NIOSH Anthropometric Data and ISO Digital Headforms

In 2003, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a nationwide anthropometric survey of 3,997 subjects. The resulting head and face measurements were used to develop an anthropometric database detailing the face size distributions of respirator users using both traditional measurement methods and three-dimensional (3D) scanning systems. This database was used to establish fit test panels to be incorporated into NIOSH respirator certification and international standards. One of the panels developed, called the principal component analysis (PCA) panel, uses the first two principal components obtained from a set of 10 facial dimensions (age and race adjusted) and divides user population into five face-size categories. These 10 dimensions are associated with respirator fit and leakage and can predict the remaining face dimensions as well. Respirators designed to fit these panels are expected to accommodate more than 95% of the current U.S. civilian workers.

From the 3,997 subje