Relationship between school’s anthropometric measures and classroom furniture dimensions in elementary school

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the dimensions of school furnishings used by students from 1st grade to 6th grade in a state elementary school and to compare them to the anthropometric variables of these users. Methods: Participated in the study 196 students, 45.9% of them were males. The students’ body weight, height, chest width and pelvis width, as well as their popliteal height and buttock-popliteal distance were measured. Those measures were compared to the dimensions of the school furniture (height, width and depth of the seat, width of the backrest, backrest-seat inclination and desk height) and those specified in NBR 14006 of ABNT (Brazilian Technical Standards Association). Results: The width only measures of the seat and the backrest were found to be adequate for the measures of the students. Conclusion: The evaluated furniture dimensions, such as height and depth of the seat and backrest-seat inclination were found to be inadequate for the anthropometric measures of the students, and the furniture evaluated did not present all dimensions recommended by NBR 14006.