ASTM F1731-96

Standard Practice for Body Measurements and Sizing of Fire and Rescue Services Uniforms and Other Thermal Hazard Protective Clothing

SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to assist in size selection of work uniforms for fire and rescue services personnel and workers who may be exposed to thermal hazards. Work uniform ensembles consist of a shirt and trouser apparel combination.  
1.2 This practice is applicable to uniforms for both male and female personnel.  
1.3 This practice provides a standard means for measuring human body dimensions for the selection and ordering shirts and trousers.  
1.4 This practice provides a means for evaluating the fit of selected uniform sizes.  
1.5 This practice provides a standard list of textile and apparel terminology specific to the clothing industry which is used in determining size and fit of garments. This vocabulary will be useful in communications between buyers and sellers.  
1.6 the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The inch-pound equivalents given in parentheses are for information only and may be approximate.  
1.7 This standard is not intended for use in evaluating the fire resistive performance or durability of work uniforms. In addition, this practice does not provide a means to quantify the likelihood of human injuries that may be related to the fit of uniforms or protective clothing.  
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Note 1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-1996
• Technical Committee: F23 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
• Drafting Committee: F23.60 - Human Factors

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1731-96(2002) - Standard Practice for Body Measurements and Sizing of Fire and Rescue Services Uniforms and Other Thermal Hazard Protective Clothing
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM F1494-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM F3613-22 - Standard Practice for Recording the Exoskeleton Fit to the User
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM E2771-11(2019) - Standard Terminology for Homeland Security Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM F2588-12(2020) - Standard Test Method for Man-In-Simulant Test (MIST) for Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM E3003-20 - Standard Practice for Body Armor Wearer Measurement and Fitting of Armor
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996
• Referred By: ASTM F3614-22 - Standard Practice for Recording the Exoskeleton User Information
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1731 – 96 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Body Measurements and Sizing of Fire and Rescue Services
Uniforms and Other Thermal Hazard Protective Clothing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1731; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The selection of proper uniform size is important to fit and appearance for all users, but more
importantly, it relates directly to garment function. In certain occupations, such as fire and rescue
services, proper fit and function relates directly to the individual’s ability to perform jobs that are often
hazardous. Issues of proper fit are directly associated with the risk of injury. A work uniform that
restricts movement or exposes the skin to hazardous environments will result in lost efficiency and
may promote injury and illness. Proper sizing is a factor in the ability of a person to perform tasks that
often involve life or death situations. A work uniform must also fit well to function properly when
additional outer protective garments and safety equipment are worn.
This practice establishes a standard method for measuring body dimensions pertinent to the
determination of a garment size which provides good fit. It also presents issues critical to garment size
selection as it relates to fit. Functional methods are provided for determining proper fit of a uniform.
Information is provided on garment shrinkage which results from the clothing being laundered.
Maternity wear and unique sizing issues are addressed.
1. Scope uniforms or protective clothing.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.1 This practice is intended to assist in size selection of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
work uniforms for fire and rescue services personnel and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
workers who may be exposed to thermal hazards. Work
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
uniform ensembles consist of a shirt and trouser apparel
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
combination.
tionary statements are given in Note 1.
1.2 This practice is applicable to uniforms for both male and
female personnel.
2. Referenced Documents
1.3 This practice provides a standard means for measuring
2.1 ASTM Standards:
human body dimensions for the selection and ordering shirts
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
and trousers.
D 5219 Terminology Relating to Body Dimensions for
1.4 This practice provides a means for evaluating the fit of
Apparel Sizing
selected uniform sizes.
F 1154 Practice for Qualitatively Evaluating the Comfort,
1.5 This practice provides a standard list of textile and
Fit, Function, and Integrity of Chemical-Protective Suit
apparel terminology specific to the clothing industry which is
Ensembles
used in determining size and fit of garments. This vocabulary
2.2 AATCC Standards:
will be useful in communications between buyers and sellers.
AATCC 96 Dimensional Changes in Laundering of Woven
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
and Knitted Textiles Except Wool
standard. The inch-pound equivalents given in parentheses are
AATCC 135 Dimensional Changes in Automatic Home
for information only and may be approximate.
Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
1.7 This standard is not intended for use in evaluating the
AATCC 158 Dimensional Changes in Dry-Cleaning in Per-
fire resistive performance or durability of work uniforms. In
chloroethylene: Machine Method
addition, this practice does not provide a means to quantify the
likelihood of human injuries that may be related to the fit of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.02.
1 4
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-23 on Protective Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
Clothing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F23.60 on Human Factors. Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, PO
Current edition approved August 10, 1996. Published October 1996. Box 12215 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1731
2.3 NFPA Standards: 100 mm (4 in.) of fabric. Simple hems may also be used to
NFPA 1975 Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire finish trouser legs. (See hem.)
Fighters
3.1.13 ease, n—in garment construction, the difference
NFPA 1977 Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment between garment measurement and body measurement.
for Wildland Fire Fighting
3.1.13.1 Discussion—There are primarily two types of ease,
wearing ease and design ease. Wearing or comfort ease, which
3. Terminology
allows for body flexing and movement, depends on a garment’s
3.1 Definitions: Definitions are provided to assist the user in
standard for fit. Wearing ease relates to fit of a garment that
understanding the language of human body measurements. In does not impede the wearer from performing any function that
addition, other definitions have been added that are used by the
requires dynamic movement. The amount of material added to
apparel industry to identify garment designs, patterns and a garment that exceeds human body measurements, to make
issues of fit.
garments more comfortable and to allow for human mobility.
3.1.1 armhole, n—in garments construction, the area of a Design or style ease includes, in addition to wearing ease, what
garment through which the arm passes or into which a sleeve
is built into a style to provide the look the designer wants.
is fitted. (See armscye.)
3.1.14 elbow, n—in anatomy, the joint that articulates
3.1.2 armscye, n—in garment construction, the opening in a
between the upper arm and the lower arm.
garment for the attachment of a fitted sleeve. (See armhole.)
3.1.15 fabric, n—in textiles, a planar structure consisting of
3.1.3 back waist length, n—in body measurements, the
yarns or fibers.
vertical distance along the spine from the cervical to the waist.
3.1.16 fit, n—the quality, state or manner in which the
3.1.4 bartack, n—in garment construction, a reinforcement
length and closeness of clothing, when worn, relates to the
at points of strain.
human body.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—This reinforcement point may consist
3.1.17 garment, n—an article of clothing used to cover the
of a bar-shaped line of small threads worked across several
body.
threads.
3.1.18 girth, n—in body measurements, a circumferential
3.1.5 body dimension, n—in garment construction, a body
measurement around some part of the body, such as neck,
measurement which can be used to build a sizing system or to
chest, waist, etc.
select an appropriately sized garment.
3.1.19 hem, n—in garment construction, a simple finish in
3.1.6 body measurement, n—in anthropometry, a standard-
which the raw fabric edge is turned under and stitched to a
ized distance between two specified points on the human
garment. (See cuff.)
anatomy.
3.1.20 hip, n—in anatomy, the laterally projecting region
3.1.7 bust girth, n—in body measurements, the circumfer-
formed by the lateral parts of the pelvis and the upper part of
ence of the body over the fullest part of the breasts and parallel
the femur together with the flesh covering them.
to the floor. (See chest girth.)
3.1.21 hip girth, n—in body measurements, the maximum
3.1.8 cervical, n—in body measurements, the most promi-
circumference of the body at the level of maximum promi-
nent bone at the base of the neck.
nence of the buttocks.
3.1.9 chest, n—in garment construction, a measurement
3.1.22 inseam, n—in garment construction, with the trou-
taken from below each armhole seam straight across the
sers folded by mating the inside leg seams, measure from
garment while it is laid flat.
center of crotch to bottom edge of trouser’s leg or cuff.
3.1.10 chest girth, n—in body measurements, the circum-
3.1.23 inseam length, n—in body measurements, from cen-
ference of the body over the shoulder blades, under the arms
ter of crotch to 25.4 mm (1 in.) below top of the shoe.
and across the upper chest. (See bust girth.)
3.1.24 knee, n—in anatomy, the joint between the lower and
3.1.10.1 Discussion—A circumference measurement made
upper leg.
around the fullest part of the chest keeping the tape parallel to
3.1.25 maternity wear, n—clothing worn during pregnancy.
the floor.
3.1.26 neck base girth, n—in body measurements, the cir-
3.1.11 crotch, n—in anatomy, the body area adjacent to the
cumference of the neck over the cervical at the back and at the
vertex of the included angle between the legs.
top of the collar bone at the front.
3.1.12 cuff, n—in garment construction, a finished edge at
3.1.27 neck girth, n—in garment construction, with shirt
the end of either a garment sleeve or trouser leg created by
open in front and collar fully extended and laid out flat,
turning back or rolling up and stitching the fabric.
measure from center of collar button to the far end of the button
3.1.12.1 Discussion—Long sleeve shirts usually have an
hole.
extended cuff which is a band of fabric stitched to the lower
3.1.28 placket, n—in garment construction, a finished gar-
edge of the sleeve. The most common long sleeve shirt cuff is
ment opening that is usually dependent on mechanical devices
the barrel cuff which is a straight cuff stitched to form an
called closures to secure the opening.
open-band that laps and buttons at the wrist. A trouser leg cuff
3.1.28.1 Discussion—In shirt construction, a placket usu-
is formed by producing a deep hem which may require over
ally forms the front opening that may extend from the collar
band’s lower edge to the bottom edge of the shirt’s hem. When
the shirt is worn, the placket is generally overlapped and
Available from National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park,
Quincy, MA 02269-9101. fastened by buttons. Plackets are normally designed into
F 1731
garments to make them easy to don. Fasteners used in placket ments circumference measured at the bottom of pockets or
closures are buttons, button holes, zippers, hooks, snaps, and bartack on fly.
other devices used to open, close, and secure garments.
3.1.49 trouser waist, n—in garment construction, with trou-
3.1.29 protective clothing, n—an article of clothing used for
sers folded in half by the crease or mating the leg inseams,
isolating the human body or parts of the human body from a
measure across waist-band’s width and double the measure-
potential hazard.
ment.
3.1.30 shirt, n—a cloth garment for the upper part of the
3.1.50 waist, n—in anatomy, the part of the body at the
body made of either woven or knitted fabric usually having
location between the lowest rib and hip identified by bending
sleeves, a neck opening, a front opening and a tail long enough
the body to the side.
to be tucked inside trousers or skirt.
3.1.51 waist girth, n—in body measurements, the circum-
3.1.31 shirt back length, n—in garment construction,a
ference of the waist immediately below the lowest rib.
measurement centered below the collar band to bottom edge of
3.1.51.1 Discussion—Circumference around the body
shirttail.
where the trouser waistband would normally be worn.
3.1.32 shirt front length, n—in garment construction,a
3.1.52 wrist, n—in anatomy, the joint which articulates
measurement from the placket top, below the collar band to the
between the end of the lower arm and the hand.
bottom edge of the shirt’s hem in front.
3.1.53 wrist girth, n—in body measurements, the circumfer-
3.1.33 shirt sides, n—in garment construction, a measure-
ence over the prominence of the inner and outer forearm bones.
ment of length from below armhole to the bottom hem.
3.1.53.1 Discussion—Circumference around the largest part
3.1.34 shrinkage, n—a decrease in one or more dimensions
of the wrist.
of an object or material.
3.2 Other definitions relative to this practice can be found in
3.1.35 shrink, vt—to cause to contract, to compact cloth by
causing to contract when subjected to washing, boiling, steam- Terminology D 123 and D 5219.
ing or other processes.
4. Summary of Practice
3.1.36 size, n—one of a series of graduated measurements
in manufactured articles of clothing conventionally identified
4.1 This practice standardizes apparatus for making human
by numbers, letters, or words.
body measurements and provides a standardized approach to
3.1.37 sleeve length, n—in body measurements, from center
methods of measuring human body dimensions relevant to the
of cervical across back and around outside of bent arm, to
selection of properly sized uniforms. Accurately measured
below wrist bone and above hand.
body dimensions are recorded on a standard measurement form
3.1.38 sleeve length, n—in garment construction, a mea-
which is used by a buyer and seller in the selection of uniform
surement from center of shirt’s back below collar band along
size. Size selection for uniforms to be worn during pregnancy
the sleeve to the end of the sleeve or cuff.
is considered. Issues of fit related to garment ease and laundry
3.1.39 station/work uniform, n—a nonprimary protective
induced garment shrinkage are discussed. Recommendations
clothing ensemble consisting of a shirt and pants that is
are made relative to the evaluation of garment shrinkage.
intended to be worn by members of the fire and rescue services
Potential fit problems are identified by having a consumer don
while on duty.
a representative sample uniform and then perform a standard-
3.1.40 thigh, n—in garment construction, with trouser leg
ized series of dynamic movements. Uniform size is selected
laid out flat, measure from crotch seam straight across to leg
based on an individual’s compatible body measurements rela-
side seam.
tive to a garment’s dimensions/size and the evaluation of a
3.1.41 thigh girth, n—in body measurements, the maximum
garment’s construction, shrinkage, and its response to fit during
circumference of the upper leg close to the crotch.
the dynamic performance evaluation.
3.1.42 torso, n—the human trunk.
3.1.43 torso, n—in garment construction, a measurement
5. Significance and Use
from center of neck to end of shirttail.
5.1 Sizing is a critical factor that must be considered when
3.1.44 total crotch length, n—in body measurements, the
selecting and using protective clothing. Properly sized gar-
distance from the waist level at center front through the crotch
ments add to the safety and performance of wearer by
...