Evaluation of the guidelines and children’s ability to select the anthropometrically recommendable height of school furniture: A case study of Korean primary school children

BACKGROUND: The use of school furniture with a height that is anthropometrically mismatched can lead children into taking awkward postures while sitting. In Korea, desks and chairs for primary schools have seven different height levels, and these levels are regulated by the national standard KSG-2010. These levels serve to accommodate children of all heights, but the choice problem remains because of the many alternatives. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the anthropometric feasibility of the currently used guidelines for the selection of height level for Korean primary school furniture. In addition, we examine children's ability to select anthropometrically recommendable desk and seat heights. METHODS: In study 1, anthropometric data from 2005 Korean children were acquired and a mismatch analysis was performed under the assumption that children were paired with the height level recommended by the guidelines. In study 2, we conducted a desk and seat height selection experiment that included 36 children. RESULTS: The results of study 1 revealed that about three quarters of children could be matched by following the guidelines. The results of study 2 showed that a quarter of children selected matchable desk and seat heights by themselves. We developed new guidelines using classification algorithms based on the employed data in study 1, and it was confirmed that the new guidelines could significantly increase the degree of match. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the currently used guidelines need to be revised and that children had difficulty in selecting the appropriate height of school furniture by themselves. The new guidelines suggested in this study are expected to contribute to the correct usage by Korean primary school children.