Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
An innovative ergonomic design of classroom furniture based on
anthropometric measurements at tertiary institutions
A. Esmaeel
Faculty of Industries Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
D. Starovoytova & O. Maube
School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
R. Asad
Faculty of Industries Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
ABSTRACT: In many institutions, classroom furniture does not meet any national ergonomic criteria. This
study aimed to use the concept of ergonomics to design a classroom desktop–chair for students in UasinGishu County, Kenya. Anthropometric data were collected from a total of 382 students of both genders. The
fourteen anthropometric measurements were taken from students with the help of anthropometric tools. The
research applied fundamental engineering principles of product design and was carried out in compliance with
ISO 7250-1:2017. The data obtained was analysed using Minitab 17.0 statistical package. Using the collected
anthropometric data, a students’ desktop–chair was proposed. In conclusion, one type of ergonomically suitable
classroom desktop–chair design was proposed to improve the match between classroom desktop–chairs’ dimensions and students’ anthropometric characteristics. It is highly recommended that similar scientific research
should be carried out in other countries.
Keywords: Desktop–chair, Classroom environment, MSDs, Awkward position.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Problem statement, significance, and purpose
of the study
The basic philosophy of ergonomics is to make any
design comfortable. Students require well-designed
classroom furniture for their comfort in the learning context. This requires that in designing classroom
furniture, designers should include anthropometric
sciences (Igbokwe et al. 2019b; Taifa & Desai 2017).
According to some estimations, about 44 million workers in Europe suffer from occupational musculoskeletal disorders (Yusop et al. 2018). This shows that the
ergonomics problem is a major issue that needs to be
solved to avoid further suffering in the future. Therefore, there is need for ergonomists to treat the issue of
furniture design for students as a necessity, and educational institutes/universities should treat the selection
of the right kind of furniture as a social responsibility towards the students’ community (Igbokwe et al.
2019). It is very essential for an institution of learning
to have their anthropometric measurements regarding students so that they can be used by designers
who intend to make ergonomic furniture, for them.
This will ensure safety, comfort, adaptability, suitability, and ultimately guarantee user satisfaction, as
well as result in the reduction of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) (Igbokwe, Osueke, Opara, Ileagu,
& Ezeakaibeya 2019a). This research is of paramount
importance because it expended current knowledge
in the field of anthropometry to provide a database
for future research and it is potentially beneficial to
all future student. This research, therefore, seeks to
use anthropometry for the design of classroom furniture for students to improve physical responses and
their performance. The main purpose of the study is
to conduct anthropometric measurements of students
from four selected tertiary institutions and to design
a desktop–chair using the collected anthropometric
measurements.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Al-Hinai et al. (2018a) noted that the compatibility
between classroom furniture dimensions and students’
anthropometric characteristics has been identified as
a key factor in improving some students’ physical
responses. Besides, there is a large amount of research
worldwide (Castellucci, Gonçalves, & Arezes 2010;
Chung & Wong 2007; Saarni et al. 2007) that shows
a clear mismatch between anthropometric characteristics and the dimensions of classroom furniture. This
mismatch might affect the learning process, even
during the most stimulating and interesting lessons,
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-5
39
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
An innovative ergonomic design of classroom furniture based on
anthropometric measurements at tertiary institutions
A. Esmaeel
Faculty of Industries Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
D. Starovoytova & O. Maube
School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
R. Asad
Faculty of Industries Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
ABSTRACT: In many institutions, classroom furniture does not meet any national ergonomic criteria. This
study aimed to use the concept of ergonomics to design a classroom desktop–chair for students in UasinGishu County, Kenya. Anthropometric data were collected from a total of 382 students of both genders. The
fourteen anthropometric measurements were taken from students with the help of anthropometric tools. The
research applied fundamental engineering principles of product design and was carried out in compliance with
ISO 7250-1:2017. The data obtained was analysed using Minitab 17.0 statistical package. Using the collected
anthropometric data, a students’ desktop–chair was proposed. In conclusion, one type of ergonomically suitable
classroom desktop–chair design was proposed to improve the match between classroom desktop–chairs’ dimensions and students’ anthropometric characteristics. It is highly recommended that similar scientific research
should be carried out in other countries.
Keywords: Desktop–chair, Classroom environment, MSDs, Awkward position.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Problem statement, significance, and purpose
of the study
The basic philosophy of ergonomics is to make any
design comfortable. Students require well-designed
classroom furniture for their comfort in the learning context. This requires that in designing classroom
furniture, designers should include anthropometric
sciences (Igbokwe et al. 2019b; Taifa & Desai 2017).
According to some estimations, about 44 million workers in Europe suffer from occupational musculoskeletal disorders (Yusop et al. 2018). This shows that the
ergonomics problem is a major issue that needs to be
solved to avoid further suffering in the future. Therefore, there is need for ergonomists to treat the issue of
furniture design for students as a necessity, and educational institutes/universities should treat the selection
of the right kind of furniture as a social responsibility towards the students’ community (Igbokwe et al.
2019). It is very essential for an institution of learning
to have their anthropometric measurements regarding students so that they can be used by designers
who intend to make ergonomic furniture, for them.
This will ensure safety, comfort, adaptability, suitability, and ultimately guarantee user satisfaction, as
well as result in the reduction of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) (Igbokwe, Osueke, Opara, Ileagu,
& Ezeakaibeya 2019a). This research is of paramount
importance because it expended current knowledge
in the field of anthropometry to provide a database
for future research and it is potentially beneficial to
all future student. This research, therefore, seeks to
use anthropometry for the design of classroom furniture for students to improve physical responses and
their performance. The main purpose of the study is
to conduct anthropometric measurements of students
from four selected tertiary institutions and to design
a desktop–chair using the collected anthropometric
measurements.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Al-Hinai et al. (2018a) noted that the compatibility
between classroom furniture dimensions and students’
anthropometric characteristics has been identified as
a key factor in improving some students’ physical
responses. Besides, there is a large amount of research
worldwide (Castellucci, Gonçalves, & Arezes 2010;
Chung & Wong 2007; Saarni et al. 2007) that shows
a clear mismatch between anthropometric characteristics and the dimensions of classroom furniture. This
mismatch might affect the learning process, even
during the most stimulating and interesting lessons,
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-5
39