Anthropometric Evaluation of University Classroom Furniture

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate four types of university classroom furniture. The methods of evaluation included the individual comparisons equations method and the percentile values method; both are anthropometric methods. The third method is a questionnaire-based subjective evaluation method aiming at studying students’ satisfaction. The evaluated furniture dimensions were seat height, seat depth, seat width, backrest height, desk height and underneath desk height. The measured anthropometric dimensions were stature, hip breadth, elbow rest height, shoulder height, knee height, popliteal height and buttock-popliteal length. They were collected from 80 students (half males, aged between 20 to 39 years). The individual comparisons method showed relatively lower percentages of match between the furniture dimensions and student anthropometry. While, the percentile values method showed relatively high percentages of accommodation. Results of the questionnaire showed that the majority of students were satisfied with their preferred designs.