Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee (TCM/-) to Technical Committee TCM/36, upon which the following bodies were represented:

Association for Consumer Research (ACRE)
British Clothing Industry Association
British Retailers’ Association
British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA)
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Clothing and Footwear Institute
Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
Knitting Industries Federation Ltd
Mail Order Traders’ Association
Manchester Polytechnic, Hollings Faculty
Ministry of Defence
National Children’s Wear Association
Retail Consortium
Textile Distributors Association
Textile Research Council (HATRA)

This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 30 April 1990

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:

Committee reference TCM/36
Draft for comment 89/41095DC

Foreword

This Part of BS 7231 has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee. A series of four size survey studies formed the basis for the data which are contained in Part 1 of BS 7231. This Part contains recommended size charts for use by garment manufacturers, derived from the data in Part 1. The measurements in these tables have been carefully selected to be of maximum use to garment manufacturers and pattern technicians. In the range from birth to 4.9 years, the measurements for both sexes are grouped together. In the range from5 years to 16.9 years, some of the measurements are slightly different, since it was necessary to use some different points for babies, older girls and older boys. The measurements have been rounded to the nearest centimetre or 0.5 cm.

The tables are arranged under 6 cm size intervals. The six centimetre interval is also expressed in tables as approximate age spans because the average height of children increases by about 12 cm from birth to 6 months then 6 cm to 12 months, then 6 cm every3 months until 2 years, and thereafter by an average of 6 cm per year until fully grown. This height interval is also commonly used in European countries as well as in several other countries in the world.

There are two sets of tables in this Part, each set representing a different combination of centiles, a centile being one of 99 values which divide a variable into 100 groups with equal frequency. The first set of tables uses the 50th centile for height and 50th centile for girth, these being known as the median average measurements of children in the surveys.

The second set of tables uses the 75th centile for height and the 60th centile for girth. Garments made from this set of tables will thus be longer than the average and slightly more roomy. They will tend to favour the children who are in the upper sector of each height interval, rather than those who are in the middle. This combination was chosen following detailed discussions with a wide representation of the children’s retailing and manufacturing trades, who take the view that garments can usually be shortened after purchase and that it is advisable to make them slightly roomy to allow for growth.

It is stressed, however, that no matter which combination of percentiles are used, the tables give body measurements and not garment measurements. In constructing patterns, technicians should use whatever allowances they consider necessary for the style of garment they are manufacturing. It is also recommended that technicians should take care to identify the children’s measurement points that are used in these tables, in case they are slightly different from those that they have used hitherto.

In addition to the tables showing body measurements, recommendations regarding labels are included. The girth recommendations are body measurements and not garment measurements. These recommendations represent the minimum required on the labels, and manufacturers are free to provide whatever additional measurements they consider advisable for each style of garment. It is strongly recommended that the information regarding sizing should be given on a sew-in label rather than on a swing ticket.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This British Standard gives recommendations of body dimensions for children. Recommendations concerning items of information to be used on labels are also included.

NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

2 Examples of information to be used on the garment label

3 Body dimensions

Publications referred to

BS 7231-2:1990

Body measurements of boys and girls from birth up to 16.9 years - Recommendations of body dimensions for children

Current

Published:

30 Apr 1990