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The Stakes in Mission-Critical Environments A mission-critical environment is a system that is essential to the survival a business or organization. An organization an be as big or small as needed. When mission-critical environment fails, it endangers and affects the business or organization it is a part of. Think of the Robotics Mission Control Center for the Canadarm, or a local emergency communications center. Canadarm, Robotics Mission Control Center For 911 dispatchers, their mission critical environment is often called a Public Safety Answering Point ( PSAP ) , or an emergency communications center. These work environments house the emergency telecommunicators, their computers, their radio equipment, their monitors and of course - their dispatch consoles. Since they coordinate emergency response they work 24/7 and the staff requires specialized furniture to support their heavy equipment usage. This means keeping IT equipment stored away safely, ensuring there aren’t any outages due to accidental disconnection and providing a comfortable and ergonomic workstation. To do this, dispatch consoles use technology integration into their design and heavy duty materials in their construction. Why Choose Steel Over Pressed Wood Structural Strength Steel substructures offer high rigidity and minimal deflection. Designed for a service life of 20+ years , even under continuous use. Moisture Resistance Powder-coated steel resists moisture effectively. Corrosion only occurs if the protective finish is breached — unlike pressed wood, which can swell or degrade. Fastener Integrity Bolts and inserts in steel maintain their strength indefinitely. Wood fasteners can loosen over time, especially under vibration or load. Impact & Wear Resistance Steel may dent but remains structurally sound. Pressed wood is more prone to cracking, splintering, and surface damage. Fire Safety Steel is non-combustible , offering a safer option in emergency scenarios. Wood-based furniture contributes to fire load and risk. Maintenance Needs Minimal upkeep: occasional hardware tightening and finish touch-ups. Wood requires more frequent inspection and repair. Lifecycle Cost Higher upfront investment in steel. Significantly lower long-term costs due to durability and reduced maintenance. Best Practices for Long-Term Performance To ensure your control room furniture delivers reliable performance over decades of continuous use, it’s essential to make informed choices during the specification and procurement stages. Based on Sustema’s experience in designing consoles for mission-critical environments, here are key recommendations: Specify All-Steel Frames for Load-Bearing Components: Steel frames provide unmatched structural integrity and long-term stability. Avoid mixed-material designs for critical load paths, full steel framing ensures consistent performance under heavy equipment and operator use. Choose High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) Over Moisture-Resistant Cores: While moisture-resistant cores offer some protection, HPL surfaces bonded to steel substructures deliver superior durability, scratch resistance, and aesthetic longevity, especially in high-traffic dispatch centres. Use Metal Inserts or Through-Bolts for High-Load Accessories: For mounting monitor arms, CPU holders, or other heavy accessories, rely on metal inserts or through-bolts anchored into steel. This prevents loosening over time and maintains secure attachment points. Ensure Materials Can Withstand Environmental Conditions: Control rooms typically operate within 40–60% relative humidity and 18–26 °C. All materials, from surface finishes to structural components, should be rated for stability and performance within this range to avoid warping, corrosion, or degradation. By following these best practices, agencies can maximise the lifespan of their investment, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure uninterrupted performance in the most demanding public safety environments. Lifecycle Value: Investing in Reliability In mission-critical environments, furniture isn’t just a line item, it’s a long-term investment in operational continuity. While steel-framed control consoles may carry a higher upfront cost compared to pressed wood alternatives, the long-term financial benefits are substantial. Steel: Built for the Long Haul: Steel substructures offer exceptional durability, requiring minimal maintenance over decades of use. Their resistance to wear, moisture, and structural fatigue means fewer service calls, less downtime, and virtually no need for replacement, a key advantage in 24/7 operations like PSAPs. Pressed Wood: The Hidden Costs: Though initially more affordable, pressed wood furniture often incurs hidden costs over time. Susceptibility to moisture damage, fastener loosening, and structural degradation can lead to frequent repairs or full replacements, disrupting operations and inflating lifecycle expenses. Choosing steel isn’t just about strength, it’s about reliability, safety, and cost-efficiency. For agencies tasked with protecting public safety, investing in robust, long-lasting furniture ensures that dispatchers can focus on their mission without worrying about the integrity of their workspace. Making the Right Choice for Your PSAP When it comes to outfitting your Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), the choice of furniture is more than aesthetic, it’s strategic. Steel-framed control consoles stand out as the superior option, offering unmatched durability, safety, and long-term value. Their resilience under constant use, resistance to environmental stressors, and minimal maintenance requirements make them the ideal foundation for mission-critical operations. While pressed wood can still play a role, particularly for surface finishes, it should be used selectively and only when paired with proper specifications, such as high-pressure laminate and steel reinforcement. This ensures that aesthetics never come at the expense of performance. Ready to upgrade your control room with furniture built to last? Contact us today to explore Sustema’s steel workstation solutions, purpose-built for the demands of 911 operations and designed to support your team for decades to come.

Installation No. 25892 "What sets Sustema apart is their collaborative approach, attention to detail, and dedication to customer satisfaction. They not only met our expectations but exceeded them in terms of responsiveness, craftsmanship, and post-installation support." -Amanda Moore, Communications Director. Edgefield County Sheriff's Office. About the client: It is the mission of the Edgefield County sheriff’s office to provide its population of approximately 27,000 and its visitors with professional law enforcement services. Located on the Savannah River, the sheriff’s department is responsible for covering an area of 506 square miles.   About the project: Our client required a complete redesign of their dispatch consoles for emergency services since they were about to move into a new building. This included redesigned dispatch consoles that supported a lot more technology just their current IT equipment. They were using fixed height consoles with a single worksurface. As part of their center’s redesign, they required additional workspace for each console. Also, all dispatch consoles had to feature height-adjustable dual worksurfaces. They main goal was to make their four dispatchers, and two supervisors feel much more comfortable by providing them with new ergonomic specialized furniture.   About the solution: After discussing our various available solutions, our client chose the Transit Console, which is our most heavy-duty dispatch console. With its 12-gauge steel substructure and its high pressure laminated worksurfaces, our product met their specific requirements for their newly built emergency control room.   The furniture for this center is designed in the “cockpit” configuration , and each dispatch console occupies a footprint of 79 by 79 inches. This allows for them to be arranged in a closed pod configuration and connect to each other thanks to the integrated wall system.   To empower Edgefield’s 911 dispatch team, the Transit Console is manufactured using a steel substructure that supports the weight of the worksurfaces as well as the monitors and accessories attached to the worksurfaces. This metallic structure ensures the console remains operational 24/7 and prevents the worksurfaces to bend over time.   Mounted on the steel substructure are the height-adjustable worksurfaces. The Transit Console can be equipped with dual worksurfaces, where one is designated as the primary worksurface, and another one serves as the monitor worksurface. All the monitors, accessories, task lights and other peripherals like speakers are placed on the monitor worksurface. While keyboards and wireless mouse are placed on the primary worksurface.   For cable management, the Transit Console is equipped with grommet openings installed at both worksurfaces so that cables pass through it, and can be routed through the steel substructure, down the cable chains and directly into the CPU enclosures. Other cables like data and power sources can be routed through the wall support system which connects to the adjacent consoles, hence keeping all cables out of sight and secure. By using electrical raceways, data and power cables are kept separate and this in turn diminishes electromagnetic interference from the difference in voltages.   The HPL surfaces are scratch and stain resistant, as well as anti-static (meaning that it doesn’t not attract things like dust). To improve comfort when working long hours at the console, the worksurface features a urethane waterfall edge which provides a smooth surface for operators to rest their hands on and prevent stress-related injuries.   To improve the comfort of the dispatchers working at the console, the furniture is equipped with integrated heaters at the base of the console and cooling fans installed on the primary worksurface. Both of which are controlled with an integrated keypad.   To offer users easy access to data and power, the worksurface is equipped with a retractable monument featuring data and power outlets.   To complement the worksurfaces of the console, this setup included a Middle Peninsula with Storage with a worksurface that’s 6'2 by 3'2"that fits between 2 consoles. It features a grommet opening for a cable to be routed to the adjacent wall system, and 4 shelves for document storage and personal storage on both sides.   About the results : The implementation of the new Transit Consoles has significantly enhanced the working environment for Edgefield County’s dispatchers and supervisors. A total of four dispatcher consoles were installed in an open pod configuration, with two supervisor consoles positioned to oversee operations. This layout, combined with the cockpit-style configuration, creates an immersive and focused workspace where monitors surround the dispatcher, reducing external distractions and improving situational awareness. The dual height-adjustable worksurfaces have been a game-changer for ergonomics. Dispatchers can now customize the height of both the monitor and primary worksurfaces independently, allowing them to alternate between sitting and standing positions throughout their shifts. This flexibility promotes better posture, reduces fatigue, and supports long-term health and comfort. Integrating heaters and cooling fans allow each dispatchers to be more comfortable when workting at the emergency center, ensuring year-round comfort regardless of the room temperature. These are easily managed through a user-friendly keypad interface, which also controls surface height adjustments. Cable management has been vastly improved with grommet openings, cable chains, and integrated raceways that keep power and data cables organized and out of sight. This not only enhances the aesthetics of the workspace but also reduces clutter and potential hazards, contributing to a safer and more efficient environment. The addition of task lighting, articulated monitor arms, and anti-static, scratch-resistant surfaces further supports productivity and cleanliness. The urethane waterfall edge on the worksurfaces provides a soft resting point for hands and wrists, minimizing strain during extended use. Finally, the inclusion of retractable monuments with built-in power and data ports ensures that dispatchers have quick and convenient access to essential connectivity, reducing downtime and streamlining operations. Overall, the new console setup has empowered Edgefield’s dispatch team with a modern, ergonomic, and highly functional workspace tailored to the demands of 24/7 emergency response. Read what our client had to say: Ready to transform your control room? If you're planning a new control room or looking to upgrade your current setup, we’d love to help. Our team is ready to work with you to design a solution tailored to your operational needs and comfort. Contact us today to start building a workspace that empowers your team and supports 24/7 performance.

In high-stakes environments like 911 dispatch centres, every second counts. The layout of a control room isn’t just about aesthetics—it directly impacts response times, communication flow, and operator wellbeing. At Sustema, we’ve helped dozens of emergency centres across North America optimize their space for peak performance. This guide will walk you through the most effective control room layouts and help you choose the one that best fits your operational needs. Why Layout Is Critical in 911 Dispatch Centres A well-designed layout can: Reduce response time by improving line-of-sight and access to equipment. Enhance communication between operators and supervisors. Minimize fatigue through ergonomic design and noise control. Common challenges include limited space, multi-monitor setups, and the need for constant supervision. The right layout can transform team dynamics and streamline operations.   Overview of Popular Control Room Layouts Popular Control Room Layouts Here’s a breakdown of the most effective layouts used in mission-critical environments: 1. Linear Layout Best for:  Small teams, narrow rooms. Pros:  Simple, scalable, and easy to supervise. Cons:  Limited collaboration zones. 2. Cockpit Layout Best for:  Individual operators who require complete immersion. Pros:  Ergonomic reach zones and immersive setup. Cons:  Less suited for team-based operations. 3. U-Shaped Layout Best for:  High-interaction environments. Pros:  Maximizes surface area and supports multitasking. Cons:  Requires more floor space. 4. Array Configurations Best for:  Large centres with multiple teams. Pros:  Encourages collaboration and isolates noise. Cons:  Harder to supervise centrally. 5. Multidirectional / Spiral-Shaped Configuration Best for:  Complex operations with varied team roles. Pros:  Facilitates dynamic workflows and visual connectivity. Cons:  Requires advanced planning and more space.   How to Choose the Right Layout When selecting a layout, consider: Number of operators, how many people will work at each workstation and for how long, do they need to talk to each other? Room dimensions, obstacles like columns, raised floors and where the power is sourced. Technology requirements, how many monitors and what type of IT equipment will be mounted on the consoles. Supervision style, how will the supervisors communicate with their operators?   Finding the right layout for a small 911 dispatch communications center One of our recent projects  involved maximizing utility within a limited footprint: “Sustema has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to quality in the design, manufacturing, and installation of dispatch consoles for emergency services.” Captain Cory Almond, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office .   Need a new layout for your control room? We can help Your control room layout is more than just furniture—it’s a strategic asset. Whether you're building a new dispatch centre or upgrading an existing one, choosing the right configuration can dramatically improve performance and morale.