By Roger Lackore

The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) has a goal to advance and protect the interests of the fire and emergency services community. While not everyone in the fire service will agree on what those best interests are, we can all agree that good decision making begins and ends with good data.

For that reason, FAMA is excited to highlight the publication of data from a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study on firefighter anthropometric measurements.

What is Anthropometry?

Anthropometry is a fancy word for the study of human body measurements. This seems like it should be straightforward and simple. We all get measured for height at each doctor’s visit. Gather the height measurements from a group of people, and you can quickly determine the average height of the people in your group. But, very rarely does a single dimension give the complete picture. For example, while two people may be the same height while standing, they will not have the same head height when sitting in a chair. This is because we all have different shapes: long legs and short torso, short legs and long torso, average legs and torso but long neck, etc. If you are trying to ensure that your equipment fits your personnel, a single data point is rarely sufficient.

This is where anthropometry steps in. There are specific anthropometric measurements for just about every aspect of the human form. These measurements can be obtained through physical methods using rulers, T-squares, and the like. Or, they can be obtained by computer body scanning. The NIOSH team used both methods, and the result is a list of 71 discrete measurements for male firefighters and the same number for female firefighters. The usefulness of this data is increased by using statistical methods that allow us to determine the likelihood that a group of firefighters will fit a particular value.

History of Anthropometry in the Fire Service

FAMA stepped up in 2006 when the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) challenged the industry to make seat belts that fit the firefighters using them. We partnered with fire departments to collect data on firefighter size and weight, which led to the publication of the FAMA “Firefighter Anthropometric Data White Paper” the following year. These data were used by apparatus manufacturers as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) apparatus committee to set new standards for seat belt length. While this data collection was less rigorous than the protocol used by scientific agencies, the information was more timely and accurate enough for the purpose at hand.

At the same time, the IAFC and FAMA began lobbying NIOSH to conduct a more comprehensive study of firefighters. NIOSH is a government agency funded by Congress to perform basic research in support of efforts to improve U.S. worker safety and health. NIOSH does not set standards or regulations, but the research it conducts may be used by regulatory and standard creation organizations.

NIOSH eventually obtained funding for the firefighter study and, in 2015, the first look at part of the data was published as an article in Applied Ergonomics titled “Seat and Seat Belt Accommodation in Fire Apparatus: Anthropometric Aspects.” The data in its complete form could not be published until they were thoroughly vetted and peer-reviewed by the scientific community. That process, however, has now been completed and the entire set of data is available to the public.

Manufacturer Uses for Anthropometric Data

Apparatus manufacturers can use anthropometric data to configure cab seating and place driver controls. Equipment and clothing manufacture

By Roger Lackore

The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) has a goal to advance and protect the interests of the fire and emergency services community. While not everyone in the fire service will agree on what those best interests are, we can all agree that good decision making begins and ends with good data.

For that reason, FAMA is excited to highlight the publication of data from a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study on firefighter anthropometric measurements.

What is Anthropometry?

Anthropometry is a fancy word for the study of human body measurements. This seems like it should be straightforward and simple. We all get measured for height at each doctor’s visit. Gather the height measurements from a group of people, and you can quickly determine the average height of the people in your group. But, very rarely does a single dimension give the complete picture. For example, while two people may be the same height while standing, they will not have the same head height when sitting in a chair. This is because we all have different shapes: long legs and short torso, short legs and long torso, average legs and torso but long neck, etc. If you are trying to ensure that your equipment fits your personnel, a single data point is rarely sufficient.

This is where anthropometry steps in. There are specific anthropometric measurements for just about every aspect of the human form. These measurements can be obtained through physical methods using rulers, T-squares, and the like. Or, they can be obtained by computer body scanning. The NIOSH team used both methods, and the result is a list of 71 discrete measurements for male firefighters and the same number for female firefighters. The usefulness of this data is increased by using statistical methods that allow us to determine the likelihood that a group of firefighters will fit a particular value.

History of Anthropometry in the Fire Service

FAMA stepped up in 2006 when the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) challenged the industry to make seat belts that fit the firefighters using them. We partnered with fire departments to collect data on firefighter size and weight, which led to the publication of the FAMA “Firefighter Anthropometric Data White Paper” the following year. These data were used by apparatus manufacturers as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) apparatus committee to set new standards for seat belt length. While this data collection was less rigorous than the protocol used by scientific agencies, the information was more timely and accurate enough for the purpose at hand.

At the same time, the IAFC and FAMA began lobbying NIOSH to conduct a more comprehensive study of firefighters. NIOSH is a government agency funded by Congress to perform basic research in support of efforts to improve U.S. worker safety and health. NIOSH does not set standards or regulations, but the research it conducts may be used by regulatory and standard creation organizations.

NIOSH eventually obtained funding for the firefighter study and, in 2015, the first look at part of the data was published as an article in Applied Ergonomics titled “Seat and Seat Belt Accommodation in Fire Apparatus: Anthropometric Aspects.” The data in its complete form could not be published until they were thoroughly vetted and peer-reviewed by the scientific community. That process, however, has now been completed and the entire set of data is available to the public.

Manufacturer Uses for Anthropometric Data

Apparatus manufacturers can use anthropometric data to configure cab seating and place driver controls. Equipment and clothing manufacture

By Roger Lackore

The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) has a goal to advance and protect the interests of the fire and emergency services community. While not everyone in the fire service will agree on what those best interests are, we can all agree that good decision making begins and ends with good data.

For that reason, FAMA is excited to highlight the publication of data from a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study on firefighter anthropometric measurements.

What is Anthropometry?

Anthropometry is a fancy word for the study of human body measurements. This seems like it should be straightforward and simple. We all get measured for height at each doctor’s visit. Gather the height measurements from a group of people, and you can quickly determine the average height of the people in your group. But, very rarely does a single dimension give the complete picture. For example, while two people may be the same height while standing, they will not have the same head height when sitting in a chair. This is because we all have different shapes: long legs and short torso, short legs and long torso, average legs and torso but long neck, etc. If you are trying to ensure that your equipment fits your personnel, a single data point is rarely sufficient.

This is where anthropometry steps in. There are specific anthropometric measurements for just about every aspect of the human form. These measurements can be obtained through physical methods using rulers, T-squares, and the like. Or, they can be obtained by computer body scanning. The NIOSH team used both methods, and the result is a list of 71 discrete measurements for male firefighters and the same number for female firefighters. The usefulness of this data is increased by using statistical methods that allow us to determine the likelihood that a group of firefighters will fit a particular value.

History of Anthropometry in the Fire Service

FAMA stepped up in 2006 when the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) challenged the industry to make seat belts that fit the firefighters using them. We partnered with fire departments to collect data on firefighter size and weight, which led to the publication of the FAMA “Firefighter Anthropometric Data White Paper” the following year. These data were used by apparatus manufacturers as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) apparatus committee to set new standards for seat belt length. While this data collection was less rigorous than the protocol used by scientific agencies, the information was more timely and accurate enough for the purpose at hand.

At the same time, the IAFC and FAMA began lobbying NIOSH to conduct a more comprehensive study of firefighters. NIOSH is a government agency funded by Congress to perform basic research in support of efforts to improve U.S. worker safety and health. NIOSH does not set standards or regulations, but the research it conducts may be used by regulatory and standard creation organizations.

NIOSH eventually obtained funding for the firefighter study and, in 2015, the first look at part of the data was published as an article in Applied Ergonomics titled “Seat and Seat Belt Accommodation in Fire Apparatus: Anthropometric Aspects.” The data in its complete form could not be published until they were thoroughly vetted and peer-reviewed by the scientific community. That process, however, has now been completed and the entire set of data is available to the public.

Manufacturer Uses for Anthropometric Data

Apparatus manufacturers can use anthropometric data to configure cab seating and place driver controls. Equipment and clothing manufacture

By Alan M. Petrillo

Depending on what part of the country your fire department is located, you probably have a preference for a certain type of body material for your fire apparatus. It might be aluminum, stainless steel, or copolymer.

But, one thing is certain - the choice of body materials will have a major effect on the vehicle’s life, performance, and durability.

1 Pro Poly of America Inc. built the body of this light-duty rescue that Fouts Bros. built for North Pekin (IL) Fire Rescue.

Copolymer Bodies

Andrew Lingel, president of United Plastic Fabricating (UPF), says the bodies UPF makes for the fire service commonly are used on tankers, pumper-tankers, mini pumpers, Type 1 pumpers, and rescue trucks. “We started designing our first formal PolyBodies® in 1994 as a utility body, while before that we were making body components like compartments and trays,” Lingel says. “This past December, we celebrated our 30th anniversary since UPF started building Poly water tanks, and 2016 was a year when we built the most PolyBody units for the fire industry that we’ve ever done.”

Michael Ashley, UPF’s vice president of engineering, says UPF’s PolyBodies are a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene. “We use hot gas fusion welding to weld the plates together and also use extrusion guns using air and/or nitrogen to preheat the parent material. The rod heats up and gets molten into the joint, welding the panels together,” Ashley points out. “We also use a hot knife and pressure to fuse panels together where appropriate.”

2 Fouts Bros. built this mini pumper on a PolyBilt body made by Pro Poly of America Inc. for Oconee County (SC) Fire Rescue. (Photos 1-2 courtesy of Pro Poly of America Inc.)

Lingel notes that the biggest benefits of a copolymer fire truck body “are that they will never rust or corrode; have very good impact resistance so they avoid dents, dings, and minor repairs; and hold their beautiful finish a lot longer.”

Ashley adds that PolyBodies are about the same weight as a typical aluminum fire truck body. “However, there’s a weight savings over steel, stainless steel, and fiberglass composite bodies,” he says.

Tim Dean, president of Pro Poly of America Inc., says his company created the PolyBilt® limited liability corporation with W.S. Darley & Co. in 2000. “We have been in business 25 years, and our bread and butter has been water tanks,” Dean observes, “but 15 years ago we put our heads together with Darley and decided to make the entire back end of a fire truck out of copolymer. Our Polyprene™ is a special blend of monomers, a polyethylene and polypropylene blend, that form the copolymer.”

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