Anthropometric Measures of the Human

Anthropometry (Gr. anthropos—human, metreo—measure), according to the def­inition in the encyclopaedia PWN, is a group of technologies of making mea­surements of the body or skeleton of a modern and fossil human being, and it enables an accurate and comparable study of diversity and variability of measured characteristics of the human in his personal and evolutionary development.

Knowledge of the human’s dimensions, called anthropometric dimensions, constitutes the basic component of the knowledge base necessary to shape work­stations in terms of the user’s comfort and functionality of the designed products. The application of these dimensions enables one to carefully design a usable space, choose the appropriate size of furniture and their component parts and propose the most favourable arrangement of this furniture in relation of each other and the user.

The frequency distribution of anthropometric characteristics generally takes the form of a Gaussian distribution. Therefore, when there is no possibility of designing furniture for 100 % of the population, in literature, it is recommended to adopt border values of characteristics corresponding to the lower centile (5C), upper centile (95C) and average value (50C). The threshold values determine what number of a given population is located in a given range. Hence, the lowest dimension defined by centile 5C is not achieved by only 5 % of the population, while 95 % of the population is found below centile 95C. Centile 50C (average)

symmetrically divides the population of users into ones achieving a specific dimension and those who do not achieve this dimension (Batogowska and Malinowski 1997). According to the principle of restrictive measures, a properly designed piece of furniture should, therefore, take into account the dimensions adjusted to the dimensions of the users, at least 90 % of the population, that is those, whose dimensions fall between the values of the 5th and 95th centile (Fig. 3.16). Thus, the percentage of people, for whom a usable space or piece of furniture will not be adjusted, will amount to 5 and 10 %, respectively.

Usually, it is assumed that the dimensions that correspond to the characteristics

• of the 5th centile are applied to determine dimensions, borders of zones of reach, positions of important handles, fittings and locks,

• of the 95th centile are used for internal dimensions, spaces for the lower limbs, trunk, etc.

For these reasons, furniture for lying down should be designed for users from the population represented by the 95th centile and furniture for work and dining according to the characteristics of values of the 50th centile, as well as furniture for storage according to 5th or 50th centile. In order to unify the application of this rule, anthropometric data are provided in the system (for men and women) of the 5th, 50th and 95th centile. Figure 3.17 and Table 3.2 summarise the basic anthropo­metric features for a person in a seated position, and Fig. 3.18 and Table 3.3 illustrate the anthropometric features for a person in a standing position.

In the practice of design, there is a fundamental difficulty, due to the variation in the dimensions of individual members of the population. The reason for this dif­ferentiation is ethnic origin, gender, height, development, age and social and pro­fessional class. In order to facilitate the selection of these dimensions, anthropometric data have been provided below for the adults of selected countries

Fig. 3.17 More important anthropometric measures of persons in the seated position: a side view, b front view, c top view

Name of the feature	No. of the feature ace. to PN-EN ISO 7250-1:2010	Parameter	Unit	5th centile	50th centile	95th centile
Woman	Man	Woman	Man	Woman	Man
Reach of straight leg		G1	mm	912	980	1003	1080	1119	1194
Reach of shin at knee bend		G2	mm	774	913	851	1007	952	1112
Depth of the seat from the knee	4.4.7	G3	mm	532	554	578	601	624	646
Depth of the seat	4.4.6	G4	mm	441	480	486	536	552	588
5/6 of the depth of the seat		5/6 G4	mm	367	400	405	446	460	490
Width of space for knees		G3_G4	mm	91	74	92	65	72	58
Depth of buttocks-abdomen	4.2.17	G5	mm	197	230	256	284	343	344
Maximum protrusion of a table worktop		G3_G5	mm	335	324	322	317	281	302
Reach of forearm at elbow bend		G6	mm	274	294	315	335	326	376
The distance of the acromion point (a) from the line of the back		G7	mm	57	53	60	60	80	70
The distance of the acromion points (a) and (a’) when the body is bent		G8	mm	193	214	235	241	227	297
Frontal hold reach to the table worktop		G9	mm	601	637	692	746	758	801
Frontal hold reach	4.4.2	G10	mm	687	736	772	836	836	898
Hold reach from the acromion point (a’) to the table worktop when the body is bent		Gil	mm	816	877	949	1010	1070	1126
Frontal hold reach when the body is bent		G12	mm	880	950	1007	1077	1125	1195
Depth of chest	4.2.16	G13	mm	228	214	263	242	321	280
Popliteal height	4.2.12	HI	mm	361	388	402	428	448	488
Seating height	4.2.1	H2	mm	792	833	861	907	916	980
Shoulder seating height	4.2.4	H3	mm	515	547	566	586	625	688

Table 3.2 Dimensions of a person in the seated position for the 5th, 50th and 95th centile (own development based on Jarosz 2003)

(continued)

122 3 Ergonomics of Furniture

Name of the feature	No. of the feature acc. to PN-EN ISO 7250-1:2010	Parameter	Unit	5th centile	50th centile	95th centile
Woman	Man	Woman	Man	Woman	Man
Elbow seating height	4.2.5	H4	mm	198	194	240	225	292	301
Height of loin support		H5	mm	170	220	170	220	170	220
Thigh gap	4.2.13	H6	mm	115	115	139	146	169	171
Thigh height		H7	mm	471	500	517	544	567	606
Arm length from acromion (a) to radiale (r)		H8	mm	317	353	326	361	333	387
Worktop height		HP	mm	254	253	305	291	367	381
Knee height		HK	mm	112	112	116	116	118	118
Thigh height	4.2.14	HlpHK	mm	471	500	517	544	567	606
Knee height		H7_H1	mm	110	112	115	116	119	118
Height to the rails		HlpH6	mm	476	503	541	574	617	659
Height to the worktop of the table		HlpH4	mm	559	582	642	653	740	789
Body height	4.1.2	HC1	mm	1536	1660	1634	1778	1740	1890
Elbow seating width		SO	mm	391	481	454	548	517	621
Hip seating width	4.1.11	SI	mm	325	319	365	353	410	592
Shoulder width	4.2.8	S2	mm	332	376	372	440	416	445
Shoulder seating width	4.2.9	S3	mm	355	456	453	518	525	588
Elbow width		S4	mm	391	481	454	548	517	621
Width of reach of straight legs		S5	mm	770	1124	846	1238	944	1368
Width of reach of legs bent at the knees		S6	mm	654	1046	718	1154	804	1274
Width of frontal hold reach at elbow bend		S7	mm	880	964	1002	1110	1068	1197
Width of frontal hold reach on the table worktop		S8	mm	1420	1544	1636	1812	1772	1907

(continued)

3.4 Anthropotechnical Designing

Fig. 3.18 More important anthropometric measures of a person in a standing position: a front view, b side view

of the European Union for the purpose of designing (Jarosz 2003) (Tables 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9).

Often, designs include the individual character of the workstation and place for sleep or rest. Then, the designer should both independently calculate the value of individual measures and specify the value of the centile representing the user, for whom the project is created (Dirken 2001; Haak and Leever-van der Burgh 1994; Molenbroek 1994; Panero and Zelnik 1979; Pheasant 2001). The method of cal­culating the dimension for centile C has been given below:

SC = SR ± Z • SD (3.8)

where

• SC—dimension calculated for centile C,

• SR—average measures established on the basis of anthropometric tables of a selected population,

• Z—coefficient established from Table 3.10. The coefficient can assume ± values. For dimensions above the average, the coefficient has the value (+), while for dimensions below the average value, the coefficient has the value (—),

• SD—standard deviation for the dimension SR determined on the basis of anthropometric tables of the selected population.

No. of the feature	Name of the feature	Men	Women
Centiles
5	50	95	5	50	95
4.1.1	Body height when standing	1710	1810	1910	1580	1690	1790
4.1.12	Hip width when standing	310	340	370	315	350	405
4.2.1	Seating height	900	950	1000	840	900	950
4.2.2	Eye height when seating	770	820	870	710	760	820
4.2.9	Shoulder width (upper body width)	425	460	500	365	400	430
4.2.11	Hip width when seating	320	350	390	325	375	630
4.2.12	Shin length (popliteal height)	415	455	505	370	410	450
4.2.14	Thigh height	505	550	600	460	500	550
4.3.1	Arm length	185	195	205	160	175	195
4.3.3	Arm width	80	90	95	70	80	85
4.3.7	Foot length	240	260	280	230	250	275
4.3.9	Head length	185	195	205	170	180	195
4.3.10	Head width	145	155	170	140	150	160
4.3.12	Head circumference	550	580	600	520	550	580
4.4.2	Frontal reach (fingers straight)	820	870	930	740	810	870
4.4.7	Length buttock-knee	580	630	670	540	590	450

Table 3.5 Anthropometric data for the region: Central Europe (Jarosz 2003) No. of the feature Name of the feature Men Women Centiles 5 50 95 5 50 95 4.1.1 Body height when standing 1670 1770 1860 1550 1660 1750 4.1.12 Hip width when standing 310 350 375 315 360 410 4.2.1 Seating height 880 940 980 820 880 930 4.2.2 Eye height when seating 740 800 850 700 750 810 4.2.9 Shoulder width (upper body width) 420 460 490 365 420 455 4.2.11 Hip width when seating 310 365 390 330 400 440 4.2.12 Shin length (popliteal height) 420 465 500 390 425 460 4.2.14 Thigh height 495 550 595 460 500 540 4.3.1 Arm length 175 190 205 160 175 190 4.3.3 Arm width 80 90 95 70 75 85 4.3.7 Foot length 240 265 285 220 240 260 4.3.9 Head length 180 190 200 170 180 190 4.3.10 Head width 145 155 165 135 145 155 4.3.12 Head circumference 540 575 600 520 550 590 4.4.2 Frontal reach (fingers straight) 800 850 890 740 800 840 4.4.7 Length buttock-knee 550 610 660 530 580 630

No. of the feature	Name of the feature	Men	Women
Centiles
5	50	95	5	50	95
4.1.1	Body height when standing	1660	1750	1850	1540	1630	1720
4.1.1	Hip width when standing	305	345	385	315	360	405
4.2.1	Seating height	860	910	960	830	870	910
4.2.2	Eye height when seating	730	790	850	670	730	790
4.2.9	Shoulder width (upper body width)	410	450	490	370	410	450
4.2.11	Hip width when seating	310	360	400	325	380	435
4.2.12	Shin length (popliteal height)	395	445	490	375	405	430
4.2.14	Thigh height	490	550	590	445	510	540
4.3.1	Arm length	175	190	205	155	175	190
4.3.3	Arm width	80	90	100	75	80	85
4.3.7	Foot length	245	265	285	225	245	265
4.3.9	Head length	180	190	200	170	180	190
4.3.10	Head width	150	155	165	145	150	160
4.3.12	Head circumference	540	570	600	530	550	580
4.4.2	Frontal reach (fingers straight)	800	840	890	740	780	820
4.4.7	Length buttock-knee	550	600	650	520	570	610

Table 3.7 Anthropometric data for the region: south-eastern Europe (Jarosz 2003) No. of the feature Name of the feature Men Women Centiles 5 50 95 5 50 95 4.1.1 Body height when standing 1640 1730 1830 1530 1620 1720 4.1.12 Hip width when standing 310 340 370 315 350 400 4.2.1 Seating height 860 900 960 800 860 900 4.2.2 Eye height when seating 740 790 840 680 730 780 4.2.9 Shoulder width (upper body width) 420 450 490 365 405 430 4.2.11 Hip width when seating 310 355 390 320 370 430 4.2.12 Shin length (popliteal height) 410 455 485 340 380 420 4.2.14 Thigh height 490 535 580 425 460 495 4.3.1 Arm length 175 190 205 160 175 190 4.3.3 Arm width 80 90 95 70 75 85 4.3.7 Foot length 245 265 285 220 240 260 4.3.9 Head length 175 190 205 160 175 190 4.3.10 Head width 145 155 165 140 150 160 4.3.12 Head circumference 550 570 590 530 550 570 4.4.2 Frontal reach (fingers straight) 790 830 880 740 780 830 4.4.7 Length buttock-knee 570 600 650 530 570 610

Table 3.8 Anthropometric data for the region: France (Jarosz 2003) No. of the feature Name of the feature Men Women Centiles 5 50 95 5 50 95 4.1.1 Body height when standing 1660 1770 1890 1530 1630 1740 4.1.12 Hip width when standing 310 340 370 315 350 400 4.2.1 Seating height 870 930 980 820 860 910 4.2.2 Eye height when seating 750 800 850 690 730 780 4.2.9 Shoulder width (upper body width) 410 450 490 370 410 430 4.2.11 Hip width when seating 315 350 380 320 375 430 4.2.12 Shin length (popliteal height) 390 445 490 345 385 425 4.2.14 Thigh height 495 540 580 455 490 525 4.3.1 Arm length 180 195 210 160 170 180 4.3.3 Arm width 80 90 95 70 75 85 4.3.7 Foot length 245 265 285 220 235 255 4.3.9 Head length 180 195 205 170 180 190 4.3.10 Head width 145 155 165 135 140 150 4.3.12 Head circumference 540 570 600 520 550 570 4.4.2 Frontal reach (fingers straight) 800 850 910 730 780 830 4.4.7 Length buttock-knee 560 620 660 520 570 610

Table 3.9 Anthropometric data for the region: Iberian Peninsula (Jarosz 2003) No. of the feature Name of the feature Men Women Centiles 5 50 95 5 50 95 4.1.1 Body height when standing 1580 1710 1830 1510 1600 1700 4.1.12 Hip width when standing 295 340 370 300 350 400 4.2.1 Seating height 830 890 950 800 850 900 4.2.2 Eye height when seating 720 790 850 680 740 810 4.2.9 Shoulder width (upper body width) 400 440 480 350 390 430 4.2.11 Hip width when seating 300 345 390 310 360 425 4.2.12 Shin length (popliteal height) 400 440 480 340 380 420 4.2.14 Thigh height 470 520 570 445 480 520 4.3.1 Arm length 170 185 215 155 175 200 4.3.3 Arm width 80 85 90 70 75 80 4.3.7 Foot length 240 270 300 215 245 280 4.3.9 Head length 175 185 200 165 180 190 4.3.10 Head width 145 155 165 140 150 160 4.3.12 Head circumference 520 565 600 505 535 565 4.4.2 Frontal reach (fingers straight) 760 820 880 720 770 820 4.4.7 Length buttock-knee 540 590 640 510 560 600

Table 3.10 Values of the coefficient Z Z 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.0 – 50.00 49.60 49.20 48.80 48.40 48.01 47.61 47.21 46.81 46.41 + 50.00 50.40 50.80 51.20 51.60 51.99 52.39 52.79 53.19 53.59 0.1 – 46.02 45.62 45.22 44.83 44.43 44.04 43.64 43.25 42.86 42.47 + 53.98 54.38 54.78 55.17 55.57 55.96 56.36 56.75 57.14 57.53 0.2 – 42.07 41.68 41.29 40.90 40.52 40.13 39.74 39.36 38.97 38.59 + 57.93 58.32 58.71 59.10 59.48 59.87 60.26 60.64 61.03 61.41 0.3 – 38.21 37.83 37.45 37.07 36.69 36.32 35.94 35.57 35.20 34.83 + 61.79 62.17 62.55 62.93 63.31 63.68 64.06 84.43 64.80 65.17 0.4 – 34.46 34.09 33.72 33.36 33.00 32.64 32.28 31.92 31.56 31.21 + 65.54 65.91 66.28 66.64 67.00 67.36 67.72 68.08 68.44 68.79 0.5 – 30.85 30.50 30.15 29.81 29.46 29.12 28.77 28.43 28.10 27.76 + 69.15 69.50 69.85 70.19 70.54 70.88 71.23 71.57 71.90 72.24 0.6 – 27.43 27.09 26.76 26.43 26.11 25.78 25.46 25.14 24.83 24.51 + 72.57 72.91 73.24 73.57 73.89 74.22 74.54 74.86 75.17 75.49 0.7 – 24.20 23.89 23.58 23.27 22.96 22.66 22.36 22.06 21.77 21.48 + 75.80 76.11 76.42 76.73 77.04 77.34 77.64 77.94 78.23 78.52 0.8 – 21.19 20.90 20.61 20.33 20.05 19.77 19.49 19.22 18.94 18.67 + 78.81 79.10 79.39 79.67 79.95 80.23 80.51 80.78 81.06 81.33 0.9 – 18.41 18.14 17.88 17.62 17.36 17.11 16.85 16.60 16.35 16.11 + 81.59 81.86 82.12 82.38 82.64 82.89 83.15 83.40 83.65 83.89 1.0 – 15.87 15.62 15.39 15.15 14.92 14.69 14.46 14.23 14.01 13.79 + 84.13 84.38 84.61 84.85 85.08 85.31 85.54 85.77 85.99 86.21 1.1 – 13.57 13.35 13.14 12.92 12.71 12.51 12.30 12.10 11.90 11.70 + 86.43 86.65 86.86 87.08 87.29 87.49 87.70 87.90 88.10 88.30 1.2 – 11.51 11.31 11.12 10.93 10.75 10.56 10.38 10.20 10.03 9.85 + 88.49 88.69 88.88 89.07 89.25 89.44 89.62 89.80 89.97 90.15 1.3 – 9.68 9.51 9.34 9.18 9.01 8.85 8.69 8.53 8.38 8.23 + 90.32 90.49 90.66 90.82 90.99 91.15 91.31 91.47 91.62 91.77 1.4 – 8.08 7.93 7.78 7.64 7.49 7.35 7.21 7.08 6.94 6.81 + 91.92 92.07 92.22 92.36 92.51 92.65 92.79 92.92 93.06 93.19 1.5 – 6.68 6.55 6.43 6.30 6.18 6.06 5.94 5.82 5.71 5.59 + 93.32 93.45 93.57 93.70 93.82 93.94 94.06 94.18 94.39 94.41 1.6 – 5.48 5.37 5.26 5.16 5.05 4.95 4.85 4.75 4.65 4.55 + 94.52 94.63 94.74 94.84 94.95 95.05 95.15 95.25 95.35 95.45 1.7 – 4.46 4.36 4.27 4.18 4.09 4.01 3.92 3.84 3.75 3.67 + 95.54 95.64 95.73 95.82 95.91 95.99 96.08 96.16 96.25 96.33 1.8 – 3.59 3.51 3.44 3.36 3.29 3.22 3.14 3.07 3.01 2.94 + 96.41 96.49 96.56 96.64 96.71 96.78 96.86 96.93 96.99 97.06 1.9 – 2.87 2.81 2.74 2.68 2.62 2.56 2.50 2.44 2.39 2.33 + 97.13 97.19 97.26 97.32 97.38 97.44 97.50 97.56 97.61 97.67 (continued)

Table 3.10 (continued) Z 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 2.0 – 2.28 2.22 2.17 2.12 2.07 2.02 1.97 1.92 1.88 1.83 + 97.72 97.78 97.83 97.88 97.93 97.98 98.03 98.08 98.12 98.17 2.1 – 1.79 1.74 1.70 1.66 1.62 1.58 1.54 1.50 1.46 1.43 + 98.21 98.26 98.30 98.34 98.38 98.42 98.46 98.50 98.54 98.57 2.2 – 1.39 1.38 1.32 1.29 1.25 1.22 1.19 1.16 1.13 1.10 + 98.61 98.64 98.68 98.71 98.75 98.78 98.81 98.84 98.87 98.90 2.3 – 1.07 1.04 1.02 0.99 0.96 0.94 0.91 0.89 0.87 0.84 + 98.93 98.96 98.98 99.01 99.04 99.06 99.09 99.11 99.13 99.16 2.4 – 0.82 0.80 0.78 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69 0.68 0.66 0.64 + 99.18 99.20 99.22 99.25 99.27 99.29 99.31 99.32 99.34 99.36 2.5 – 0.62 0.60 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.54 0.52 0.51 0.49 0.48 + 99.38 99.40 99.41 99.43 99.45 99.46 99.48 99.49 99.51 99.52 2.9 – 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.15 0.15 0.14 0.14 + 99.81 99.82 99.83 99.83 99.84 99.84 99.85 99.85 99.86 99.86

Example

If the average height of an adult male amounts to SR = 1766 mm, the standard deviation of this measure amounts to SD = 76 mm, and then, in reading the value of coefficient Z (for the corresponding centile) from Table 3.10, we calculate the sought height value:

for 5C	SC = 1766 – 1.64	76 = 1641 mm,
for 85C	SC = 1766 + 1.04	76 = 1845 mm,
for 99C	SC = 1766 + 2.33	76 = 1943 mm.

When designing interiors, we refer the dimensions of many objects to the dimension of the dominating object or also the dominating dimension of the user. By knowing his main features, determining the functionality of the designed fur­niture piece or interior, as well as the average value and standard deviation of this dimension, the value of coefficient Z can be calculated, which will allow to design other dimensions of a given product or other objects:

Z =(SC-SR)/SD. (3.9)

Examples

A man who is 1920 mm tall represents the group of tall people, and 98.87 % of the population is shorter, because

Z = (1920-1706)/94 = +2.28,

and in Table 3.10, the coefficient Z = + 2.28 corresponds to the 98.87th centile.

In a kitchen furnished with cabinets with a height of 900 mm, the lowest usable plane is the bottom surface of the sink away from the floor by 750 mm. The centile corresponding to the first height specifies how many users will be taller:

Z = (750-766)/43 = -0.37.

Based on the calculated Z value, it can be concluded that 100 % – 35.57 % = 64.43 % of tall users will have to bend down while doing the dishes and straighten up again when moving on to work at the cabinets.

When designing, the dimension differences resulting from the age of users using the same furniture should also be taken into account. Compiling the average dimension for a man and woman of different ages can be conducted on the basis of the equation:

SRa+b = %A • SRa + %B • SRb (3.10)

and

SDA+b = %A • SDA + %B • SDB + %A • %B • (SRa – SR#)2 (3.11)

When compiling the dimensions for any two groups, one needs to know the average dimensions and standard deviations of these dimensions for each of the groups. For example, at the age of 65, women dominate (58.65 %), while for the average population, the representation of gender is more uniform (A = 50.27 % of men and B = 49.73 % of women). Assuming the average height of the body of a man aged 18-65 years old equal to, e. g., SRA = 1766 mm and standard deviation SRA = 75.46 mm, as well as the dimensions of women corresponding to these parameters: SRB = 1646 mm and SRB = 67.91 mm, the average height of the human body between the ages of 18 to 65 years old should amount to:

SRa+b = 0.5027 • 1766 + 0.4973 • 1646 = 1706.32 mm,

SDa+B2 = 0.5027 • 75.45962 + 0.4973 • 67.91132 + 0.5027 • 0.4973 • (1766-1646)2, SDa+B2 = 2862.45 + 2293.52 + 3599.90 = 8775.87,

SDa+b = 93.6 mm.

Adding and subtracting dimensions takes place according to the superposition principle:

SRa ± B = SRa ± SRb, (3.12)

SDA±b = SDA + SDB±2 • r • SDa • SDb. (3.13)

Coefficient r (Table 3.11) expresses relations between two dimensions of the body.

Dimension	Height	Width	Depth
Height	0.65
Width	0.30	0.65
Depth	0.20	0.40	0.20

Table 3.11 Coefficient value of the relations between the dimensions of the body

Example

In order to determine the height of the worktop of a table, the seat height should be set at SRa = 446 mm and height from the seat to the surface of the worktop SRB = 244 mm. For the adult population of users, the result of this compilation provides the average value:

SRa+b = 446 + 244 = 690 mm,

SD2 = 262 + 242 + 2 • 0.65 • 26 • 24 = 2063.2,

SD = 45.42 mm.

The average height between the floor and the worktop surface should therefore amount to 690 mm. In order to calculate the height taking into account the base under the feet (also the soles of footwear), an additional 30 mm should be con­sidered. The new height of the worktop should therefore amount to 720 mm. Of course, a height that takes into account the needs of the population from 1 to 99 % would be satisfying, and therefore

1C = SR—2.33 • SD = 690-2.33 • 45.42 = 584 mm + 30 (sole) = 610 mm, 99C = SR + 2.33 • SD = 690 + 2.33 • 45.42 = 789 mm + 30 (sole) = 820 mm.

In the group of office furniture, chairs are often equipped with a lifting and tilting mechanism of the seat. Therefore, the height of the worktop should be 60 mm higher than at traditional chairs. According to the calculated values, the height of the worktop should range from 610 to 880 mm.