Page 301 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

294 Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

the hazards against which the PPE is intended to provide protection;
l
the body part(s) it will be in contact with or cover;
l
the physical activities expected to be performed during its use;
l
the intended PPE user group (EN 13921:2017, 2017).
l
The hazard against which the PPE is to provide protection will determine whether or
not closeness of fit is likely to be important. The body part(s) the PPE will be in contact
with will serve to identify those parts where anthropometric data is needed. If the PPE
crosses or covers a body joint, then more anthropometric dimensions should be spec-
ified based on different joint positions. The physical activity expected to be performed
during the use of PPE may alter body dimensions. This should be taken into account in
specifying anthropometric dimensions in a PPE standard. Excessively close fitting or
otherwise poorly dimensioned PPE may prevent or hinder the performance of neces-
sary activities. One example is the well-known apparent lengthening of the arm when
extended and the increased girth of the thigh muscles when squatting or kneeling. Both
of these have been shown to impair fit and therefore reduce the comfort or effective-
ness of PPE. Loose fitting or bulky PPE may restrict access to working areas or may
present a potential safety hazard by snagging on equipment parts or other features of
the environment (EN 13921:2017, 2017).

11.3 Anthropometrics for protective clothing

Even at the beginnings of mass production of clothing, it was necessary to think about
the number of sizes of a single model series, what would be the anthropometrically dif-
ferent garment sizes that would match the sizes distributed, and how to mark them. In
the beginning, the manufacturing and marketing firms of the ready-made garments had
to establish their own sizing, grading, and size marking rules independently because
otherwise production of an assortment series of various sizes could not be started.
The purpose of anthropometric typifications is to introduce the classifications of con-
fection (for mass production) sizes for quantity production garments corresponding to a
variety of human figures. The typification requirements are clearly satisfied by the types
of two body measurements known in physical anthropology as “total morphological
characteristics,” namely the height of the body and horizontal chest or bust girth, which
replaces the anthropological thorax perimeter measurement. However, in order to com-
prehensively describe the diversity of human figure dimensions, at least for the degree
of precision required for the commercial business of the confection, the anthropometric
standardization is not sufficient with two control dimensions only, and therefore the fol-
lowing morphological characteristics are to be introduced: the hip girth for women’s
clothing and the waist circumference for children and men’s garments.
The size designation systems are based on body measurements, not garment mea-
surements. The choice of garment measurements is determined by the designers and
manufacturers who make appropriate allowances, style, cut, and elements of the gar-
ment. Standard ISO 8559-2:2017 “Size designation of clothes—Part 2: Primary and
secondary dimension indicators” specifies primary and secondary dimensions for
specified types of garments, which are explained as: