Anthropometric Analysis of Classroom Furniture Used in Colleges

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1 Internatinal Jurnal f Engineering Research and Develpment e-issn: X, p-issn: X, Vlume 3, Issue 10 (September 2012), PP Anthrpmetric Analysis f Classrm Furniture Used in Clleges Syed Asif 1, Qutubuddin S M 2, Hebbal S S 3 1,2,3 Dept f Industrial & Prductin Engineering, PDA Cllege f ENGINEERING, Gulbarga, India. Abstract Anthrpmetric cnsideratins play an imprtant rle in imprving the efficiency f a persn. Anthrpmetry f users is imprtant in designing the prducts which suit with the user. Seating furniture plays an imprtant rle in making the wrkplace cmfrtable and suitable fr the users. In the present study the classrm furniture s f different clleges f Gulbarga were studied and analyzed n the basis f anthrpmetry f the students. A sample f 400 students ( 200 males & 200 females ) ageing between 18 t 25 years were selected and analyzed n the basis f their anthrpmetry, it was fund that the five different mdels f furniture used were made withut any anthrpmetric cnsideratins and were fund t be incmpatible with the user ppulatin. Sme features like seat height, width etc were nt as per the anthrpmetry f the students and als sme f the benches used were even withut any backrest. Keywrds Anthrpmetric dimensins. Classrm furniture. Musculskeletal disrders. Percentile. User ppulatin. I. INTRODUCTION Efficiency f a persn depends strngly n the fact that hw cmfrtable a persn is with the wrk envirnment and als the suitability f wrkstatin with the user. Clleges are the places frm where we get qualified and talented graduates which then help in building the natins. Therefre it is very imprtant t make the classrms in clleges cmfrtable and suitable fr students, s that they can cncentrate and evlve as talented individuals. A cmfrtable classrm envirnment imprves the efficiency f students by encuraging and mtivating them t perfrm better. Students spend a majr time n the chair and desk during cllege hurs, Hence it is necessary that the cllege furniture shuld fit the requirements f the students. Therefre, the cllege furniture shuld be made n the basis f anthrpmetric dimensins f the user. Anthrpmetry f peple differs nt nly frm regin t regin but als with in the regin as well therefre it is very essential t cnsider the anthrpmetry f users while designing any prduct t assure the suitability f prduct in rder t imprve the efficiency f students. It is difficult t design the seating furniture that suits every student but anthrpmetry cnsideratins can increase the suitability f furniture with majrity f the user ppulatins. In a research wrk [1] it is seen that the anthrpmetric dimensins vary nt nly frm regin t regin but within the regin as well which must be cnsidered while designing f furniture s. It has been reflected in many studies that there is a mismatch between the classrm furniture dimensins and the anthrpmetric dimensins f the students. Literature in this issue pints t varius cnsequences like; back pain prevalence amng the students, musculskeletal discmfrt and lw back pain, bimechanical prblems, awkward pstures adpted fr lng perids f time affecting academic perfrmance f students etc. The prime factr affecting students psture is related t the furniture used, but ther factrs are just as imprtant as students anthrpmetric dimensins and furniture design, cllege rganizatin ( time scheduling ), different tasks a student has t perfrm etc. Studies have als shwn that being cnfined in awkward pstures fr specific task demand at a given situatin r as influenced by bad designed furniture fr a lng duratin prvkes psychlgical stress and impses ill effects n human perfrmance [2] Imprper design f classrm furniture may result in lack f cncentratin leading t reduced efficiency and may cause future MSD s therefre this study was taken up t shw the imprtance f anthrpmetric cnsideratins in designing the classrm furniture. II. METHODOLOGY Present study was fcused n the degree clleges f Nrth Karnataka regin t explre the types f classrm furniture used in different clleges and their suitability with the user ppulatins. In the present study the classrm furniture s f different clleges f Gulbarga and surrunding places were studied and analyzed n the basis f anthrpmetry f the students. A sample f 400 students (200 males & 200 females) ageing between 18 t 25 years frm 4 different clleges were selected and analyzed n the basis f their anthrpmetry dimensins. Based n literature survey, 13 mst cmmn anthrpmetry parameters which are mst necessary in design f seating chairs, desks, tables etc. were selected and measurements were taken fr each student, wearing clthes including their weight. Anthrpmetric characteristics were directly measured using an anthrpmeter, weight measurements using a weighing scale and ther measurements using measuring tapes. It was fund that 5 different mdels f classrm furniture s were used which were studied t bserve the design features viz., Dimensins and materials used. It was fund that the furniture s being used were designed withut cnsidering the anthrpmetry f user ppulatin. Imprtant dimensins f furniture were taken and analyzed by cmparing with anthrpmetric dimensins f the students t check the suitability f design. 1

2 Measurement f bdy dimensins- A sample f 400 students frm different clleges were selected and analyzed based n their anthrpmetric dimensins. Amng the 43 anthrpmetric dimensins nly 13 dimensins which are relevant t the study were cnsidered. Fig-1 shws the anthrpmetric dimensins cnsidered fr the study.. Anthrpmetric Data Of Students :Table-1 Data N. Date f Birth Weight University Reg. N. Age Sex Anthrpmetric Data Unit/cm Anthrpmetric Data Unit/cm 1.Stature 8.Hip breadth 2.Shulder Breadth 9.Elbw rest height 3.Sitting Height 10.Buttck ppliteal length 4.Sitting eye height 11.Buttck knee length 5.Sitting mid shulder height 12.Vertical reach height sitting 6.Ppliteal height 13.Side Arm reach 7.Knee height Fig-1 Anthrpmetric Data Of Students The bdy dimensins f the students were taken as shwn in abve figure. The equipment used fr that purpse was anthrpmeter.during measuring bdy dimensins under sitting cnditin, the subjects were asked t sit in such a way that the upper leg and lwer leg remained at right angle t each ther. The fllwing anthrpmetric dimensins were taken fr this study: Stature: Tp f the head, standing in erect stretched psture. Shulder breadth: Maximum hrizntal distance acrss the shulders, Breadth ensured t the prtrusin f the deltid muscles. Sitting height: Tp f the head sitting in a nrmal relaxed psture. Sitting eye height: height f inner crner f the eye sitting in nrmal relaxed psture. Sitting mid shulder height: Height f upper mst pint n the middle level f the shulder. Ppliteal height: Height f the underside f the thigh immediately behind the knee. Knee height: height f uppermst pint n the knee. Hip breadth: Maximum hrizntal distance acrss the hips. Elbw rest height: Distance between seat and lwer mst part f the elbw. 2

3 Buttck ppliteal length: Hrizntal distance frm the mst psterir pint n the uncmpressed buttcks t the back f the lwer leg at the knee. Buttck knee length: Hrizntal distance frm the mst psterir pint n the uncmpressed buttcks t mst anterir pint n the knee. Vertical reach height sitting: Maximum vertical distance frm mid shulder t the centre f the hand grip. Fr analyzing the design dimensin f the schl furniture and classrm layut, different percentile values f the measured bdy dimensins f the students were calculated. Three percentile values, viz., 5th, 50th and 95th, fr each bdy dimensin were cmputed with the help f standard statistical packages (SPSS & Excel). The anthrpmetric dimensins were cmpared with the relevant dimensins f the furniture s and were analyzed. With the increase f age, develpment f skeletal system, muscular system, and ther systems f the bdy ccurs, and as a resultant effect anthrpmetric measures increase. S, it may be said that furniture f the same size will nt fit the bdy dimensin f students f all age grups. The results indicate the need fr separate design f furniture fr different age grup. In designing fr a knwn individual, ne s wn bdy dimensins may be measured and used. But fr mass applicatin the percentile values f a study ppulatin are usually required. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION An anthrpmetry study was carried ut - t study the anthrpmetric dimensins f the student ppulatin and generate data f the students - t measure the dimensins f the varius desks available in the class rms - t cmpare the dimensins f the desks with the anthrpmetric measures f students - t find ut any mismatch between the anthrpmetric dimensins and the student desks used - t suggest suitable crrective measures in the design. Different anthrpmetric dimensins were measured in different age (grade) grups. A ttal 400 cases (200 bys and 200 girls) were selected and anthrpmetric data were measured and analyzed in these students. The age f the students was between 18 t 25 yr. Tables shw anthrpmetric data measured in these students as well as key percentiles (5th, 50th, 95th) used fr furniture design. The average f different dimensins between bys and girls were cmpared. The percentile values btained were cnsidered fr analysis f anthrpmetry f students and cmpared with the furniture design dimensins t check the cmpatibility f the furniture designs used. 3

Table-2 : Anthrpmetric dimensins f students

static tls-(cmbined data f bth male & female)

using standard statistical packages such as

The fllwing nrmal distributin and histgram were

4 Table-2 : Anthrpmetric dimensins f students Analysis f the btained data using standard static tls-(cmbined data f bth male & female) The data btained in the abve table was analyzed using standard statistical packages such as Excel and SPSS. The fllwing nrmal distributin and histgram were btained fr sme f the imprtant parameters and are pltted as fllws.. Histgram and nrmal distributin fr sme relevant parameters Stature Buttck knee length Shulder breadth- Sitting height- 4

Mid shulder height- Ppliteal Height- Hip Breadth- Buttck Ppliteal

there is a cnsiderable variatin between anthrpmetry f male and

percentile values f the anthrpmetric data f user ppulatin.

Different types f furniture used and the variatins in different

5 Mid shulder height- Ppliteal Height- Hip Breadth- Buttck Ppliteal Height- Analysis f the anthrpmetric data f students shws that there is a cnsiderable variatin between anthrpmetry f male and female students which makes the selectin f design parameters f furniture a difficult task. Design cmpatible with majrity f the user ppulatin shuld match the percentile values f the anthrpmetric data f user ppulatin. Design Features f Each Mdel and its Cmpatibility t Users Needs Different types f furniture used and the variatins in different mdels f each types are discussed. The dimensins f different mdels f desks are tabulated as fllws. Mdel-1 Mdel-2 Mdel-3 5

Mdel-4 Mdel-5 MODEL WITHOUT BACKREST Fig- 2 : Mdels f desks used MODEL WITH BACKREST 1. DESK HEIGHT 2.

BACKREST SLOPE 10. FOOTREST HEIGHT 11.DIST B/W DESK & BENCH 12.

34 3 DESK LENGTH 91 91 92 93 113 4 DESK SLOPE 0 10 8 8 6 5 BENCH HEIGHT 47 46 44 50 40 6 BENCH LENGTH 91 91 92

6 Mdel-4 Mdel-5 MODEL WITHOUT BACKREST Fig- 2 : Mdels f desks used MODEL WITH BACKREST 1. DESK HEIGHT 2.DESK DEPTH 3.DESK LENGTH 4. DESK SLOPE 5.BENCH HEIGHT 6.BENCH LENGTH 7. BENCH DEPYH 8.BACKREST HEIGHT 9.BACKREST SLOPE 10. FOOTREST HEIGHT 11.DIST B/W DESK & BENCH 12. THICKNESS Dimensins f sled desks f different mdels (Measurements in cm) : Table -3 DIMENSIONS OF SLED DESKS OF DIFFERENT MODELS ( IN CM) SI NO. FURNITURE PART MODEI 1 MODEL 2 MODEL 3 MODEL 4 MODEL 5 1 DESK HEIGHT DESK DEPTH DESK LENGTH DESK SLOPE BENCH HEIGHT BENCH LENGTH BENCH DEPTH BACKREST HEIGHT BACKREST SLOPE FOOTREST HEIGHT DIST B/W DESK & BENCH THICKNESS ANTHROPOMETRIC CONSIDERATION FOR DESIGNING CLASS ROOM FURNITURE 6

7 The relevant dimensins in anthrpmetric design f schl furniture. Table-4 User-dimensins Prduct-dimensins A) Ppliteal height, sitting 1) Upper surface height f the bench B) Bi-deltid breadth, sitting 2) Length f the bench (in case f multiple user) C) Buttck-ppliteal length, sitting 3) Depth f the bench D) Elbw height frm the flr, sitting 4) Height f the desk E) Knee height, sitting 5) Free knee rm under the desk F) Sitting height 6) Backrest height G) Buttck-feet length, sitting 7) Hrizntal clearance belw the desk H) Elbw t elbw length (writing psitin), sitting 8) Length f the desk I) sitting eye height 9) Upper edge height f the backrest frm the bench surface J) Maximum hrizntal distance between 10) Hrizntal clearance fr standing between the desk the bench and the desk. calf and the thigh, standing and the bench Accrding t anthrpmetric measurements, it was bserved that there was a mismatch between - -ppliteal height and seat height -knee height and desk clearance -buttck t ppliteal length and seat depth -sitting height and desk height -shulder breadth and distance b/w desk and bench IV. CONCLUSION It may be suggested frm the present study that the design criteria shuld be selected based n the anthrpmetric dimensins f the students. There are chances f mismatch between the students dimensins and available furniture. The ill and imprper design f desks may create many prblems fr the students such as fatigue, muscular stress, and discmfrt/pain in different bdy parts. Based n the relevant dimensins, the anthrpmetric data f students in table-1 were cmpared with the dimensins f different mdels f furniture s in table-2. The analysis shws that mst f the mdels f furniture s used which were designed withut cnsidering the anthrpmetry f users dn t match with the user ppulatin and were nt cmpatible with the majrity f the user ppulatin and causes a feeling f discmfrt which may result in lack f cncentratin and future MSD s. In mdel-1, 4, & 5 the main prblem was the absence f backrest which leads t back prblems & MSD s. nly mdel-1 has cmfrtable ftrest,mdel-5 was with lwest ftrest which causes discmfrt. the lwest bench depth was in mdel-3 &5 which needs t be increased. A design with cmbined apprpriate values frm the 5 mdels can give a better design mdel which can reduce the prblems and imprve the efficiency. While making schl furniture the anthrpmetric dimensin f the user ppulatin shuld be used. The furniture shuld be designed t suit majrity f the user ppulatin therefre it shuld be cncentrated between 5 th percentile female t 95 th percentile male which cvers majrity f the user ppulatin. Even thugh it is difficult t design fr all the users but a prduct that matches majrity f the user ppulatin can be designed and the prblems slved up t a cnsiderable extent. The anthrpmetric measurements frm the present study may be helpful in designing the cllege desks and ther furniture used in the clleges fr students. The authrs intend t further investigate this prblem f mismatch between students bdy dimensins and furniture used by investigatin further in mre number f clleges and taking anthrpmetry dimensins frm a mre number f students. REFERENCES [1]. Chakrabarti, D.: Indian Anthrpmetric Dimensins. Natinal Institute f Design Publishers Ahmadabad [2]. Chakrabarti, D. & Das, A. (2004). Design develpment f a new seat-desk unit suitable fr Indian schl children. Prceedings f Natinal Cnference n Humanizing Wrk and Wrk Envirnment, Natinal Institute f Industrial Engineering. [3]. Chaudhary, N., Sharma, D., Grver, R. & Nainwal, U. (2004). Mismatch between classrm furniture dimensins and student anthrpmetric characteristics [4]. Hira, D.S.: An ergnmic appraisal f educatinal desks. Ergnmics, 23: (1980). [5]. Nag, P.K.: Ergnmics and Wrk Design. New Age Internatinal (P) Limited, New Delhi, pp (1996). [6]. Savanur, C. S., Ghsh, S., Dhar, U. and De, A.: An Ergnmic Study f Cmparisn between Schl Classrm Furniture and Student s Anthrpmetry. Prceedings f Natinal Cnference n Humanizing Wrk and Wrk Envirnment, Natinal Institute f Industrial Engineering, April, Mumbai (2004). [7]. Singh, I.P. and Bhasin, M.K.: Anthrpmetry. Kamla-Raj Enterprises, Delhi [8]. G. C. Khaspuri, s.k. sau and p. C. Dhara - Anthrpmetric cnsideratins fr designing classrm furniture in rural schls [9]. Kamal kthiyal, samuel tettey - Anthrpmetry fr design fr the elderly [10]. Muhammad h ai-habubi - Anthrpmetry fr a mix f different ppulatins [11]. Ali amirfazli, hamid salmasi- Design f an ergnmic cmputer desk 7

Method 1: Establish a rating scale for each criterion. Some options are:

Method 1: Establish a rating scale for each criterion. Some options are: Decisin Matrix Als called: Pugh matrix, decisin grid, selectin matrix r grid, prblem matrix, prblem selectin matrix, pprtunity analysis, slutin matrix, criteria rating frm, criteria-based matrix. Descriptin