interior ergonomics

8/3/2019 Interior Ergonomics

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INTERIOR ERGONOMICS

Signs and Symbols

Anthropometric Data

Ergonomic Data



Signs and Symbols

Fig. 46

• The internationa l symbol of ac c essibility;

the sett ing out of the symb ol should b ebased on a square t ile a s show n.

Fig. 47

• Signs should b e c onsistent, tho rough a nd

continuous along routes and should takeaccount of the need for reassurance.

• Ensure legibility of signs and lettering by

a ttention to size a nd style a nd by use o fstrong colours, good immediate

background and non-distracting generalba c kground a nd b y good lightingwithout glare.

• Lettering should be within visual range

and provide good contrast against thebackground.

• Raised letters a re helpful to b lind peop le

particularly. They should b e w ithin ha ndreach at a reasonable level. Ensure thebackground surface is comfortable totouch. Confine to single letters, numeral,symb ols and keep to standard positions ina build ing.

• Symbols should b e a s nea r p ictoria l aspossible. Sta nd ard symbols shouldindicate specific facilities, i.e. inductionloop informa tion, c ommunica tions,assistance available if required.

Waiting roomWaiting room



Anthropometric Data

• The fo rmulation o f design c riteria for

buildings depends to a considerable

extent on the dimensional characteristicsof pe ople at rest a nd m oving a nd o n theirrange of physical capabilities. In the caseof people with disabilities, these criteriama y be modified by the use o f aids suchas stic ks, artific ial limb s and wheelcha irs.

• To dete rmine a pprop ria te limits for the

range of the po pulation to beac c omm od ated , the statistic al tec hnique

of percentile distribution is used.

• For example, for the head-height of

chairbound men’s, the value of 1:235 for

the fifth percentile means that five perc ent of c hairbo und me ns’ head heightwhen in a wheelcha ir is a t 1:235 or less;Thevalue 1:435 for the 95th percentile meansthat 95 per cent at 1:435 high or shorter.

The figures below show the releva nt

dimensions.



Anthropometric Data

• Although in certain situations, it is

appropriate to use the average as a

c riteria , it m ust b e em phasised tha taverages should be treated withcaution. It is hazardous to makedec isions on the basis of c a tering for theaverage ma n or woman. In a

representative sample of population, 50per cent of measurements will be

grea ter than the average and 50 pe rcent will be less. Dimensions based onthe average will therefore at best satisfyonly 50 pe r ce nt o f p ote ntial users.



Anthropometric Data

• When da ta is ap plied to d esign

problems, it is usually found that there isa limiting factor in one direction only,e.g. if the problem relates toobstructions at head-height, themeasures of short people are notsignificant. in applying data, thedesigner should enquire whichdimension is critical.

• It is not the case that whenever the

value for the 95th percentile is

observed, 95 per cent of the populationwill be ac c omm od ated ; if the critic ald ime nson is in the op posite d irec tion,only five per cent will beac co mmod ated and the c orrec t c ourseis to apply the 5th percentile instead.

BOYS AGED 4, 8 AND 12



AMBULANT PEOPLE

• It is not always economic or practicable

to cover 100 per cent of the populationby catering for people at the extremes.It may no t b e p ossible to ob ta in asolution to a specific design problem,which is equally efficient for a typicalam bulant p erson a nd a pe rson in awheelchair.

Anthropometric Data



Anthropometric Data

AMBULANT PEOPLE

• The c onvenient position ing of fittings and

eq uipm ent is governed by b od y and

rea c h d imensions.The generalapplication of the recommendationsshould ensure that fittings and equipmentare suitab ly loc ate d.

A. Comfortable vertical reachA: minus 0.070: ma ximum height o f sto rageshelves, allowing access to front of shelf.

A: minus 0.150: maximum height o f 0.300 dee pstorage shelves over 0.600 floor units, allowingaccess to front of shelf.

B. Oblique vertical reachB: ma ximum height of w indo w and b lindcontrols.

B: minus 0.060: ma ximum height of 0.200 dee pstorage shelves over 0.600 floor units, allowingaccess to front of shelf.

B: minus 0.080: maximum height ofunobstructed storage shelves, allowingreach to back of shelf.

C. Head heightC: relate to fixed mirror heights and positionof shower fittings.

D. Eye levelD: avoid window transomes at this level.

D: related to fixed mirror heights.

E. Shoulder levelE: preferred ma ximum height of switc hes andcontrols.

F. Elbow levelF: minus 0.130: preferred level of kitchensurfaces where sink rim and general worksurfaces are at the same height.

F: minus 0.100: preferred level of sink rim.

F: minus 0.150: preferred level of generalwork surfaces.

F: minus 0.100: preferred level of wash basinrim.

F: minus 0.250: preferred level of fixed ironingboard.

G. Knuckle height (comfortable downwardreach)

G: lower level of preferred zone for most-used articles stored in kitchen.

G: preferred minimum height of socketoutlets and other controls.

G: preferred height of letter basket anddelivery shelves adjacent to entrance door.

H . Effective downward reachH: minimum height of storage shelves, socket

outlets, heater controls and oven floor.

J. Comfortable forward reachJ: plus 0.100: ma ximum dep th o f kitc hen wo rksurfac es.

J: preferred maximum dimension, sink fasciato sink tops.

K.Toe proje c tionK: preferred minimum dep th, toe rec esses tokitchen units.



Anthropometric Data

Fig. 54

WHEELCHAIR USERS

A. Comfortable vertical reachA: minus 0.070: maximum height o funobstructed storage shelves with lateralapproach, reach to front of shelf.

B. Oblique vertical reachB: maximum height of w indo w and blindcontrols. B: minus 0.120: maximum height of0.300 deep storage shelves over 0.600 floorunits, allowing reach to front of shelf.B: minus 0.160: maximum height of

unobstructed storage shelves with frontalapproach, allowing reach to back ofshelves.

C. Comfortable forward vertical reachC: preferred maximum height of windowand other controls.C: maximum height of electric switches.

D. H ead heightD: related to height of shower fittings.

E. Eye levelE: avoid window transomes at this level;relate to sill heights.E: relate to fixed mirror heights.

F. Shoulder levelF: plus 0.100: upper level of preferred zonefor most-used articles stored in kitchen.F: preferred maximum height of electricsw itc he s.

G. Chair armrest levelG: maximum unobstruc ted dimension be lowwork surfaces or tables to permit closeapproach.H. Elbow levelH: plus 0.020: preferred height of letterbasket and delivery shelves adjacent to

entranc e d oor.H: minus 0.030: prefe rred height of pull-outfor food prepa ration.H: minus 0.040: preferred height of fixedironing board.

J.Thigh leve lJ: minimum unobstructed vertical dimensionfor knee recesses to tables, desks, kitchensink, preparation centre and wash handbasin.J: plus 0.160: preferred height of kitchenwork surfaces at consistent level assuming0.150 deep sink bowl.

K. Chair seat level, centre front edge(with cushion if used)K: preferred level of w.c. seat, platform at

head end o f ba th and shower seat.

L. Knuckle heightL: plus 0.100: minimum height o f hea te rcontrols.L: plus 0.050: lower level of preferred zonefor most-used articles stored in kitchen.L: minimum level of oven floor.

M. Comfortable downward reachM: minimum height of storage shelves.

N . Foot heig htN: minimum height of toe rec esses to kitc henunits.

O. Effect ive forward reachO: maximum depth of kitchen work surfaces.

P. Forward reach beyond face of chair armP: comfortable reach over low-level tables,e tc .P: preferred maximum dimension, sinkfascia to sink taps.

Q. Knee projection beyond face of chaira rmQ: minimum dimension sink fascia to wastepipe and wa sh ba sin fasc ia to w aste p ipe .

R.Toe projec tion from front to waistR: preferred minimum de pth of ta blesand knee rec esses to permit c loseapproach.

S.Toe projec tion beyond fac e o f cha ir armS: minimum dep th o f knee recesses to

kitchen sink, preparation centre, washbasin, etc.

T.Toe projec tion at lower leg levelT: minimum dep th o f to e rec esses to kitc henunits.

interior ergonomics

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