Student's Body Dimensions in Relation to Classroom Furniture

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to investigate the fit between university student's anthropometry and classroom furniture dimensions. Method: In this cross-sectional and descriptive-analyzing study conducted in 2012, a total of 194 students (aged 18 through 30 years), were recruited randomly from Tabriz University of Medical Science community. The body size of each student was assessed using anthropometric measurements including shoulder height, elbow height, popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length, hip breadth and distance between elbows. Combinational equations defined the acceptable furniture dimensions according to anthropometry and match percentages were computed, according to either the existing situations assuming that they could use the most appropriate of the sizes available. Results: Desk and seat height were higher than the accepted limits for most students (92.5% and 98.4%, respectively), while seat depth was appropriate for only 84.6% of students. The data indicate a mismatch between the students’ bodily dimensions and the classroom furniture available to them. The chairs are too high and too deep and desks are also too high for the pupils. This situation may have negative effects on the sitting posture of the students especially when reading and writing. Conclusion: High mismatch percentages were found between furniture and students' anthropometry. The results confirm that furniture for university students should be selected and designed busied on their anthropometric dimensions.

Keywords

• Body dimensions
• Furniture
• Anthropometry
• Ergonomics