In this study an anthropometric design process was followed, aiming to improve the fit of school furniture sizes for European children. The study result statistically demonstrated that the draft of a European standard does not cover the target population. There is no literature on design criteria for sizes, and it is common to calculate the fit for only the mean values in practice. The calculations here used body dimensions of Dutch children, measured by the authors' Department, and used data from German and British national standards.
A design process was followed contains several steps, including: Target group, Anthropometric model and Percentage exclusion. The criteria developed in this study, first, are a fit on the basis of 1% exclusion, and second, a prescription based on popliteal height. According to this new approach, it was concluded that prescription of a set size should be based on popliteal height instead of body height. Hence the drafted standard, Pren 1729, can be improved with this approach. A European standard for school furniture should take it into consideration that Dutch children need an extra large size.
