SURFACE J833

REV.
MAY89
VEHICLE
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
RECOMMENDED Issued 1962-06
PRACTICE Revised 1989-05

Superseding J833 DEC83

Submitted for recognition as an American National Standard

(R) HUMAN PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS

This recommended practice is technically equivalent to the human physical dimensions of operators in ISO-3411-
1982.

1. Scope—This SAE Recommended Practice defines the worldwide human physical dimensions to be used in
construction, general purpose industrial, agricultural tractors, forestry and specialized mining machinery
categories as defined in SAE J1116 JUN86.

2. References

2.1 Applicable Publications—The following publications form a part of the specification to the extent specified
herein. Unless otherwise indicated the lastest revision of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATIONS—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J898 OCT87—Control Locations for Off-Road Work Machines

SAE J925 DEC87—Minimum Service Access Dimensions for Off-Road Machines
SAE J1116 JUN86—Categories of Off-Road, Self-Propelled Work Machines

3. Physical Dimensions

3.1 General—The physical and body pivot dimensions of small, medium, and large humans are given in Figures 1
and 2 for the sitting and standing positions.

3.2 Definitions

3.2.1 SMALL HUMAN—Represents the 5th percentile female. Only 5% of the female population is smaller than the
dimensions given.

3.2.2 MEDIUM HUMAN—Represents the half-way position between the small and large humans.

3.2.3 LARGE HUMAN—Represents the 95th percentile male. Only 5% of the male population is larger than the
dimensions given.

3.3 Dimensions—The dimensions in Figures 1 and 2 include an allowance for shoe height and light clothing.
Table 1 includes an additive for heavy winter clothes.

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”

SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS DOCUMENT: (412) 772-8512 FAX: (412) 776-0243

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SAE WEB ADDRESS http://www.sae.org

Copyright 1989 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

FIGURE 1—SITTING POSITION

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 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

FIGURE 2—STANDING POSITION

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 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

TABLE 1—HEAVY CLOTHING ADDITIVE

mm
Sitting Height 50
Head Width 100
Shoulder Height 50
Shoulder Width 75
Chest Depth 75
Abdominal Depth 90
Thigh Thickness 50
Hand Width 25
Hand Thickness 25
Hand Length 25
Shoe Width 50
Shoe Length 50
kg

Weight 14
(For appropriate access openings, see SAE J925)

3.4 Range of Movement Angles—The range movement of body pivot is defined in SAE J898 OCT87.

3.5 Dimension Variations

3.5.1 HUMAN BODY NATURAL SLUMP

3.5.1.1 Sitting height can decrease 90 mm for a large human and 50 mm for a small human.

3.5.1.2 Standing height can decrease 30 mm for any size human.

3.5.2 ETHNIC GROUP VARIATION

3.5.2.1 Afro descents can have 2% longer arms and 4% longer legs than dimensions provided.

3.5.2.2 Oriental descents can have 7% shorter arms and 10% shorter legs than dimensions provided.

4. Notes

4.1 Marginal Indicia——The change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating
areas where technical revisions have been made to the previous issue of the report. An (R) symbol to the left
of the document title indicates a complete revision of the report.

PREPARED BY THE SAE HFTC/SUBCOMMITTEE 5, ACCESS AND ANTHROPOMETRIC DIMENSIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SAE HUMAN FACTORS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

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 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

Rationale—The current SAE J833 presents the information with eleven pictures and two tables. The revision
uses two pictures, one table and includes pivot information as well as body data for 5, 50, and 95th
percentile persons. The new graphics are much easier to use and understand.

The revised data and graphic was developed by Henry Dreyfuss Associates and reflects the changing
make up of people's size. The data is designated 5th Percentile Female and 95th Percentile Male. In
practice, this closely approximates the Worldwide operator population dimensions given in ISO 3411-
1982. A note in the text provides information about adjusting the data for slump and certain ethnic
groups.

A comparison of dimensions in Revised J833, ISO 3411, and SAE J833 was made. The results are in
the two attached tables. Same dimensions were obtained by multiple additions and subtractions to the
original documents to get the same reference points. Not all of the data points were measured the same
as seen by A, B, and C on tables.

SITTING

Anterior Arm Reach: (from back of shoulder to tip of middle finger)

The SAE J833 95% male dimension of 940 mm appears long when U.S. Army (1966) male dimensions
are as follows:

901
Basic Trainers
mm
916
Armor Crewman
mm
914
Infantry
mm
868
Aviators
mm

The J833 5% female dimension of 559 mm is wrong because in J833 the "Functional Reach" which is
from back of shoulder to tip of thumb for a 5% female is 677.

Shoulder Height: (from table surface to outer point of shoulder)

The revised SAE J833 has a slightly different head and neck, which results in a lower shoulder height.

Elbow to Fingertip: The SAE J833 5% female dimension of 389 mm appears to be short because the
U.S. Army 1% Women (1977) is 387 mm and the 5% Women is 400.

Elbow Height: (from 0 Datum, Seat Height to elbow)

The SAE J833 5% female dimensions of 235 mm appears to be too high. The SAE J833 5% male
dimension in 207 mm and the 5% female should be less. The U.S. Army 90% Women (1977) has a
dimension of 241 mm.

STANDING

Overhead Reach: The revised SAE J833 is approximately 30 mm less than both ISO 3411 and SAE
J833. This difference could be that this is how the subjects were asked to reach and stretch.

Arm Span: The SAE J833 5% female dimension of 1494 mm appears short compared to the following:
 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

1539
2.5 percentile U.S. Female (Dreyfuss)
mm
1661
2.5 percentile U.S Male (Dreyfuss)
mm
1651
5 percentile U.S. Army Men (MILHDBK 759A)
mm

The low SAE J833 5% figure also reduces the 50% average to less than ISO 3411 or the revised SAE
J833. The ISO 3411 is only 1 mm outside of the ±20 mm limit considered significant.

Standing Height (with shoes): The SAE J833 5% female dimension of 1500 mm (no shoes) appears
short compared to the following:

1491
2.5 percentile U.S. Female (Dreyfuss) mm (no
shoes)
1526
5 percentile U.S. Army Women (1977) mm (no
shoes)

Chest Circumference: The SAE J833 95% male dimension of 1097 mm appears large compared to the
following:

1087
97.5 percentile U.S. Male (Dreyfuss)
mm
1045
95 percentile U.S. Army Basic (1966)
mm
1061
95 percentile U.S. Army Infantry (1966)
mm

Hip Pivot to Floor: The ISO 3411 5% is only 1 mm outside of the ±20 mm limit considered significant.

Crotch Height: The SAE J833 5% female dimension of 662 mm (no shoes) appears short compared to
the following:

688 (no
2.5 percentile U.S. Female (Dreyfuss)
shoes)
703 (no
5 percentile U.S. Female (Dreyfuss)
shoes)
695 (no
5 percentile U.S. Army Women (1977)
shoes)

Therefore, the revised SAE J833 5% female dimension of 730 (with shoes) is a good value. The ISO
3411 5% dimension of 757 mm appears to be too high.

Table 1: This table was added to give information about heavy clothing additives.
 STANDING

95% MALE ADULT 50% ADULT 5% FEMALE ADULT

1 1 1 1 1
DIFF(1) DIFF DIFF DIFF DIFF DIFF
FROM FROM FROM MODIFIED FROM FROM FROM
ISO ISO SAE SAE REVISED ISO ISO SAE SAE REVISED ISO ISO SAE SAE
DIMENSIONS 3411 3411 J833 J833 J833 3411 3411 J833 J833 J833 3411 3411 J833 J833

OVERHEAD REACH 2268 2300 −32 2273(2) −30 2062 2100 −38 2062
2 −25 1856 1900 −44 1851
2

HANDGRIP WIDTH (w/o THUMB) 94 95 94 85 86 82 76 80 69

HAND WIDTH (w/THUMB) 110 ---- ---- 99 ---- ---- 88 ---- ----
ARM SPAN 1920 1920 1920 1742 1750 1707 35 1564 1585 −21 1494 70
ARM SPAN, ELBOWS FOLDED 1050 1050 -A- 950 950 -A- 850 850 -A-
HEAD WIDTH 165 165 ---- 155 152 ---- 145 140 ----
INTERPUPILLARY DISTANCE 60–70 ---- 68 60–70 ---- 59 60–70 ---- 49
STANDING HEIGHT (w/SHOES) 1880 1880 1849
2 1715 1715 1675
2 1550 1550 1500
2 25
HEAD HEIGHT 231 ---- ---- 222 ---- ---- 213 ---- ----
EYE HEIGHT 1762 1760 1735
2 1605 1608 1579
2 1448 1440 1422
2
CHIN HEIGHT 1649 ---- ---- 1493 ---- ---- 1337 ---- ----
SHOULDER CIRCUMFERENCE 1255 ---- 1255 1090 ---- 1091 925 ---- 926
SHOULDER WIDTH 485 500 493 431 440 423 377 380 358

SAE J833 Revised MAY89

HAND LENGHT 205 205 203 185 188 182 165 170 161
FOREARM LINK 267 267 ---- 244 244 ---- 221 220 ----
HUMERAL LINK 300 300 ---- 275 274 ---- 250 247 ----
SHOULDER PIVOT WIDTH 376 376 ---- 334 343 ---- 292 310 ----
CHEST CIRCUMFERENCE 1060 ---- 1097 −37 915 ---- 940 −25 770 ---- 782
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ELBOW WIDTH 500 515 -B- 443 450 -B- 386 385 -B-
ELBOW HEIGHT 1159 -C- -C- 1050 -C- -C- 941 -C- -C-
THORACIC LINK 194 ---- ---- 177 ---- ---- 160 ---- ----
LUMBAR LINK 194 ---- ---- 177 ---- ---- 160 ---- ----
PELVIC LINK 92 ---- ---- 88 ---- ---- 84 ---- ----
TRUNK LINK (D) 480 480 ---- 442 438 ---- 404 396 ----
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE 960 ---- 953 778 ---- 771 596 ---- 588
BUTTOCK CIRCUMFERENCE 1070 ---- 1062 966 ---- 958 862 ---- 854
HIP PIVOT TO FLOOR 1016 1016 ---- 916 927 ---- 816 837 −21 ----
HIP PIVOT WIDTH 186 185 ---- 177 169 ---- 168 152 ----
CROTCH HEIGHT 912 919 907
2 821 839 785
2 730 757 −27 662
2 43
FINGER TIP TO FLOOR 724 724 ---- 654 660 ---- 584 596 ----
FEMORAL LINK 452 452 ---- 407 412 ---- 362 372 ----
HIP WIDTH (SITTING) 395 410 404 360 365 359 325 320 313
SHOULDER PIVOT TO FLOOR 1496 1496 ---- 1358 1365 ---- 1220 1233 ----
KNEE PIVOT TO FLOOR 564 564 ---- 509 515 ---- 454 465 ----
CALF CIRCUMFERENCE 410 ---- 406 358 ---- 356 306 ---- 306
SHANK LINK 445 445 ---- 398 406 ---- 351 367 ----
ANKLE PIVOT TO FLOOR 119 119 ---- 111 109 ---- 103 98 ----
ANKLE HEIGHT 94 ---- ---- 86 ---- ---- 78 ---- ----
SHOE WIDTH 116 115 ---- 103 105 ---- 90 95 ----
FOOT WIDTH 104 ---- 104 94 ---- 92 84 ---- 80
HEEL HEIGHT 25 ---- ---- 25 ---- ---- 25 ---- ----
WEIGHT (KILOGRAMS) 98kg 98kg 98.5kg 73kg 76.5kg 72.9kg 48kg 55kg 47.2kg
MODIFIED J833 IS AVERAGE OF 5% FEMALE PLUS 95%
MALE

1. A DIFFERENCE OF >±20mm WAS CONCIDERED SIGNIFICANT

2. NO SHOE (25mm ADDED FOR SHOE TO GET DIFFERENCE)
 SITTING

95% MALE ADULT 50% ADULT 5% FEMALE ADULT

DIFF(1)
1 DIFF
1 1
DIFF DIFF
1 DIFF
1
DIFF
FROM FROM FROM MODIFIED FROM FROM FROM
REVISED ISO ISO SAE SAE REVISED ISO ISO SAE SAE REVISED ISO ISO SAE SAE
DIMENSIONS J833 3411 3411 J833 J833 J833 3411 3411 J833 J833 J833 3411 3411 J833 J833
ANTERIOR ARM 906 900 940 −34 821 825 ---- 736 750 559 177
REACH
ADD FOR 100 ---- ---- 90 ---- ---- 80 ---- ----
EXTENDED
SHOULDERS
ARM LENGTH 772 ---- ---- 204 ---- ---- 636 ---- ----
EYE TO BODY 86 86 ---- 81 78 ---- 76 71 ----
CENTERLINE
HEAD LENGTH 206 205 ---- 195 188 ---- 184 170 ----
SITTING HEIGHT 960 960 965 879 880 875 798 800 785
EYE LEVEL TO 842 840 851 769 765 769 696 690 687
SEAT
CERVICAL LINK 95 ---- ---- 89 ---- ---- 83 ---- ----
CHIN TO SEAT 729 ---- ---- 657 ---- ---- 585 ---- ----

SAE J833 Revised MAY89

SHOULDER 634 650 638 574 590 588 514 530 537 23
HEIGHT
SHOULDER 576 577 ---- 522 526 ---- 468 476 ----
PIVOT HEIGHT
SHOULDER 95 ---- ---- 89 ---- ---- 83 ---- ----
PIVOT TO
CERVICAL
-8-

DECREASE FOR 124 ---- ---- 110 ---- ---- 96 ---- ----
HAND GRIP
DECREASE FOR 80 80 ---- 70 72 ---- 60 65 ----
FINGER GRIP
CHEST DEPTH 280 280 ---- 240 245 ---- 200 210 ----
ELBOW TO 510 510 513 460 460 451 410 410 389 21
FINGER TIP
ELBOW HEIGHT 239 270 247 214 235 241 189 200 235 −46
BUTTOCK 1120 ---- ---- 1010 ---- ---- 900 ---- ----
CIRCUMFEREN
CE
THIGH HEIGHT 622 660 ---- 598 590 ---- 533 520 ----
KNEE HEIGHT 614 620 594 (2) 555 560 2 495 500 2
524 454
HIP PIVOT TO 96 97 ---- 80 88 ---- 64 80 ----
SEAT
HIP PIVOT TO 140 137 ---- 128 125 ---- 116 113 ----
BUTTOCK
HORIZ. SEAT 482 490 ---- 440 445 ---- 398 400 ----
HEIGHT
CALF TO 505 520 ---- 457 470 ---- 409 420 ----
BUTTOCK
SHOE LENGTH 320 320 ---- 285 285 ---- 250 250 ----
FOOT LENGTH 284 ---- 282 256 ---- 267 232 ---- 222
KNEE TO 648 650 640 586 590 592 524 530 519
BUTTOCK
BALL OF FOOT 200 ---- ---- 180 ---- ---- 160 ---- ----
TO HEEL
MODIFIED J833 IS AVERAGE
OF 5% FEMALE PLUS 95% MALE
1. A DIFFERENCE OF >±20mm WAS CONCIDERED SIGNIFICANT
2. NO SHOE (25mm ADDED FOR SHOE TO GET DIFFERENCE)
 SAE J833 Revised MAY89

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard—This recommended practice is technically equivalent to

the human physical dimensions of operators in ISO 3411-1982

Application—This SAE Recommended Practice defines the world-wide human physical dimensions to be
used in construction, general purpose industrial, agricultural tractors, forestry and specialized mining
machinery categories as defined in SAE J1116 JUN86.

Reference Section

SAE J898 OCT87—Control Locations for Off-Road Work Machines

SAE J925 DEC87—Minimum Service Access Dimensions for Off-Road Machines

SAE J1116 JUN86—Categories of Off-Road, Self-Propelled Work Machines

Developed by the SAE HFTC/Subcommittee 5, Access & Anthropometric Dimensions Subcommittee

Sponsored by the SAE Human Factors Technical Committee