Bed Size, Quality Sleep and Occupational Safety: An Investigation of Students at Slovak Universities

All devices and equipment helping humans to do everyday things are adapted to human body proportions. Projects would not meet the needs of customers regardless their proportions. Therefore, anthropometric measurements are a key factor in manufacturing any products. Sampling unit consisted of Slovak adult population. Empirical measurements of selected attributes of actual population were conducted in the years 1993–2015. Sampling unit consisted of 3358 students. Gained data were processed and described using descriptive statistics. Results are based on calculations of arithmetic and weighted mean. Standard deviation, asymmetry coefficient, percentiles, standard error, symmetry, and pointing were used for further processing. Following the outcomes associated with the body dimensions of Slovak population, we can propose the dimensions of bedroom furniture corresponding to the dimensions of actual adult population. Bed dimensions must be 102 × 222 cm (95th percentile) to satisfy the needs of people, their comfort, and health. Therefore, testing must be focused on strength and structural properties of bed as well. Increase in dimensions can result in the increase in product price. Staff of the finance department must deal with this issue to prevent economic damage of the company

Analysis to Improve the Strength of Beds Due to the Excess Weight of Users in Slovakia

Good quality sleep is a prerequisite for regenerating the human body, hence, beds should be optimized for specific group of users, taking into consideration their size or age. Current research studies show similar trends in adult populations around the world, where increases in height as well as in weight can be observed. Not only the ergonomics but also the safety of beds, which is determined by the quality and dimensions of structural elements, must be taken into account in bed design. Designing the structural elements for users with a high body weight is presented in the paper. The properties of a bed’s structural elements, which ensure comfort as well as the safety of a bed are affected by the excess weight of users. New requirements for cross sections, suitable materials and construction of structural elements were set in accordance with the standard EN 1725:1998. Also, an analysis of stresses was done using the finite element method (FEM) and the calculation of allowable stresses related to a user weighing 150 kg. The results of our research provide complete standards and regulations associated with the safety requirements of bedroom furniture for users with a weight more than 110 kg to ensure that the manusfacture of quality products in Slovakia