asic Human Dimension Data

Basic Human Dimension DataOrrirrw..: :'.'•

Designers have traditionally designed sites, buildings, vehicles and furniture with the average-size person inmind. This statistically-based "average" person has generally been an adult male without disabilities.

The result has been an environment which does not really meet the size and spatial requirements of many,if not most, of its users. The needs of extremely small or large adults, children, and persons who have physicaldisabilities have been overlooked in most of the criteria used to design the built environment. Although it canserve as only a general guide, this section should provide increased awareness of the spatial requirementsof all people, especially those with disabilities.

As the illustrations on the following pages show, the eye and arm levels of people in wheelchairs areconsiderably lower than average, standing adults. This data is particularly significant in determining reachranges, work surface heights and maximum heights for storage units, controls and signage . It is i mportant tokeep in mind that most accessibility guidelines such as ADA , ANSI, UFAS and others are based on "average"dimensions for people in wheelchairs. The arm and eye levels of elderly people and children usingwheelchairs can vary widely from those norms, and should also be considered in the design of a barrier-freeenvironment.

Special emphasis is given throughoutthis book to spatial requirements which resultfrom the use of wheelchairs because persons using wheelchairs account for asignificant percentage of people with disabilities, and because spatial require-ments for such persons generally meet or exceed the requirements of persons withother disabilities.

The sources for the anthropomorphic data in this chapter are as follows:

Charles George Ramsey and Harold Reeve Sleeper, Architectural Graphic Standards, eighth edition,prepared for the American Institute of Architects, John Ray Hoke, Jr., AIA , editor ( New York: John Wiley& Sons, 1 988), pages 2-8.

Julius Panero , AIA , ASID and Martin Zelnik , AIA , ASID , Human Dimension & Interior Space, A SourceBook of Design Reference Standards ( New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1979). Dimensions foradults are on pages 85-98; dimensions for children are on pages 1 06-110.

42 The template on the preceeding page is courtesty of the Barrier-free Design Center of Herman Miller.

AN ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK

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24 in I I 22 in610 mm I 1 560 mm 1 355 mm - 455 mm

13 in - 1 7 in330 mm - 430 mm

1 4 in - 1 8 in

30 in760 mm

up to 48 in

1220 mm

36 in

915 mm

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Basic HumanDimension Data

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IDMan and Woman without Disabilities Children without Disabilities

28 in

710 mm

Man with Dog Guide Man and Woman on Crutches Man with Walker

43

ACCESS FOR ALL

People who use wheelchairs need wider spaces tomove aboutthan average standing adults. However,people who use other mobility aids such as walkersor crutches, parents with strollers, people with dogguides or canes, or those carrying large objects mayneed wider spaces than even people using wheel-chairs. This data is significant in determining notonly the width of pathways, ramps, stairs and door-ways but also the size of toilet stalls and clear floorspace.

150 mm l I 610 mm I 1 150 mm

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48 in1220 mm

clear floor space

Child's Forward Reach Adult's Forward Reach

13 in - 1 8 in330 mm - 455 mm

Child's Front Reach Over Counter

25 in635 mm

max

E x

25 in635 mm

min

Adult's Front Reach Over Counter45

ACCESS FOR ALL

13 in - 18 in330 mm - 455 mm

.4, • ••• • •• • • •• • • •• •4, • •• •N.

A large portion of most accessiblity guidelines isbased on the maneuvering and turning spaces re-quired by people who use wheelchairs. This data isuseful in the planning of areas such as restrooms,corridors and entrances, as well as the placementand spacing of furnishings in public areas such aslobbies, auditoriums and libraries.

The chart on page 48 illustrates some of the standarddimensions of manual and motorized wheelchairswhich are commonly used today. Although manypeople still use manual wheelchairs, a significantnumber of people now use motorized ones. Wheel-chair technology has developed to the point wheremotorized chairs can be used by people with verylittle mobility. Models are available which can beguided by use of a mouthstick, the nod of a head oreven voice commands. As such technology be-comes advanced to allow people with more severemobility limitations to use wheelchairs, the propor-tion of motorized chairs will continue to increase.

36 in915 mm

minpassage

Absolute Minimum Corridor Widthfor Single Wheelchair

Adult's Side Reach Over Counter

46

AN ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK

Child's Side Reach Over Counter

1830 mmpreferred

Two Wheelchairs Passing in Corridor

60 in for 360° turn

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48 in

1220 mmmin

clear floor space

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Minimum Corridor Widthfor Turning a Wheelchair

30 in

760 mmmin

clear floor space

Minimum Clear Floor Spacefor Parallel Approach

Minimum Clear Floor Spacefor Forward Approach

47

ACCESS FOR ALL

Side View Rear View

•

42 in1065 mm

27 in

685 mm

•

■74

Folded View

DisabilitiesWithout Dimension

Range of Adult Wheelchair Measurements

Manual Motorized

Height: Arms from floor 25 - 31.5 inches (635 - 802 mm) 30 - 35 inches (760 - 890 mm)

Height: Seat from floor 1 7.75 - 20 inches (449 - 510 mm) 20.75 inches (529 mm)

Foot rest: Minimum extension 1 4.5 - 15.75 inches (368 - 399 mm) 1 5 - 18 inches (380 - 455 mm)

Foot rest: Maximum extension 20.75 - 21 inches (529 - 535 mm) 21 - 22.5 inches (535 - 573 mm)

Wheel Diameter: Front 5 - 8 inches (125 - 200 mm) 23.5 inches (598 mm)

Wheel Diameter: Rear 22 - 24 inches (560 - 610 mm) 20 inches (510 mm)

Average Adult Chair Measurements

This chapter is by no means comprehensive. Itprovides data only for those disabilities which haveor create a dimensional need that is different fromone of the standard averages used for most design.There are a whole range of other disabilities whichwill affect the design and organization of the builtenvironment, but will affect its dimensions in a much

48

AN ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK

less direct manner. Such disabilities include, but arenot limited to, hearing impairments, cognitive im-pairments, and some activity limitations. Excludingspecific data pertaining to design for such disabilitiesfrom this chapter is not meant to imply that this datais being overlooked. In fact, an attempt has beenmade to thoroughly address the architectural re-quirements of disabilities without dimension through-out this book.