When you're new to the responsibility of buying industrial furniture - whether you need a portable stage, drafting table, modular desks, school furniture, or office partitions - it's difficult to quickly get a grasp of the range of products available, and even harder to determine which products will work best for your needs. Here's a quick rundown to get you started:

Portable Stage: Portable stages come in a variety of heights, typically 8 inches, 16 inches, 24 inches, 32 inches, and 40 inches. They are also available in different widths and lengths, the most common being 3 feet by 6 feet, 3 feet by 8 feet, 4 feet by 6 feet, and 4 feet by 8 feet. The top of a portable stage is called a deck, and can be made from hardboard or polypropylene. Polypropylene decks can be carpeted to enhance their appearance.

Portable stages give you a wide variety of options. You can, for example, buy several platforms of the same height to form a flat performance stage. Or, you can buy several different heights to construct band or choral risers. When buying a portable stage, look for those that assemble quickly and that take up little room when folded and stacked. Finally, keep in mind that for safety reasons, guardrails should be used on the sides and rear of stages.

School Furniture: When selecting school furniture, the two realities are that kids grow and that they are hard on furniture. By all means, select desks that are height-adjustable and that have laminate surfaces that are easy to clean and hard to damage.

School desks are typically available with two types of openings: the lift-lid kind and the open-front type. If you select desks with lift-lid openings, be sure that they have sturdy steel hinges and dual closing devices for durability and quietness.

School chairs are usually available in four heights: 12 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, and 18 inches. The chair legs are either tubular (for linoleum or other hard floor surfaces) or what's called a sled base (for carpeted surfaces). Stackable chairs usually work best for school settings, since they're easy to store and simple to move for cleaning.

Drafting Table: The most crucial element of a drafting table is height adjustability. The proper height is important to prevent back strain and injuries. The top of the drafting table should have a non-glare finish and a top angle adjustment of up to 50 degrees. In addition, a drafting table should include a tool drawer and a reference drawer.

Office Partitions: There are many different types of office partitions from which to choose. Look for those that feature panels with adjustable glides and quick connectors to combine two or more panels. Keep in mind that office spaces change, so the office partitions you choose should allow for flexibility.