typically, this will cost between 10-30% MORE than buying new chairs.

How do I get a quote?
Please contact your local Sedia Systems representative for a quote. If you are interested in modernizing an existing fixed seating installation through the Refresh Program, you can also schedule a site review or contact our Refresh team at refresh@sediasystems.com.