This document discusses anthropometrics and ergonomics in educational spaces. It provides definitions of anthropometrics as the study of human body measurements and ergonomics as designing for human abilities. Descriptive statistics are given for anthropometric data of male and female students, including body dimensions and percentiles. Guidelines are provided for dimensions of furniture, facilities, and spaces in classrooms, computer labs, libraries, auditoriums, sports areas, and for specially abled students. The importance of ergonomics in schools to promote good posture and physical wellbeing through appropriately designed furniture is emphasized.

1. ANTHROPOMETRICS
& ERGONOMICS IN
EDUCATIONAL
SPACES
Niyathi
Prajna
Shambhavi

2. What is Anthropometrics & Ergonomics?
ANTHROPOMETRICS
• Anthropometrics is the comparative
study of the measurements and
capabilities of the human body.
• Anthropometry has a considerable
importance in optimising the design
of buildings.
• The underlying principle of
anthropometrics is that building
designs should adapt to suit the
human body, rather than people
having to adapt to suit the buildings.
• Ergonomics is the process of
designing or arranging workplaces,
products and systems so that they fit
the people who use them.
• Ergonomics aims to create safe,
comfortable and productive workspaces
by bringing human abilities and limitations
into the design of a workspace, including
the individual’s body size, strength, skill,
speed, sensory abilities (vision, hearing),
and even attitudes.
ERGONOMICS

3. SELECTION OF BODY
DIMENSIONS
ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA

4. Selection of body measurements for classroom furniture design
S/No.
according
to ISO
7250
Basic student’s body
dimensions
Description of the
body dimensions
according to ISO
7250
4.1.2 Stature (body height) Vertical distance
from the floor to the
highest point of the
head (vertex)
4.2.1 Sitting height (erect) Vertical distance
from a horizontal
sitting surface to the
highest point of the
head (vertex)
4.2.4 Shoulder height, Vertical distance
from a horizontal
sitting surface to the
acromion
4.2.12 Lower leg length
(popliteal height)
Vertical distance from the foot-
rest surface to the lower surface
of the thigh immediately behind
the knee, bent at right angle
4.2.11 Hip breadth,
sitting
Breadth of the body measured
across the widest portion of the
hips
4.2.5 Elbow height,
sitting
Vertical distance from a
horizontal sitting surface to the
lowest bony point of the elbow
bent at a right angle with the
forearm horizontal
4.4.6 Buttock-popliteal
length (seat
depth)
Horizontal distance from the
hollow of the knee to the
rearmost point of the buttock
4.4.7 Buttock-knee length Horizontal distance from the
foremost point of the knee-
cap to the rearmost point of
the buttock
4.2.13 Thigh clearance Vertical distance from the
sitting surface to the highest
point on the thigh
4.2.2 Eye height, sitting Vertical distance from a
horizontal sitting surface to
the outer corner of the eye
4.2.9 Shoulder (bideltoid)
breadth
Distance across the maximum
lateral protrusions of the right
and left deltoid muscles
4.2.14 Knee height Vertical distance from the
to the highest point of the
superior body of the patella
4.1.1 Body mass (weight) Total mass (weight of the
body) which was measured
with the help of weighing

5. For male students :
S/No. Body dimensions Min Max Male
percentile Mean SD
5th 50th 95th
1 Stature (body height) (mm)1520 1890 1600
1710 1810 1712 62
2 Sitting height (erect) (mm) 680 920 730
805 880 805 43
3 Shoulder height, sitting (mm) 470 650
520 570 620 569 33
4 Lower leg length (popliteal height) (mm) 390 510
410 450 487 450 23
5 Hip breadth, sitting (mm) 260 425 270
320 380 319 30
6 Elbow height, sitting (mm) 130 310 160
200 245 200 28
7 Buttock–popliteal length (seat depth) (mm) 360
540 390 450 520 453
38
8 Buttock–knee length (mm) 460 640 496
560 610 556 35
9 Thigh clearance (mm) 80 200 100
140 185 139 25
10 Eye height, sitting (mm) 600 810 630
710 780 708 43
11 Shoulder (bideltoid) breadth (mm) 350 480
380 420 462 423 24
12 Knee height (mm) 460 600 490
530 570 532 27
13 Body mass (weight) (kg) 400 1100 476
635 915 653 131
1 Stature (body height) (mm)1410 1770 1465
1600 1730 1598 81
2 Sitting height (erect) (mm) 680 830 730
780 820 779 29
3 Shoulder height, sitting (mm) 500 610
500 550 580 548 27
4 Lower leg length (popliteal height) (mm) 340 470
375 420 470 422 30
5 Hip breadth, sitting (mm) 300 450 320
400 430 389 37
6 Elbow height, sitting (mm) 130 250 155
200 240 198 25
7 Buttock-popliteal length (seat depth) (mm) 390
540 390 470 520 463
40
8 Buttock-knee length (mm) 450 620 505
550 620 556 38
9 Thigh clearance (mm) 90 200 100
130 180 135 25
10 Eye height, sitting (mm) 560 770 630
680 720 679 33
11 Shoulder (bideltoid) breadth (mm) 320 460
350 400 440 398 27
12 Knee height (mm) 390 550 420
470 530 474 36
13 Body mass (weight) (kg) 370 1000 400
550 782 559 116
For female students :
S/No. Body dimensions Min Max Female percentile
Mean SD
5th 50th 95th
Descriptive statistics for measured anthropometric dimensions

6. ANTHROPOMETRY IN
KINDERGARTEN

7. CLASSROOM AREAS
Ergonomics researchers stressed that children ergonomics is different from adults. Thus, appropriate
furniture design and facilities should be adapted to avoid hazard or injuries to children such as
muscular disorder.

8. PLAY AREA
Children's playground represents a significant space of activity for pre-school children. Therefore,
it is necessary to apply ergonomic principles which contribute to the adjustment of the
playground elements to children's anatomic features.

9. WASHROOMS
WC for toddlers/kids – Approx. Width: 315mm & Height: 305mm
Sink top should be 29 inches maximum

10. DIMENSIONS OF ELEMENTS
THAT ARE CRITICAL IN ANY
EDUCATIONAL SPACES
Dimensions of vital furniture used in schools

11. CLASSROOMS

12. Dimensions of Desk & Chair

13. Dimensions of Bench/Desk & Whiteboard

14. Middle & High School Classrooms
Children spend more than five hours per day sitting down while doing their school
work. Considering this as well as the potential inadequate use of school furniture, it
is likely that some anatomical functional changes and problems in the learning
process may occur.

15. COMPUTER LABS

16. COMPUTER LAB ANTHROPOMETRY

17. SCIENCE LABS
Chemistry Lab Physics Lab Biology Lab

18. LIBRARY

19. AUDITORIUM
• Seating Capacity-
In general the maximum capacity of an auditorium
depends on the format selected. Other factors include
levels, sightlines, circulation & seating density as well
as size & shape of platform/stage.
• Size-
An area of at least 0.5 sq. m per spectator is to be
used for sitting spectators.
• Length of Rows-
A max. of 16 seats per aisles.
• Exit/escape routes-
1m wide per 150 people (min. width 0.8m).

20. WASHROOMS
• The number of toilets, urinals and
wash-basins required is based on total
number of pupils and separated
according to sex, should be as set out
in the local school buildings
guidelines.
• Sanitary installations with direct
daylight and ventilation are preferable.
• Horizontal and vertical circulations
usually doubles as an emergency
escape routes. Escape routes must
have clear with of minimum width
1M/150 people.

21. CORRIDORS AND STAIRCASES
A minimum width of 1,200 mm, and 1,000 mm between handrails and rise of steps is 150 – 180mm.

22. SPORTS
• Children are at risk for sports injuries because their
bodies are still growing and their coordination is still
developing. Many children ages 14 and under are
treated for sports-related injuries each year. Half of all
of those injuries can be prevented with proper use of
safety gear, changes to the playing environment, and
by following sports rules that help prevent injuries.
• There is a wide range of ideal body shapes and
compositions, depending on the sports, the playing
position and the fitness level.

23. Anthropometry, Ramp size, Toilets of Specially Abled
• Maximum slope for hand-propelled wheelchair
ramps should be 1" of rise to every 12" of length
(4.8 degree angle; 8.3% grade).
• Minimum width should be 36" (inside rails)
- (48" is ideal).

24. The importance of
ergonomics in schools
School furniture and school children’s sitting posture

25. • Being the workplace of future workers,
classrooms must be equipped with
furniture that safeguards the physical
wellbeing of pupils through appropriate
ergonomics and the ability to adjust to
their individual physical needs.
• Considering the amount of time school
children spend in school, primarily sitting,
classroom furniture has a crucial role in the
maintenance of good sitting posture and
should be designed to promote it.
• It can be noticed; the importance and benefits
of ergonomics application to improve the
process of education and training.
• Correctly designed classroom furniture is, among
others, one of the most important key factors in
regular development of all abilities of school
children.