SOMA SomaChair User manual

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©2007 S OMA E RGONOMICS , I NC . • HOMEOF BIONOMICS: THE SCIENCEOF COMFORT
SMc SomaManual 07
Care for your body. It’s the only one you’ve got!
Care for the Earth. It’s the only one we’ve got!
Why use soy and water based inks and print on recycled or tree free paper?
Because producing one ton of paper from discarded waste paper uses half the energy,
half the water, results in 74 percent less air pollution and 35 percent less water pollution,
saves 17 pulp trees, reduces solid waste going to landfills, creates five times more jobs
than producing a ton of paper from virgin wood pulp and . . . .
EVERY TON OF RECYCLED PAPER SAVES:
•Approximately 17 trees
•4,100 kwh of energy (enough to power
an average home for six months)
•7,000 gallons of water
•60 pounds of pollutants from
release into the atmosphere
If all printing companies used only soy-based inks, the U.S. could save
5-6% of our oil imports, about the amount of oil we imported from Iraq in 1989.
We use non-toxic inks and recycled paper because, in the long run, it helps everyone.
And that's what we're about helping make the world just a little bit better, every day.
To create an even better world we thought we needed a new bill of rights, a bill of rights
that responds to this century. Why have a new bill of rights? Because rights set priorities
and by putting these rights in writing everyone has something concrete to aim for,
With that in mind, we looked for and found a commercial bill of rights, and here it is:
• THE COMMERCIAL BILL OF RIGHTS •
1.The right to create the best products and participate
in processes that do not harm others;
2.The right to work in a clean, safe environment;
3.The right to a job that is meaningful, worthy, and constructive;
4.The right to work for companies that pay fairly;
5.The right to be told the truth about the company and its products;
6.The right to participate in critical and substantive decisions;
7.The right to not exploit people or other life forms.

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SMc SomaManual 07
Warranty
Soma’s products are built-to-last and designed to provide many years of service under
normal use. Soma Ergonomics warrants to the original user that products manufactured
by Soma Ergonomics will be free from defects in materials and workmanship and carry
the following warranties when used within a single-shift setting by a person weighing
250 pounds or less. Warranties are calculated from the date of shipment:
1. Lifetime warranty on fabricated chair frames against structural failure,
and on pneumatic cylinders, casters, and glides under normal use.
2. Five (5) years on chair mechanisms and adj. arm supports under normal use.
3. Four (3) years on fabric, cushions and arm pads under normal use.
4. When chair is used over 40 hours per week ,a simple 2-year warranty applies.
5. Four (4) years on Xtra-Sturdy™chairs and two (2) years on fabric, cushions
and arm pads under normal use.
This warranty is the customer’s exclusive remedy for product defect and does
not apply to damage caused by carrier, abuse, negligence, misuse, user modi -
fication, normal wear, or customer’s material or leather . Replacement parts that
can be installed in the field - backrests, casters, bases, lifts, arm supports and pads - will
be shipped at no charge. Field part replacements are the responsibility of the Soma dealer
through which product was sold. Soma will not accept unauthorized charges for expenses
(such as labor and freight) incurred by the customer for the repair of goods or for the
damage to goods caused by others. Authorized company personnel must approve any
such charges in advance and in writing. Soma reserves the right to make necessary
repairs at its manufacturing plant.
No implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for any partic-
ular purpose extend beyond the terms of these express warranties. These warranties do
not apply to any products which have been repaired or altered in any way so as to impair
performance or reliability, nor to products which have been misused, abused, neglected
or accidentally damaged in transit. SOMA ERGONOMICS, INC.liability for its products shall be
limited to repairing or replacing parts determined by SOMA ERGONOMICS, INC.to be defective
or, at SOMA ERGONOMICS’option, to refunding the purchase price of such parts.
SOMA ERGONOMICS, INC.will not be liable, under any circumstance, for incidental or conse-
quential damages (including, without limitation, lost revenues) arising in connection with
the sale, use, inability to use, repair or replacement of SOMA ERGONOMICS,INC.products. The
remedies of the purchaser set forth in this here warranty are exclusive and the liability of
SOMA ERGONOMICS,INC.arising from any cause whatsoever shall not exceed the price paid for
the products. Meanwhile, have fun and love your seat and it will love your back.
™
You are about toexperience the ultimate comfort that only a SomaChair™can give.
In this little booklet you will find :
• Instructions on how to put your new chair together (pg. 3)
• Instructions on how to adjust your new chair (pg. 4 - 6)
• Comfort tips (pg. 7 - 8)
• General maintenance tips (pg. 9)
• Some trouble-shooting tips (pg. 10)
• Warranty information (pg. 11)
If you have any questions about your chair, the adjustments, or the comfort tips, you may contact us at:
510-883-9100 or 800-836-9130
[e-mail]
Please be prepared to give us your Chair Serial Number/order number which you can find hand
written in the top right corner of the chair parts tag found under the seat pan. We are available from
10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., 6 days a week.
Please let us know if there is something you would have liked to add to your chair, but haven't seen
We’re always striving to improve our products. Therefore we are always coming out with new fabrics,
new colors, new styles, for the way you live, at a price and design you and the earth can afford!
If you would like to update the parts on your chair or just change the style, call us. Depending on the
the type of part and the condition its in, you may be able to take advantage of our cradle to cradle
recycle and reuse rebate program. If we can refurbish or recycle an old part, we’ll credit that against
your next purchase. That way there’s less waste and you, us and the earth all benefit, now and in the
long term. We're here to serve you!
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©2003 S OMA E RGONOMICS , I NC . • HOMEOF BIONOMICS: THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
SMc Manual (R, S, AS, SS)

2. Also, make sure the lever is down.
3. To tighten the rocking mechanism, take
an adjustable wrench and turn the adjustment nut
that is located on the opposite side of the lever that
controls the rocking function 1/4 to 1/2 a turn
tighter. Make sure the bolt doesn’t turn when you
turn the nut. If it does lift the adjustment lever and
continue.
4. Sit on the edge of the seat. If it stays
you’re done. If it still slips go back and tighten the
nut another 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. Repeat until you get
it into adjustment. That’s it!
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SMc SomaManual 07
3.
4.
7.
How to Put
Your Chair Together
You may need to perform some or all of the
following steps to set up your new chair:
1. Place base with casters onto the floor
2. Place lift with cover cans in the center hole of base. Make sure the cover can has free
movement between the 2 or 3 pieces
3. Place the seat onto the lift by matching up the hole in the mechanism with the chrome
tip. Make sure it has securely slipped in, then sit on the seat to lodge the lift tight
4. Pull up back height adjustment handle (you may have to hold it)
5. Carefully insert backrest post vertically into slot all the way through until the little hole
on the bottom of the post appears below.
6. Push the lever down
7. Insert the little plastic pin into the hole at the bottom of the back post.
8. Slide the armrests into the brackets underneath the seat on each side (AA arms are
inserted perpendicular to the seat, SA arms are inserted at an angle as shown below)
and flip the lever and/or screw in the knob to tighten.
1.
2.
5.
6.
Seat Front
How to Adjust Your Chair: Page 4 - 6
Comfort Adjustment Tips: Pages 7 & 8)
8.
Troubleshooting Tips
Ifyourbackrestisslipping:
1. Take the backrest out of its slot. by removing the little plastic
pin at the bottom of the back post, lifting the back height
adjustment lever, and pullingthe backrestout of the slot.
2. Check the style of sleeve your chair has (a one- piece sleeve
is a continuous black plastic piece going all the way
through the slot; a two-piece sleeve is two individual
black plastic pieces that fit in the top and the bottom of the
slot)
3. If it is a two-piece sleeve, check the integrity of both plas-
tic pieces. If one of them is broken, give us a call and
we’ll send a replacement one-piece sleeve out to you.
4. If both pieces on the two-piecesleeve are intact or if you
have a one-piece sleeve, you will need a wrench.
5. Put the backrest back into the backrest slot and leave the
back height adjustment lever in the UP position.
6. Turn the adjustment nut 1/4 to 1/2 a turn tighter.
7. Test the backrest, by raising it a few inches, locking the
back height adjustment lever down and pushing down
on the backrest. If it still slides easily, repeat item 6 until
the backrest holds to your satisfaction.
Back Height
Adjustment Lever
Ifyourrockermechanismunexpectedlyreleasesforward:
1. Observe yourself during the day. If you have a tendency to bring your feet underneath
you, you may be touching the lever enough to cause the seat to slip.
Adjustment nut

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©2007 S OMA E RGONOMICS , I NC . • HOMEOF BIONOMICS: THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
SMc SomaManual 07
How to Adjust an N Mechanism
S
43
1. Seat Height – To lower seat,pullup handle. To
raise seat, pull up handle while taking your weight
off the seat.
2. Seat Angle – To tilt seat forward or rearwards,
pull up the handle and shift weight to your legs or
shift weight to the rear. When you find the right
seat angle, release the lever. We recommend that if
you are wearing slippery clothes you do not tilt the
seat forward because you may feel like you are
sliding forward. This may make it difficult to relax
your back, leg and buttock muscles.
3. Backrest Height – To raise or lower back
rest, lift handle (or turn knob), grab the bottom cen-
ter of the back rest and and pull it up or push it
down then push handle back down.
NOTE: For the best support keep the
top of the backrest away from your
shoulder blades.
4. Backrest Angle – To adjust back-
rest angle, lift handle and lean back to
push the backrest back or lean forward
to have the backrest come forward.
Then let go of the handle.
How to Adjust an S Mechanism
N
3
1. Seat Height – To lower seat, pull up handle. To raise
seat, pull up handle while taking your weight off the seat.
3. Backrest Height – To raise or lower back rest, lift
handle(or turn knob), grab the bottom center of the back
rest and and pull it up or push it down then push handle
back down.
2. Backrest Angle – To adjust backrest angle, lift handle
and leanback to push the backrest back or lean forward to
have the backrest come forward. Then let go of the handle.
General Maintenance
1. Wipe dust off the mechanism with a soft clean cloth regularly.
2. Oil at all moving joints annually. Keep oil off the clutch plates!
3. Tighten backrest post when necessary by:
a) putting the back height adjustment lever in the UP position.
b) turn the adjustment nut 1/4 to 1/2 a turn tighter using an
adjustable wrench.
c) testing the backrest by raising it a few inches, locking the
back height adjustment lever down and pushing down on
the backrest. If it still slides easily, repeat item b) until the
backrest holds to your satisfaction.
E
45
6
1.Seat Height – To lower the seat, pull up on lever.
To raise the seat, pull up on lever while taking your
weight off the seat.
2. Recline lock – Tounlock, pull up on lever and
lean back to disengage lock. Then you’ll be able to
rock freely. Either leave in free float or push lever
down to lock in any of 7 positions. If it is too hard or
too easy to recline go back to step 2 to adjust tension
3. Seat Tilt Tension – Pull knob out to the side
then to increase tension turn clockwise, to decrease
tension turn counter clockwise. Then push back in.
4. Backrest Angle – To fine tune the backrest
angle, lift handle and lean back to push the backrest
back or lean forward to have the backrest come
forward. Then either push the handle down to lock
the angle or leave it up so backrest will free float
5. Backrest Height – To raise or lower back
rest, lift handle (or turn knob), just grab the bottom
center of the back rest and pull it up or push it down
then push handle back down.
6. Seat Depth – pull up on
lever to release the seat slider.
Then move seat forward or back
to adjust seat length/depth by
scooting yourself forward or
back. Tip: It is easier to do if you
put your feet on the chair base.
How to Adjust an E Mechanism
4
213

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SMc SomaManual 07
How to Adjust R & K Mechanism
How to Adjust the Seat Depth
Side-Lever Model (SSs):
pull lever out to release seat slider
Front-Lever Model (SSf):
pull front lever up to release the seat
slider.
Then move seat forward or back to adjust
seat length. Allow lever to go back into a
slot after you made the adjustment.
SSs lever
location
SSf lever location
3. Rocking Seat T ilt – To tilt seat, pull up the han-
dle and shift weight forward or back. To free-float/rock
leave handle up. To lock in any desired position, push
handle down.
4.SeatHeight– To lowerseat, pull uphandle. To raise
seat, pull up handle while taking your weight off the seat.
1. Seat Tilt Tension – This knob is under the seat.
To increase tension turn clockwise, to decrease tension
for lighter people turn counter clockwise.
2. Forward Tilt Stop – To prevent the seat from tilting
forward, move handle per drawings on the left (2a and 2b).
6. Backrest Height – To raise or lower the back-
rest, lift handle, grab thebottom center of the backrest and
pull it up or pushit down, then push handle back down.
5.BackrestAngle– To adjust backrestangle,lifthandle
andleanback to push the backrestback or lean forward to
have the backrestcome forward. Then let go of the handle.
13
4
5
2a) Forward Tilt Stop
“clock-wise” handle motion for
Rocker (R) Mechanism.
locked
position
Front
unlocked
position
6
R
2b) Forward Tilt Stop
“forward/back” handle motion for
KneeT ilt (K) Mechanism.
locked
position
Front
unlocked
position
7 Keys to Relief
from Back Pain and RSI’s
2. Keep Your Shoulder
Blades Free.
The body tenses up if it has to
fight the backrest. Free movement
is essential for good posture.
1. Relax / “Let Go Of”
your upper back, neck
and shoulder muscles.
3.Maintain Pelvic
Stability .
Push your low back firmly
against the backrest.
This stabilizes the low back and is
critical for reduction of injury-
causing static muscle tension in
the back, neck and shoulders. 7. Keep Feet Firmly
planted on the floor
to stabilize your body
4. Stay Balanced
Over Your Spine
to avoid unnecessary
muscle use and fatigue
5. Eliminate Extension.
Keep elbows back and arms close
to your torso.
6. Set Seat Heigh t
so that your hip joint is
about 2” higher than
your knee joint.

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SMc SomaManual 07
Maximum Comfort Tips
Pelvic stability and good posture
are achieved here be sitting
slightly reclined back using
gravity to allow the muscles to
relax. The backrest is set so that
the sacral area below the lum-
bar curve is stabilized and the
shoulder blades are free to
move. If you have a neck pil-
low, place it in the nape of
your neck.
The key to comfort? Greater body awareness!
Pelvic stability and good posture
are achieved by placing the back-
rest in the sacral area below the
lumbar curve and by tilting the
backrest forward so your pelvis is
locked in and is firmly supported
between the seat and backrest.
Muscle relaxation is achieved by
being balanced over the spine
while the pivot point, your hips,
are held and stabilized.
Ever wonder why you are or
are not comfortable in a chair?
Researchshowsthatyourcomfort
level when sitting depends
upon good pelvic support and
positioning. Without it you can
more easily develop back
injuries. Your body knows this
intuitively and tries to stabilize
your pelvis whenever possible.
You or someone you know
probably sits on the edge of
their seat or likes to recline.
Either way you are unknowingly
trying to achieve pelvic stability.
And this is easier when sitting
in a SOMA chair because of our
exclusive S OMA Two-Part™
seats, and
S OMA Cut-Away™
and ThorSac™back rests.
1. Loosen knob or rotate chrome lever
directly under armrests in direction of
arrow.
2. Grab bottom of armrests and pull armrests
out, then rotate them behind the backrest
or into a forward angled position.
3. Rotate lever as shown to tighten (for ease
of repetitive use, the lever can be left
untightened).
Armrests swungbehind backrest out of the
way of yourelbows when keyboarding.
How to Adjust Swing-Away
™Arms
Seat Front
How to Adjust Height/Width Arms
1.To adjust height, pull the button under
the armrest cap up and set armrest at
desired height.
2. If you chose width adjustment, loosen
the knob or flop the lever (whichever
you chair came with) under the seat,
grab the bottom of the armrest, pull
the armrest out to the desired position
an tighten the knob again or flip the
the lever back to the tight position.
Button Knob or Lever
Two recommended ways to adjust your chair
For upright sitting For semi or fully reclined sitting
seat flat with backrest forward seat and back both angled back