ISO 15535-2023 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 15535:2023 — General requirements for establishing anthropometric databases. This international standard specifies general requirements for the design, collection, documentation and reporting of anthropometric databases that contain body measurements taken in accordance with ISO 7250-1. It defines the essential metadata, sampling and measurement practices, and statistical descriptors needed to make anthropometric datasets comparable across populations and jurisdictions.

Abstract

ISO 15535:2023 provides requirements and guidance for establishing anthropometric databases and preparing associated reports. It covers definition of the user population, sampling methods, measurement items and protocols (aligned with ISO 7250-1), approaches to handling and verifying scanned 3‑D data, required statistical summaries and metadata, and practices to ensure data quality and comparability between population segments able to assume the postures specified in ISO 7250-1.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: September 2023
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 13.180 (Ergonomics)
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (2023)
• Number of pages: 22

Scope

The standard applies to anthropometric databases that contain body measurements taken according to ISO 7250-1. It specifies the minimum information that must accompany datasets and reports (population characteristics, sampling frame and methods, measurement definitions, measurement protocol references, quality checks and verification), the statistical summaries and distributions to be provided, and rules for documenting and integrating data obtained from traditional anthropometry and 3‑D scanning methods to facilitate international comparison.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and documentation of the user population and population segments (age, sex, ethnicity, inclusion/exclusion criteria).
• Sampling methodology and sample-size considerations to support representativeness and intended uses.
• Measurement items, definitions and protocols consistent with ISO 7250-1.
• Requirements for quality assurance, instrument calibration and measurement verification (including treatment of 3‑D scanned data and cross‑validation with traditional measures).
• Required metadata and reporting elements to accompany datasets (protocols, measurement conditions, data-processing steps, anonymization/privacy measures).
• Statistical descriptors and formats for reporting central tendency, dispersion, percentiles and sample distributions to enable comparisons.
• Guidance on data integration, interoperability and documentation to support reuse and secondary analysis.

Typical use and users

ISO 15535:2023 is used by ergonomics and human factors professionals, anthropometric researchers, product and clothing designers, vehicle and workplace designers, standards bodies and national statistical agencies. It supports development of representative anthropometric databases for design, sizing systems, safety assessment, ergonomic evaluation, and research where comparable population measures are required.

Related standards

Commonly used together with ISO 7250-1 (basic human body measurements for technological design — definitions and measurements) and ISO 20685-1 (3‑D scanning methods and verification). It is published as ISO and has been adopted in regional/national variants (for example EN ISO 15535:2023 / national adoptions).

Keywords

anthropometry; anthropometric database; sampling; measurement protocol; ISO 7250-1; 3D scanning; data quality; ergonomics; population segments; statistical reporting; database metadata.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 15535:2023 specifies general requirements for establishing and reporting anthropometric databases, ensuring measurements and accompanying metadata are suitable for international comparison and reuse.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the required documentation for datasets (population, sampling, measurement methods), measurement item definitions (aligned with ISO 7250-1), quality assurance and verification (including 3‑D data), statistical summaries and guidance for integrating and reporting anthropometric data.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Ergonomists, human factors engineers, designers (clothing, vehicle, workplace), researchers creating or using anthropometric data, standards bodies and statistical agencies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 15535:2023 is the current published edition (2023). It supersedes earlier editions, replacing previous versions of ISO 15535.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the ISO/TC 159 suite of ergonomics and anthropometry standards and is intended to be used alongside related standards such as ISO 7250-1 and ISO 20685-1.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Anthropometry, anthropometric database, sampling, body measurements, ergonomics, ISO 7250, 3D scanning, data reporting, statistical descriptors.