ANTHROPOMETRY IN PRESENTER: SNEHA MANDAR

OCCUPATION
 Introduction

Definition

Purpose

Measurements and techniques

CONTENTS
Human Physical Variability

Basic Application

Office Ergonomics

Universal Design
 INTRODUCTION

• The word “anthropometry” is derived from the Greek words “Anthropos”

(man) and “Metron” (measure) and means measurement of the human body.

• Anthropometry is the branch of the human sciences that deals with body
measurements, particularly with measurements of body size, shape, strength,
mobility and flexibility and working capacity.

• Physical anthropology refers to the measurement of the human individual

for understanding human physical variation.
• Anthropometry is the science that measures the range of body sizes in a
population. When designing products, it is important to remember that
people come in many sizes and shapes.

• Anthropometric data varies considerably between regional populations.

• For example, Scandinavian populations tend to be taller, while Asian and

Italian populations tend to be shorter.
• Anthropometrics is an important branch of ergonomics.

• It stands alongside (for example) cognitive ergonomics (which deals

with information processing), environmental ergonomics and a variety
of other identifiable subdisciplines which progress (in parallel, as it
were) towards the same overall end of fitting the job to the worker and
the product to the user.

• Ergonomics is the science of work: of the people who do it and the

ways it is done; the tools and equipment they use, the places they work
in, and the psychosocial aspects of the working situation.
• Today, anthropometry plays an important role in industrial design,
clothing design, architecture, and ergonomics. Changes in life-styles,
nutrition, and ethnic composition of populations lead to changes in the
distribution of body dimensions (e.g., food consumption, exercise) and
require regular updating of anthropometric data collections.
• In ergonomics, anthropometry is used as the basis of setting up a
workstation.

• The two primary objectives of the ergonomics process are to enhance

performance and reduce fatigue.

• The ergonomics process is a multistep method to evaluate work, study

how the body responds to these work demands, and use this
information to design or improve work areas
 1. describes a series of dimensions and several
ratios that have relevance to the physical
activity and sport sciences
2. body size and proportions, physique and
body composition are important factors in
Purpose of physical performance and fitness

Anthropometry 3. it enhances the differences between

overweight and obesity
4. body size particularly weight is the standard
frame of reference for expressing
physiological parameters whereas skin fold
thickness are used to stimulate body
composition
 Gender
• Males have less fat and more muscles
• fat accumulation reasons are different for men and
women
Aging
Factors • Stature decreases and body weight increases after 30
affecting years
• body weight decreases after 50 in male and 60 in
Anthropometry female
Ethnicity
• lower body weights for those who live in tropical
countries
• body proportions differ depending on ethnicity
• difference is diminished due to migration
Occupation
 HUMAN
PHYSICAL
VARIABILITY
 Anthropometry Data

• Used to specify dimensions of workspaces, equipment, furniture, clothing to

fit the task to the man

• Avoid mismatches between the dimensions of equipment, products to the

user
 Anthropometric Tables

• measurements of the population’s dimensions are obtained based on the

population’s size and strength capabilities and differences.

• From these measurements, a set of data is collected that reflect the studied
population in terms of size and form.

• This population can then be described in terms of a frequency distribution

including the mean, median, standard deviation, and percentiles. The
frequency distribution for each measurement of the population dimension is
expressed in percentiles.
• The x th percentile indicates that x percent of the population has the
same value or less than that value for a given measurement. The
median or average value for a particular dimension is the 50th
percentile. In addition, 100−x of the population has a value higher than
x.
• These data are just a small sampling of the types of anthropometric data
collected (CDC, 2012).

• Each of these data sets has multiple purposes.

• Stature data are used for designing ingress and egress ways, clearances,
clothing, and seating design.

• Body mass index data are used to assess obesity levels

• Waist size data are used in designing clothing, seating, and clearances.
• In ergonomic design, we do not design for the average person, or the 50th
percentile, we design for the 95th percentile.
• In other words, 95% of the population can use the work area safely and
efficiently , and 5% of the population may need to be accommodated.
• Conventionally, the 95th percentile has been chosen to determine clearance
heights or lengths. That means 95% of the population will be able to pass
through a door, while only 5% of the population may need to be
accommodated.
• In addition, the 5th percentile female has been chosen to determine the
functional reach distance, that means 95% of the population will be able to
perform this reach, and only 5% of the population may need to be
accommodated.
 Human Percentile

• Anthropometric dimensions for each population are ranked by size and described as
percentiles.
• It is common practice to design for the 5th percentile (5th%) female to the 95th
percentile (95th%) male.
• The 5th% female value for a particular dimension (e.g., sitting height) usually
represents the smallest measurement for design in a population.
• Conversely, a 95th% male value may represent the largest dimension for which one is
designing.
• The 5th% to 95th% range accommodates approximately 90% of the population.
• To design for a larger portion of the population, one might use the range from the 1st%
female to the 99th% male.
Relative sizes of different percentile humans

Dreyfuss, Kroemer, and Woodson texts

 Why Anthropometric Data Important?

• Optimize the dimensions of a diverse range of items. Example length of

toothbrushes, size of toolkits, size of clothes……others

• Examples is T-shirt large for Malaysians may be size small for new Zealand
Rugby Club
 Applying statistics to Design

• Statistical information about body size is not directly applicable to a design

problem
• Designer must analyze anthropometric mismatches and then decide the
anthropometric data which is appropriate to the problem
• A suitable percentile must be chosen
• Example: a handicapped person in the university. Current accommodation have
been made for normal people. If a handicap person registers, he must adapt to the
normal situation. Adjustments must be made by university to accommodate him.
 Types of 1. Structural Anthropometry
Anthropometry
2. Functional Anthropometry
1. Structural (Static) Anthropometry

• This form of anthropometry “is the science of measuring length,

breadth, and the width of the human population” .
• It can include the measurement of size of body parts, stature, and
weight.
• Static measurements are usually taken with the person sitting, standing,
and/or bending.
• Typically used to optimize furniture, clothing, and vehicle cab
dimensions.
2. Functional (Dynamic) Anthropometry

• involves the measurement of a subject while in motion to help determine the

properties of the body, such as range of motion or reach, grasping, stride,
clearance, and space envelopes required for different body movements

• include the measurement of the subject during movement associated with certain
tasks, such as reaching, using an assistive device to wheel or walk straight ahead
or to make a turn, or the measurement of the subject’s strength

• provides more accurate information about the movement within spaces and during
activities
• Collected from subjects who are allowed to move one or more limbs
in one or more planes with respect to a fixed point.

• The shape of the 3D surface swept by moving the arm with the elbows
extended or the amount of forward reach when the subject can bend at
the hip.

• Considers the fact that in natural movements, several joints are

involved and generates workspace “envelopes” whose size increases
with the number of joints allowed to move.
• Adjustments to accommodate clothing include
2.5 cm (1.0 in.) for standing height (or seated knee height) to reflect
the presence of a shoe heel
0.8 cm (0.3 in.) for breadths (due to the bulk of clothing)
3.0 cm (1.2 in.) for foot length (to accommodate for shoes being
larger than feet)

• Adjustments to accommodate for posture include

2.0 cm (0.8 in.) for standing height (due to slouching or lack of
upright posture)
 Anthropometry Surveys

• Anthropometric surveys are expensive to conduct, since large numbers of

measurements must be made on sizeable samples of people representative of the
population under study.
• Traditionally, measurements are made using manually operated instruments such
as anthropometers and calipers.
• Automated or semiautomated systems have been developed.
• Whole body scanners (Daanen and Water 1998) are commercially available and
cost from $50,000 to $410,000, depending on resolution and speed of operation.
 Measurements and Techniques

• anthropometry involves the use of carefully defined body landmarks for

measurements specific subject positioning for these measurements and the use of
appropriate instruments

• measurements are generally divided into mass(weight), lengths and height (stature),
breadth or widths, depths circumferences or girths, curvatures arcs and soft tissue
measurements (skin folds)

• non-invasive in a physiological sense. all measurements are external dimensions of

the body or its parts
BASIC APPLICATION
Design to fit a target population
 Identify The user population

The task and workspace and identify where human

Define physical variability might place constraints on the
design

Identify The body measurements

Steps
Specify The range of users to be accommodated

Calculate The range

The limits in to specify the dimensions of the

Use workspace
 Find the Minimum Allowable
Dimensions

Anthropometric
Constraints
Find the Maximum Allowable
Dimensions
 Minimum Dimensions

• There are situations we need to use minimum dimensions for the comfort
ability of most populations.

• A high percentile value of an appropriate anthropometric dimension is

chosen.
• The height of a doorway must be no lower than the stature of a tall man (plus an allowance
for clothing and shoes)
• the width of a chair must be no narrower than the hip breadth of a large woman,
• a toothbrush must be long enough to reach the back molars of someone with a deep mouth
• a door handle must not be lower than the highest standing knuckle height in a population
so that all users can open the door without stooping,
• the distance from the kneepad to the back of the seat of a “kneeling chair” must exceed
the longest buttock–knee lengths in the population of users, and
• the length of a wheel brace must provide sufficient leverage for a weak person to
generate sufficient torque to loosen the wheel nuts.
Maximum Dimensions

• A low percentile is chosen as in determining the maximum height of a

door latch so that the smallest adult in a population will be able to reach
it.
• A door lock must be no higher than the maximum vertical reach of a small
person.
• Seat heights and depths must not exceed the maximum height and buttock-
knee length of small users
• depths must not exceed the popliteal height and buttock–knee lengths of small
users.
• Screw-top lids must be wide enough to provide a large contact area with the skin
of the hand to provide adequate friction, so that pressure “hot spots” are avoided.
They must not exceed the grip diameter of a small person though.
 Average Person

• Designing for the “average” person or the 50th percentile is a myth. If you
designed a doorway for the “average” person, one-half of the population
would not fit through the door.
• Design considerations for doorways, for example, must be for the 99th
percentile male. Reach considerations must be given to the smallest person
or the 5th percentile female.
• There are numerous guidelines and anthropometric tables to assist in
designing tasks and equipment, which address all aspects from stature and
forward functional reach to eye height for tasks.
 • All of us have experienced problems
Anthropometry with equipment, workspaces, or even
our homes not being designed with our
in Design body dimensions in mind.
• For example: the task is to remove
the ladder from the top of the van.
The larger individual in the photo
can do the task, but the smaller
individual cannot.

• The solution to this issue is to

design a device that will lower the
ladder to the side of the vehicle so
a full range of individuals can
remove it at their power zone
 Work design or Modification

• Does the person fit (body size) in a workplace?

• If one worker fit in a workplace, do all workers fit in a workplace?
• If all workers do not fit in a workplace, are some individuals more likely
to experience fatigue, injury, or diminished work performance due to
poor fit into a workplace?
• Does the design of the equipment have any adverse effects on the
worker’s safety and productivity?
Factors when designing or modifying equipment or a work area

1. Safe clearances or heights – examples, doorways or walkways

2. Safe reach distances – examples, equipment controls
3. Code requirements
4. Safety features – examples, machine guards
5. Workstation design for work flows.
• There are three ergonomic design principles based on anthropometry

1. design for a range

2. design for the extreme
3. design for the average
 Design for Range

• Principle:
Allow for adjustments in position, size, intensity, and duration of the product or
system, to accommodate unexpected circumstances and maximize use (preferred
option).
• Design:
Common to use from the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male; can
result in accommodation of 95% of 50/50 mixed population group because of
overlap in male and female body dimensions.
• Examples of use:
Car seats, desk height, keyboard support, footrests, purchase in different sizes
(chairs, shoes, and tools).
• Some ways of using this principle in design are as follows:
Designing six-way adjustability into car seats
Providing adjustable height computer workstations
Providing safe platforms for smaller workers to stand on when working
at a higher workstation
Providing work fixture to aid workers reaching for equipment.
 Design for the Extreme

• Principle:
Accommodate largest percent of the population group where adjustability is costly or
not feasible – Maximum Levels: 95th–100th percentile
Clearance, Load Tolerance, Girth (e.g., doorways, size of escape hatches, entry ways,
strength of ladders) – Minimum Levels: 1st–5th percentile
Reach, Strength (e.g., distance of control button from operator, force required to operate
control lever or button).
• Practical Design
Use 1st–5th or 95th–100th percentiles of population group as extremes, typically the
smallest female and largest male.
• Examples of uses:
Egress ways, control configurations and safety showers.
 Design for the Average

• Principle:
Design for the 50th percentile
Acceptable for short-term use
Accommodates small population group.
• Design:
50th percentile only
Used as a last resort – may exclude 50% of the population
There is no “average” person (e.g., average height may not mean average
arm length).
• Examples of use:
Self-serve checkout counter, water fountain.
TOOLS AND PROCESSES
 OFFICE ERGONOMICS

• Ergonomics, the science of designing workplaces, equipment, and jobs to fit the
capabilities and limitations of workers, has shown that poor workplace design and
bad work habits are counterproductive and costly.
• One major problem with computer workstations is they keep an operator at that
workstation, in virtually the same posture, all day long.
• Our bodies are designed to be an upright, dynamic system. Chronic sitting stretches
and contracts muscles inappropriately and causes stress to the body. A poorly
designed workspace causes neck and back pain, decreasing productivity and job
satisfaction.
• The goal is to prevent musculoskeletal disorders by surveying the workplace, taking
preventative steps, relying on employee input, and addressing the problems early.
• Statistics have found that workers annually have ergonomic work-related
musculoskeletal injuries, resulting in millions of dollars in total injury costs
per year.

• Carpal tunnel comprises 0.7% and tendonitis comprises 0.2% of those

injuries, while sprains, strains, and tears comprise 36.7%, and soreness and
pain comprise 17.4%.

• Nursing assistants, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, as well
as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, are among the highest incidence
rates of injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders
• The key points of interface between the office worker and the office
environment are as follows:
The eyes and the visual display terminal (VDT) screen
The hands and the keyboard
The back, the legs, and the chair
The feet and the floor
• There is no optimum posture while sitting, the next posture is the best
posture.
• Instead, the goal is to have the ability to shift your body by raising and
lowering the position of the chair.
• You need to move around, changing how you sit as your body tells you to
move.
• Ensure a person can attain a posture in which the ears line up over –110° the
shoulders and hips.
• The hip joint and knee joint should be at a 90 angle.
• Avoid slouching postures.
• A poor sitting position may lead to the following:
Neck and shoulder fatigue
Low back pain
Numbness and discomfort in the legs
• Physical risk factors associated with computer use are as follows:
Awkward postures (hands, arms, wrists, neck, shoulder, and legs)
Static muscle loading
Repetition
Contact stress (thighs, arms, and palms)
Duration
• Contributing risk factors associated with computer use are as follows:
Inadequate recovery or rest
Extreme temperatures – hot or cold
Stress on the job
Fatigue
• show common ranges of measurements used in office furniture design.
• Anthropometric measurements (including allowances for clothing) of small and large
males and females, from BIFMA Ergonomics Guidelines, 2002.
 Common Workplace
Postures
• There are common postures found in the office
environment that can be considered when
designing workplace products or space.
Standing

Sitting

Reaching

Moving
 Standing

• Some users may need or want to stand while at their workstations.

• If this is the case, an appropriate desk can be designed and selected for the type of
work being performed.
• Desk height for a standing operator can range from 28-43“ (Grandjean, 1997)
depending on whether the desk is for precision, light, or heavy work.
• Different worksurface heights can be used depending on the type of work performed.
Seating
• Knowing what parameters to design
for while the user is seated can help
increase the comfort of the user.
• Common anthropometric
measurements for the seated
position.
Reaching

• While sitting or standing, an individual at work will usually have to reach for
something.
• The workstation, and parts that go with workstations (such as overhead
storage and pedestals), should allow the majority of movement of the user’s
body joints within healthy zones.
• When designing products, consider how much individuals will have to reach
in order to minimize awkward or unhealthy positions.
Moving

• Users will move around in their environment to fi le papers, answer a phone,

or stretch. An occasional break from sitting is encouraged because it helps to
stimulate muscles, and increases blood flow, which decreases fatigue.
• The space in a cubicle or desk area should allow the chair to move around
easily. Also, a wheelchair may need to turn around or move in the office
space, requiring a 60" diameter turning radius and at least 36" of passage
width.
• Chairs and other devices in the workspace can allow the user to easily get up
and move around without having to move armrests, adjust other chair
settings, or put undue stress on the body.
Minimum space requirements for wheelchair
 • Ultimately, the workplace should be comfortable for
users and adapt to their needs as much as possible.
Workplace products designed with this in mind can
lead to higher worker productivity and lower risk of
injury and illnesses.
• The human body has a natural ROM. Movement
Common within the proper ROM promotes blood circulation
Workplace and flexibility which could lead to more comfort and
higher productivity.
Motions • Despite the need to promote motion, users should try
to avoid repetitive movements and certain extremes in
their ROM over long period of time.
• By considering both ROM and repetitive motion,
products can be designed to operate within the
optimal ranges to help reduce the occurrence of
fatigue and muscle disorders.
 Good and Bad Zones
• There are 4 different zones that a user might encounter
while sitting or standing:
Zone 0 (Green Zone) Preferred zone for most
movements. Puts minimal stress on muscles and
joints.
Zone 1 (Yellow Zone) Preferred zone for most
movements. Puts minimal stress on muscles and
joints.
Zone 2 (Red Zone) More extreme position for
limbs, puts greater strain on muscles and joints.
Zone 3 (Beyond Red Zone) Most extreme positions
for limbs, should be avoided if possible, especially
with heavy lifting or repetitive tasks.
• These zones are ranges where body limbs can move freely.

Zones 0 and 1 include smaller joint movements, while Zones 2 and 3

represent more extreme positions.
Zone 0 and Zone 1 are preferred for most movements to occur.

Zones 2 and 3 should be avoided, when possible, especially for repetitive and
heavy tasks. Motion in these ranges puts more strain on muscles and tendons
and could lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders.
 Cumulative Trauma Disorders

• may occur in both office and manufacturing settings. CTDs are injuries due to repetitive
motions, stresses, and actions. Following are some considerations to help reduce the
likelihood of occurrence:
Eliminate tasks that require fast, highly repetitive arm movements or that impose
sustained static postures
Beware of pressure points where the wrist, forearm, or other parts of the body contact
an edge or hard feature on a desk or table
Minimize shoulder flexion and abduction
Minimize holding weighted objects in hands
Reduce or eliminate forceful applications of heavy peak exertions
Require workers to take frequent breaks
 Office Furniture Guidelines for Fit and Function

• One common and widely recognized source for this kind of information is The
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA)
• There are several documents that are helpful in deciphering the reasoning and/or
theory behind the BIFMA guidelines and specifications.
• While BIFMA is a common source for this kind of information, other organizations
and research studies are good sources for ergonomic and anthropometric information.
• The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), and the Civilian American and
European Surface Anthropometry Resource (CAESAR), have suggested additional
and alternative anthropometric dimensions for product design.
 Chairs
• BIFMA’s guidelines for seating are very general and allow for
different design interpretations.

• These guidelines are based on the Natick military studies using 5th to
95th percentile females and males.
Seat Depth
• Seat depth should be deep enough so that the region behind the knees (also
referred to as the popliteal area) is not hitting the front of the seat. Two ways to
prevent popliteal contact are:
1. Fixing the overall depth of the chair
2. Creating a depth adjustment
• Adjusting the seat depth on a chair should be a natural motion that does not strain
the user.
• Separating the armrests from the moveable seat can allow the armrests to be used
as leverage for easily changing the seat depth while seated.
• The controls for seat depth movement should be intuitive and easy to use, and not
require excessive bending to reach. For example, a seat adjustment control like
those found in automobiles could help achieve this simplicity.
Seat Height
• The seat height should allow the user’s feet to be comfortably supported by
the floor or a proper footrest.

Seat Width
• The seat should be wide enough to accommodate a user’s hips and clothing,
and comfortably allow use of the armrests.
Backrest
• The seat back should conform to the contour of the person’s spine and give
support to the back to alleviate stress on back muscles while seated. Generally, it
should be high enough to reach the shoulder blades, wide enough to support the
waist breadth, and have a lumbar support to maintain the natural lordotic
curvature of the lumbar spine.

Chair Range of Motion

• The seat and backrest should allow for varied seated postures.
• This can be accomplished by allowing a rearward tilt of the back.
• A minimum 10o rearward tilt (between 90o and 115o) is preferable.
• Some chairs also allow the seat to tilt at the same time.
• The only guidelines for seat tilt measurement is to ensure the torso-to-thigh angle
is not less than 90o, and that the seat angle is between 0-4o reward tilt.
Armrests
• Armrests help relieve neck, shoulder, and back stress. It can provide good surface area for the arm to
contact so that pressure between an arm and armrest is minimized.
• The armrests should be adjustable up and down, as well as in and out which allows for more
customization and better control of comfort.

Chair Controls
• The controls are important, but the fewer and more intuitive they are, the better it can be for the user.
• A round knob usually means that it should be turned. A flat lever usually means it should be pulled
or pushed.
• Some controls are also easier for individuals with disabilities to use than others
• Graphic icons could be placed on the controls to show the user how to operate each lever or device.
Images, rather than text, for instructions can prevent the need to translate instructions when selling
products in different countries. In addition, it can be a quicker and easier way to communicate.
• The tension in the controls should allow for minimal user effort to activate them. Controls should
also be easy to reach and visible to the user.
 Desks and Worksurfaces
• BIFMA also includes ergonomic guidelines for desks and worksurfaces.

• They describe the minimal measurements for a seated desk, and the
minimal considerations for standing work.
Seated Work
• The BIFMA guidelines for seated work list the minimum
measurements needed to accommodate 90% of the population.
Like seating, they are guidelines and can be used to direct
design of worksurfaces.
• Bounding box for the minimum dimensions of a seated desk
according to BIFMA standards

Standing Work
• The guidelines for standing work relate to clearance for the feet
when standing next to a desk or worksurface.
• If designing a manual sit-to-stand work desk, the height
adjustment mechanism should be placed so that the user does
not strain his or her back when adjusting the worksurface height.
Workstation Heights (Standing and Sitting)
• Adjustable desks can be used to support an operator’s work.
• Placement of objects on the worksurface should be
considered to avoid movements that prolong periods of
muscle contraction.
• Depending on the type of work to be performed at a
standing workstation, different heights can be used
• For heavy work, the table can be at a height that allows
good leverage for lifting and moving objects.
• For precision work, the desk height can be higher than
normal because this work will involve small movements and
the worker will need to focus closely on the workpiece.
• When standing at a workstation, movement is important so
that blood does not pool in the legs. Installing anti-fatigue
mats can help distribute the weight of the body from the feet
to the floor mats.
Computer Stations
• When a user is at a computer workstation, whether seated or standing, the top of
the monitor should be at the user’s eye level.
• The interaction between the height of the monitor and the user’s eyes is complex
because of interdependencies between seat height, monitor height, user height,
etc. The BIFMA guidelines elaborate more on this complexity.
• These guidelines can be combined with the seated and standing work guidelines
for general sizing of desks and workstations
Storage and Files
• Filing cabinets should allow a user to open and close the doors with minimal
effort.
• The handles should be designed so that they are easy to grasp and operate.
• Overhead storage bins can be attached at a reasonable height so the user will
not have to reach too high yet be out of the way from interfering with desk
space.
Accessories
• Some common office furniture accessories are
keyboard trays, mouse pad holders, and pedestals.
• The keyboard tray and mouse pad holder should
be adjustable for height, depth, and tilt angle.
• The placement of these holders can allow the user
to place computer accessories in comfortable
positions where there is minimal strain to the
back, arms, and wrists.
• Additionally, clearance for the thighs under the
keyboard tray can be included in the design.
• For example, adding a handle that allows for easy
pulling of a mobile pedestal can be a helpful
feature.
 Step 1: Determine the number of people who will work permanently in the
office.
Step 2: Determine the organizational structure .
Step 3: Describe the main activities, the need for interaction between different
employees, the need for privacy, reception of visitors, etc.
Step 4: Determine the equipment needed for each activity
Step 5: Detailed layout:
Space Allow 50 cm free space in front of windows.
Allow 3 m to the front and 1 m either side of the main entrance.
Planning for Allow 1.5 m in front of and 0.5 m to the side of all other doors.
Allow 0.5 m in front of heating units.
Offices Free space around desks:
Allow 55 cm along front of desks for passage
Allow 50 cm along the sides of workstations for ingress and egress
Allow 75 cm at the back of desks for seating space
Allow 100 cm at the back of desks if there are cabinets behind the desk
Step 6: Determine requirements for proximity. Place the units that interact
most with other units toward the center of the space.
Step 7: Arrange individual workstations in accordance with local health and
safety regulations for office work
 Universal Design Considerations

• Most people experience some degree of physical limitation at some point in life, such as broken
bones, sprained wrists, pregnancy, or aging. Others may live with a limitation or impairment every
day.
• When considering product design, designers can recognize the special needs of different users,
including individuals with disabilities.
• Issues concerning accommodations for individuals with disabilities are becoming more prevalent,
and employers may be required to make accommodations for these individuals at worksites and in
other public spaces.
• The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) does not specify any requirements for office furniture
to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Therefore, it is incorrect to state that office furniture
products are “ADA compliant.”
• Designing with all people in mind is a principle that is referred to as Universal Design and is
important to consider in product design.
 Wheelchairs

• Designing for wheelchair use requires extra floor space.

Clear floor space – 30" x 48"
Doorway clearance – 36" (preferred)
T-shaped space for 180° turns – 36" width in each
corridor – 60" (minimum) depth
Turning space for wheelchair (Figure 6) – 60"
diameter
Hallway width (Figure 6): – 36" (minimum) – one
wheelchair – 60" (minimum) – two wheelchairs
Forward approach (toes touching wall) – High reach:
48" (maximum) – Low reach: 15" (minimum)
Side reach, with 10" maximum distance between
chair and wall – High reach: 54" (maximum) – Low Dreyfuss, 2000
reach: 9" (minimum); 15" (preferred)
 Crutches, Canes, and Walkers

• Some individuals need assistive walking devices such

as crutches, canes, or walkers.
• A minimum width of 36" for passage down a hallway
or in a workplace is needed for each of these.
• Studies have shown that 48" is the preferable hallway
width for people using crutches, canes, or walkers.
• It is also important to keep these areas clear of
obstructions. With all walking aid devices, the risk of a
fall and further injury is a concern.
• Objects that would hinder the proper use and
maneuverability of walkers must be moved and cleared
from passages and hallways.
 • Anthropometric data provide the designer with quantitative
guidelines for dimensioning workspaces.
• However, several precautions are needed if data are to be used
correctly.
1. Define the user population and use data obtained from
SUMMARY measurements made on that population.
2. Consider factors that might interfere with the assumption
of normal distribution of scores.
3. Remember that many anthropometric variables are
measured using seminude subjects. Allowance for
clothing is often necessary when designing for real users
4. The effect of clothing also depends on climate—the
colder the climate the bulkier the clothing and the greater
the importance of allowing for this in design.
 • Bridger R. Introduction to human factors and
ergonomics. CRC press; 2017 Oct 30.

REFERENCES • Stack T, Ostrom LT, Wilhelmsen CA. Occupational

ergonomics: A practical approach. John Wiley & Sons;
2016 May 2.

• Dul J, Weerdmeester B. Ergonomics for beginners: a

quick reference guide. CRC press; 2003 Jul 13.