UGANDA STANDARD  
  US 776
First Edition
2008-12-11
 
 
Reference numbe r
US 776: 2008
 © UNBS 2008
  
Furniture — Chairs and tables for educational institutions — 
Functional sizes 
 US 776: 2008 
ii © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2008  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in cluding photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala  
Uganda 
Tel: 256 414 505 995 
Fax: 256 414 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  US 776:2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  iii
 Contents Page 
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................iv  
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................1  
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................1  
3 Dimensions ............................................................................................................................................1  
4 Relationship of seat and table .............................................................................................................3  
5 Marking ...................................................................................................................................................5  
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................................6  
 US 776: 2008 
iv © UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved
 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co-ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
Committee membership 
The following organisations were represented on the Technical Committee for Furniture standards UNBS/TC 12, in the development of this standard:  
• Clusters Programme SIDA/Makerere University 
• Consumer Education Trust (CONCENT) 
• GEOTECH Engineering and Trading Company 
• Kibalika and Sons Western Furniture 
• Kyambogo University 
• Ministry of Education and Sports 
• Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority 
• ROKO Construction (U) Limited 
• St. Joseph’s Technical Institute Kisubi 
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
• Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA)” US 776:2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  v
 Introduction 
This Final Draft Uganda Standard has been prepared adopting the principle that seating and tables should be 
designed to encourage good postures fo r all those using them in educational institutions. The dimensions 
specified in this Uganda Standard are confined to those which are de rived from anthropometric data. 
Compliance with this Uganda Standard ensures that t he furniture permits good seating postures, yet allows 
designers and manufacturers the freedom to meet loca l technical, educational and economic circumstances. 
A reference stature for each of the seven sizes of furnit ure is given as a guide to its distribution; adjustments 
to the distribution of the seven sizes to populations with significantly different body proportions may, however, 
be necessary. It is recommended that nat ional surveys are made in order to  establish the best distribution of 
the furniture sizes for local school populations. 
The seven sizes for seating and related tables in this Uganda Standard can satisfy the seating requirements in 
all educational institutions (other than "special schools"). 
The higher table heights may also serve as standing work heights for smaller pupils; for standing work heights 
for taller pupils the range of heights will eventually be ex tended in a further part of this Final Draft Uganda 
Standard. 
 UGANDA STANDARD US 776: 2008
 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  1
                                                      Furniture — Chairs and tables for educational institutions — 
Functional sizes 
1 Scope 
This Uganda Standard specifies the basic functional sizes fo r seating and tables in educational institutions. It 
does not include any special requirements that apply to  "special schools" or to adjustable furniture. The 
requirements for materials, design construction or  quality are covered in DUS 777-1 and DUS 777-2. 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
DUS 777-1, Classroom furniture — Specification — Part 1: Tables  
DUS 777-2, Classroom furniture — Specification — Part 2: Desks  
3 Dimensions 
Dimensions for seating are given in Table 1, and for tabl es in Table 2. The references to the dimensions are 
shown in Figure 1 (dimensions in section) and Figure 2 (dimensions in plan 1)1
In Table 2 the minimum depth (t 1) and the minimum length (b 1) are for tables specifically for single and dual 
use. 
The leg clearance zone as defined by dimensions h 2, h3, h4, b2, t2 and t 3 shall be provided under all tables at 
which pupils will be seated. 
Any construction or storage under the table top shall be designed to provide a leg clearance zone that is not less than the minimum specified. 
 
1 Tolerances in Table 1 and Table 2 are not manufacturing to lerances but intervals for the functional dimensions.  US 776: 2008 
2 © UNBS 2008– All rights reserved
 Table 1 — Dimensions for seating 
Dimensions in millimetres 
Size mark 01) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Identification 
Colour white orange violet yellow red green blue 
Reference stature – average body 
height 900 1050 1200 1350 1500 1650 1800 
Height of seat2), h5 (tolerance ± 10) 220 260 300 340 380 420 460 
Effective depth of seat3), t4 (tolerance 
±10)  225 260 290 330 360 380 400 
Minimum width of seat, b3 190 250 270 290 320 340 360 
Reference point, W β4) 100 160 170 190 200 210 220 
Maximum height to the bottom of 
backrest 5)6), h6105 120 130 150 160 170 190 
min. 200 210 250 280 310 330 360 
  Height to top of backrest6), 
h7max 220 250 280 310 330 360 400 
Minimum width of backrest7), b4 190 250 250 250 280 300 320 
  Radius of front edge of the seat8), r1 30 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 50 
  Minimum radius of backrest9), r2 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 
Angle of seat 10), δ 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 0° to 4° 
Inclination of backrest11), β 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 95° to 
106° 
1)  For size O,. the identification colour and the height of seat only are standardized. 
2) h5 is measured to the highest point of the fron t of the seating area on the centre line. 
3) t4 is measured on the centre line of the seat plane from the front edge to a perpendicular line from reference point W.  
4) W is the maximum height of foremost point of backrest. 
5) Room for free movement of the posterior in the writing position should be ensured. 
6) h 6 and h7 are measured on the centre line of the seat plane from the lowest part of the seating surface. 
7) The upper and lower edge of the backrest should be well rounded. 
8)  r1 is the approximate radius of the top surface.  The curve need not be an exact arc of a circle. 
9)  r2 is the radius of the backrest in a horizontal plane. 
10) δ: the main part of the seating surface shall lie between the hor izontal and a slope of 4° maximum. The seating surface may be f lat or 
include dishing. Any dishing shall occur in the back two-thirds of the effective seat depth. The deepest part of the dishing sh all occur at the 
back part of the effective seat depth. 
11) β is the angle between the horizontal and the plane of the backrest between h7 and W on the centre line of the seat. The profile of the 
backrest between h6 and W is not defined.  
 
 
 
 
 
 US 776: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  3
 Table 2 – Dimensions for tables 
Dimensions in millimetres 
Size mark 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 
Identification 
Colour white orange violet yellow red green blue 
Reference stature - average body height 900 1050 1200 1350 1500 1650 1800 
Height of top2)3) (tolerance±10),  h1 420 460 520 580 640 700 760 
Minimum height of legroom  h2 - 350 410 470 530 590 650 
Minimum height of knee zone,  h3 - 350 350 400 400 450 500 
Minimum height of tibia zone, h4 - 250 250 300 300 350 350 
Minimum depth of top4) t1 - 450 500 500 500 500 500 
single 
table - 600 600 700 700 700 700 
Minimum length of top4), b1
double table - 1200 1200 1300 1300 1300 1300 
 
Minimum width of knee zone,  b2- 450 470 470 470 470 500 
Minimum depth of knee zone,  t2 - 300 300 300 350 400 400 
Minimum depth of tibia zone,  t3 - 400 400 400 400 450 450 
1)  For size 0, the identification colour and the height of top only are standardized. 
2)  h1: Table top surfaces specified in this st andard are horizontal. However, should an in clined surface be required an inclination of  10 
to 160 is recommended. The edge towards the pupil shall stay at ap proximately the same height as when the table is horizontal. 
3) h 1 – h 2 : If a shelf is provided within this zone,  the opening should be not less than 60 mm high. 
4) Table 2 gives the preferred sizes of the minimum depth and l ength of table tops. For standardization purposes it is recommen ded 
that these sizes be applied. However, if it is necessary to dev iate from these sizes, the following incremental sizes should be  used: 
size bl :  from 450 mm to 800 mm: 50 mm increment 
        from 800 mm to 2 000 mm: 100 mm increment 
size t1  : from 450 mm to 1 200 mm: 50 mm increment 
 
 
4 Relationship of seat and table 
It is appreciated that there are many  sitting postures which are adopted by pupils in schools. For assessing 
the fit of chair and table it is necessary to adopt the posture and check the seven criteria as illustrated in 
Figure 3. The indication of a good fit is the simultaneous satisfaction of all the criteria illustrated in the figure . US 776: 2008 
4 © UNBS 2008– All rights reserved
 
 
 US 776: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  5
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key 
A Feet, with shoes on, shall be flat on the floor. 
B There shall be sufficient clearance between thigh and under- side of table to allow for freedom of 
movement. 
C There shall be no pressure at the front of the seat between the seating surface and the thighs. 
D The height of the table shall be selected so that the elbows are at approximately the same level as the 
front edge of the table top when the upper arm is suspended vertically. 
E The backrest shall support the back in the lumbar region and below the shoulder blades in a firm manner. 
F There shall be clearance between the back  of the legs and the front edge of the seat. 
G Adequate clearance between lumbar support and seat s hall be provided to ensure free movement of the 
buttocks. 
5 Marking 
Seating and tables made in accordance with this Uganda Standard shall be indelibly marked with the size 
mark reference or the colour code or both placed under the seat or table. US 776: 2008 
6 © UNBS 2008– All rights reserved
 Bibliography 
ISO 5970:1979,  Furniture — Chairs and tables for educ ational institutions — Functional sizes 
 US 776: 2008 
© UNBS 2008 – All rights reserved  7
 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be  marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is gove rned by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licens ed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in co njunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and  testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National  Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of  licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 US 776: 2008 
 
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