1. Collection of Anthropometric Information on Firefighters for Fire Apparatus Design and Standards Update Funded by:  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Supported by:  IAFF, IAFC, NFFF, NFPA, and FAMA Conducted by: Total Contact Inc.

2. NIOSH Firefighter Study:
Phase I
- First large scale anthropometric survey of firefighters
- Sampling strategy included gender, age, and ethnicity
- Measured 951 firefighters with and without gear
- Four different geographic locations (MD, AZ, PA, TX)
- Combined traditional and 3D anthropometric methods
- traditional measurements
- 3D head scanner
- 3D foot scanner
- FaroArm digitization of standing and seated
- 2D scan of hand
This is the first large scale anthropometric survey for firefighters. The study was broken down into two phases; in phase I 951 firefighters was measured with and without their bunker gear. We went to four different data collection sites: Rockville, md., Philadelphia, pa., phoenix, az., and fort worth tx. At each site the sample population was broken down by age, ethnicity, and gender to get a good representation of the firefighter population. Each of the 951 subjects that participated consented to an hour measurement session that included: several traditional measurements, Faro arm digitization standing and seated, 3d surface head scans, 2d surface hand scans, a 3d surface foot scans.

3. Traditional Measurements
Traditional measurements refer to all the measurements collected with tape measure and calipers. There were several breadths, widths, and circumferences collected from each subject.

4. FARO Arm Measurements
Faro arm measurements refer to measurements that were derived from digital points collected on the subject in the standing or seated position.

5. Scanning Methods Used to Measure Hands, Feet, and Head
: In phase I there were three scanning methods used; 3d head surface scanning which consists of three separate head scans per subject (first was unencumbered- no helmet or face piece, second was donning helmet, and third was donning face mask). 3d- foot scan which consisted of 2 different scans (1 of the subjects bare foot, 1 of the subjects foot in their fire boot). And the 2d hand scan with and without the fire glove.

6. Measurements Collected in Phase 1 Without Gear
Height
Weight
Cervicale Height
Axilla Height
Waist Height
Crotch Height
Knee Height
Ankle Height
Chest Width
Chest Depth
Chest Circumference
Under bust Circumference
Waist Circumference
Hip Circumference
Thigh Circumference
Calf Circumference
Acromion- Wrist Length
Acromion Grip Length
Grip Strength Without Glove
Vertical Trunk Circumference
Functional Arm Span
Head Circumference
Bitragion Arc Length
Head Arc Length
Neck Circumference
Acromion Breadth
Max. Torso Breadth
Hip Breadth
Seated Height
Seated Nuchale Height
Seated Acromion Height
Seated Elbow Height
Elbow – Finger Length
Knee Height
Popliteal Height
Butt- Knee length
Foot Length
Foot Width
This is a list of all the measurements collected in phase I of the subjects in shorts. The circumferences and breadths are examples of the measurements taken with tape measure and calipers. The heights are good examples of measurements derived from digital points collected with the faro arm.

7. Measurements Collected in Phase 1 In Gear
Chest Width
Waist Width
Chest Depth
Waist Depth
Over Head Reach
Eye Height
Thigh Clearance
Shoulder – Elbow Length
Elbow Wrist Length
Shoulder Grip Length
Grip Strength With Glove
Foot Length
Foot Width
Weight
Butt- Shoe tip Length
Abdominal Depth
Abdominal Breadth
Hip Breadth
Bi Deltoid Breadth
Bi Troch Curve Length
Acromion- Troch Curve Length
This list is all the measurements taken of the subjects in their bunker gear. An example of how these measurements could be useful in apparatus design would be hip breadth, which was taken with the subject in a seated position, could be applied to how wide the seats need to be to accommodate the firefighter population in their gear.

8. NIOSH Firefighter Study: Phase II
Measured 207 firefighters with and without gear
The subjects that participated in phase II were chosen by a Principal Component Analyses of the phase I data
- Combined traditional and 3D anthropometric methods
- traditional measurements
- 3D Whole Body Scanning
- 3D Hand Scanning
- Cab Space FaroArm digitization
- The data from this study can be used to develop design tools for manufacturers and propose measures for NFPA standards committee
In the fall of 2011 we started data collection of the second phase of the study. In phase 2 we had 207 of the original 951 subjects come back and participate in another measurement session. The way we selected the 207 subjects was by doing a principle component analyses of the phase one data and finding the subjects that best represented various body dimensions impacting the design of restraint systems, occupancy in apparatus, and PPE. In phase two the subjects consented to a second hour long measurement session, this measurement session consisted of traditional measurements, an in depth faro arm digitization of each subject in several cab space positions, and 8 whole body scan images.

9. Measurements Collected in Phase II Without Gear
Weight
Bicep Circumference (extended)
Bicep Circumference (flexed)
Forearm Circumference
Wrist Circumference
Axilla- Acromion Circumference
Chest Circumference Over Arms
Waist Circumference (Omphalion level)
Wasit Circumference Max. Protrusion
Hip Circumference Seated
Waist Breadth
Seated Knee Height w/o Boot
Step Height (knee and 90 degrees)
Step Height (highest comfortable)
Step Height (highest possible)
Reach Heights
Right Troch. to Left Troch.
Right Acromion to Left Troch.
Seated Knee Height in boot
Sleeve Length
Ankle Circumference
Bi-Deltoid Breadth
Waist Depth
All of the traditional measurements collected in the second phase had a design purpose in mind, or were proposed by manufacturer partners. A few that may be of particular interest to apparatus manufacturers are the step height measurements and the ingress/ egress handle reach measurements.

10. Whole Body Scan Positions
These are the whole body surface scans collected of each subject, the four positions are standing arms at the side, seated relaxed, seated with correct posture, and an overhead working position. These four positions were scanned with and without gear for a total of 8 scans per subject.

11. Bounding Box Data
These scans can be segmented into what is called bounding box data, this bounding box data can tell manufacturers how much volume the firefighters lower or upper body takes up so that adequate seating space can be incorporated into apparatus design.

12. FARO Cab Space Data Driver Cab Space
Each subject had their body position, steering wheel position, and seat position tracked at four different steering column positions.
Control Reach Data
Each subject had their reach envelope tracked for control positioning.
Seat Belt Reach Data
Each subject had their right arm position tracked during four different seat belt reaches. (with and without gear)
The Faro arm cab space digitization process is best broke down into three parts: 1) Driver cab space measurements, 2) Control reach data, and 3) Seat belt reach data

13. At each steering column position, digitize the following:
bregma
At each steering column position, digitize the following:
bregma
sellion
tragion
acromion
Olecranon
Ulnar styloid
trochanterion
thigh pt
knee pt
shin pt
heel pt
toe pt
tragion
sellion
acromion
Ulnar styloid
olecranon
thigh pt
trochanterion
knee pt
shin pt
toe pt
heel pt
Set steering column at position 1.
1. Allow subject to move seat to find the most accommodating position.
Allow subject to tilt steering column fore/aft to find the most accommodating steering
wheel position.
Allow subject to rotate steering wheel into position with hands at “10 & 2”.
Set steering column to position 2. Repeat steps 1 – 3.
Set steering column to position 3. Repeat steps 1 – 3.
Set steering column to position 4. Repeat steps
The driver cab space measurements process consisted of placing the steering column in 4 positions. At each position the subject was asked to find the most accommodating driving position by moving the seat, and adjusting the wheel tilt and telescope. Once the subject found the most accommodating driving position for each steering column location we tracked the steering wheel position, seat position, and body position by picking several digital points. All of the digital points collected are oriented so that the heel point is the origin. The heel point was derived from the pedal location in the mock cab, and the pedal did stay in a fixed location for all subjects.

14. Cab Space Reach Measurements
The control reach measurements were taken with the seat in a set location for each subject. There were five control reach positions tracked for each subject.

15. Faro Driver Position Data
This is a good view of what the faro data looks like, on the left you can see the subjects seat position, arm position, leg position, belly arc, and eye to top of steering wheel angle. On the right is just a few examples of distances that can be derived from the faro data: seat height, eye to floor distance, and seat to center of steering wheel, just to name a few.

16. Driver Position Comparison
In this slide you can see how this subject had to move the seat and steering wheel to get accommodated in the different steering column locations. We can use faro data to compare different subjects in the same steering column location as well.

17. Faro Reach Data
: In this slide on the left you can see the subjects digitized arm in five different reach locations, and on the right you can see the distance of the wrist points to the origin/heel point. We can use this faro reach data to tell manufacturers where to best place controls in the cab to accommodate most firefighters.

18. Seatbelt Reach 1
On this measurement the subject was asked to keep their shoulder blades against the seat. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their left shoulder toward a fixed target.
The measurer tracked the position of the right acromion, olecranon, and ulnar styloid using the faro arm digitizer to measure the subjects maximum reach in this position.
: Each subject had four seatbelt reaches tracked with and without their bunker coat on. On the first seat belt reach measurement the subject was asked to keep their shoulder blades against the seat. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their left shoulder toward a fixed target. We then tracked three points on the subjects arm with faro arm.

19. Seatbelt Reach 2
On this measurement the subject was asked to keep their shoulder blades against the seat. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their body toward a fixed target near left trochanter.
The measurer tracked the position of the right acromion, olecranon, and radial styloid using the faro arm digitizer to measure the subjects maximum reach in this position.
This process was then repeated with the subject reaching toward a lower reach target.

20. Seatbelt Reach 3
On this measurement the subject was allowed to turn their body. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their left shoulder toward a fixed target.
The measurer tracked the position of the right acromion, olecranon, and radial styloid using the faro arm digitizer to measure the subjects maximum reach in this position.
The subject was then allowed to turn their body as normally would to reach for a seat belt. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their left shoulder toward a fixed target. The measurer would then track three points on the subjects arm.

21. Seatbelt Reach 4
On this measurement the subject was allowed to turn their body in the seat. The subject then reached (with his/her right arm) across their body toward a fixed target near left trochanter.
The measurer tracked the position of the right acromion, olecranon, and radial styloid using the faro arm digitizer to measure the subjects maximum reach in this position.
This process was then repeated with the subject reaching toward a lower reach target. These seat belt reaches were then repeated in the bunker coat.

22. Firefighter Anthropometry
Pilot Study (n=122)
85 men
37 women
Includes traditional anthropometry and whole body scans
Available now for $500 donation to NFFF
NIOSH survey (n=951)
863 men
88 women
Includes traditional measurements, 3D scans, and driver cab space measurements
Preview available when partnered with NIOSH

23. Firefighter Anthropometry

24. Contact Us For More Information
Total Contact Inc.
41 N. Main St.
Germantown, OH
Phone:
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