Ministry of Defence

Defence Standard

00-25 (PART 1)/Issue 2 30 September 1987

HUMAN FACTORS
FOR DESIGNERS OF EQUIPMENT
PART 1: INTRODUCTION

This Defence Standard supersedes

Def Stan 00-25 (Part 1) Issue 1
dated 29 November 1983
DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

AMENDMENTS ISSUED SINCE PUBLICATION

AMD NO DATE OF TEXT AFFECTED SIGNATURE &

ISSUE DATE

Revision Note
Issue 1 of this Part was published in advance of the other Parts. This
revision more fully reflects the full range and scope of the twelve Parts
of the Standard.
Historical Record
Human Factors for Designers of Naval Equipment 1971. (A Naval handbook in
two volumes.)
Def Stan 00-25: Human Factors for Designers of Equipment. (A tri-Service
Standard in twelve Parts).
Arrangement of Defence Standard 00-25
The arrangement of the Parts comprising Def Stan 00-25 is shown below:
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Body Size
Part 3 - Body Strength and Stamina
Part 4 - Workplace Design
Part 5 - Stresses and Hazards
Part 6 - Vision and Lighting
Part 7 - Visual Displays
Part 8 - Auditory Information
Part 9 - Voice Communication
Part 10 - Controls
Part 11 - Design for Maintainability
Part 12 - Systems
 DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

HUMAN FACTORS FOR DESIGNERS OF EQUIPMENT

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
PREFACE

This Defence Standard supersedes

Def Stan 00-25 (Part 1)/1 dated
29 November 1983

i In 1977 the Senior Psychologist (Naval) forwarded a proposal for the

production of a tri-Service human factors handbook, thus bringing together
in a single source the individual human factors efforts of each Service.
This proposal went ahead under the auspices of the Steering Committee on
the Tri-Service Human Factors Handbook (SCOTSH). It was subsequently
arranged for the handbook to be published by the Directorate of
Standardization as Def Stan 00-25 (Parts 1-12).
ii This Defence Standard should be viewed as a permissive guideline,
rather than as a mandatory piece of technological law.
iii Where safety and health is concerned, particular attention is drawn to
this Standard as a source of advice on safe working limits, stresses and
hazards etc.
iv Users of this Standard shall note that some material contained in the
other Parts may be claimed to be subject to copyright in this or other
countries. In such cases copyright where known is acknowledged.
v This Standard has been devised for the use of the Crown and of its
contractors in the execution of contracts for the Crown and, subject to the
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, the Crown will not be liable in any way
whatever (including, but without limitation, negligence on the part of the
Crown, its servants or agents) where the Standard is used for other
purposes.
vi This Standard has been agreed by the authorities concerned with its use
and shall be incorporated whenever relevant in all future designs,
contracts, orders etc and whenever practicable by amendment to those
already in existence. If any difficulty arises which prevents application
of the Defence Standard, the Directorate of Standardization shall be
informed so that a remedy may be sought.
vii Any enquiries regarding this Standard in relation to an invitation to
tender, or a contract in which it is invoked, are to be addressed to the
responsible technical or supervising authority named in that invitation to
tender or contract.

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DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

1 Scope
This Part of this Defence Standard describes the aim, background and
structure of the other Parts.
2 Aim
The principal aim of Def Stan 00-25 is to provide an up-to-date source-book
of Human Factors (Ergonomics) data and guidance for designers of Defence
material. Particular care has been taken to make the Standard applicable
across all three Services. It is important to note that it has been
written and edited for a primary readership comprising designers
representing a wide spectrum of technical background and knowledge. As a
consequence of this the subject matter of the Standard is very broad and
the text has been deliberately structured to include extensive references
and bibliography lists in order to direct readers to more detailed
reference works as appropriate. Those readers with a Human Factors
specialist background should find the Standard to be a valuable data
summary.
2.1 Advances in technology have inspired important advances in the design
and development of equipment and facilities for use by the Armed Forces.
Arising from this there has been a tendency in recent years for designers
to commit themselves to inexorable increases in equipment complexity. More
often such equipment interfaces with, or is directly controlled by one or
more human operators. In these circumstances Human Factors has a vital
role in providing designers with information on behavioural and biomedical
aspects of human performance. The subject matter of Human Factors is
therefore very wide, covering main subject disciplines such as physiology,
psychology and sociology, also recruitment and training of personnel, job
design, and career planning.
2.2 Experience has shown that it is essential for the Human Factors
requirements to be considered early in the design phases of procurement of
material. This optimization of the man-machine combination will contribute
to a result which most closely matches initial design performance
predictions and costs.
3 Background
Authors for the various Parts have been selected and commissioned by SCOTSH
for their specialist expertise and are drawn from MOD, Industry and the
Universities. Subsequent editing has been undertaken by a Working Group,
reporting to SCOTSH, whose Chairman and members consist of Human Factors
specialists employed by MOD.
3.1 Membership of SCOTSH and its Working Group reflect the tri-Service
nature of the Standard, this has been provided by the following Service
Human Factors Establishments and MOD branches.
Senior Psychologist (Naval) Science 3 (Air)
Admiralty Research Establishment HQ RAF Support Command
Institute of Naval Medicine Royal Aircraft Establishment
A Org & Sec (HF) Institute of Aviation Medicine
Army Personnel Research Establishment Directorate of Standardization

2
 DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

4 Structure
4.1 The Standard has been structured to contain human data, design
guidance and a comprehensive overview of system design and its evolution.
Part 12 can be considered to be the foundation upon
. which the whole of the
Standard rests.
Part 1: Introduction
Aim and Background.
Part 2: Body Size
Structural and functional anthropometrics.
Part 3: Body Strength and Stamina
Factors affecting posture and work capacity.
Part 4: Workplace Design
Functional anthropometrics within the workspace envelope.
Part 5: Stresses and Hazards
Environmental factors which affect work efficiency.
Part 6: Vision and Lighting
Visual performance and lighting design.
Part 7: Visual Displays
Display visibility, comprehension and presentation.
Part 8: Auditory Information
Properties, effects of noise, signals recognition.
Part 9: Voice Communication
Speech mechanism, auditory threshold and signal processing.
Part 10: Controls
Optimum size, shape and dynamics relevant to the control task.
Part 11: Design for Maintainability
The philosophy of maintainability and requirements of the
maintainer.
Part 12: Systems
Overview of system design.

Two or more Parts may apply to any one equipment and it is, therefore,
essential that all Parts be read and used where appropriate.
4.2 Complementing Def Stan 00-25 and two video films -
Design of Equipment Design of Equipment
The Human Factor The Human Factor
Light and Vision
A2982, running time 17 mins A2324, running time 11 mins
The above films are available on loan from the following sources:

3
DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

4.2 (Contd)
MOD - Directorate of Naval Education and Training Support (DNETS)
Old Admiralty Building, Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BE
Non MOD - Services Sound and Vision Corporation
Chalfont Grove, Gerrards Cross
Bucks SL9 8TN

4
Blank Page
DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/2

C Crown Copyright 1992 This Standard may be fully reproduced

except for sale purposes. The
Published by and obtainable from: following conditions must be observed:
Ministry of Defence 1 The Royal Coat of Arms and the
Directorate of Standardization publishing imprint are to be
Kentigern House omitted.
65 Brown Street 2 The following statement is to be
GLASGOW G2 8EX inserted on the cover:
'Crown Copyright. Reprinted by
Tel No: 041-248 7890 (name of organization) with the
permission of Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office.'
Requests for commercial reproduction
should be addressed to MOD Stan 1,
Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street,
Glasgow G2 8EX

The following Defence Standard file reference relates to the work on this
Standard - D/D Stan/328/l/l.
Contract Requirements
When Defence Standards are incorporated into contracts users are
responsible for their correct application and for complying with contract
requirements.
Revision of Defence Standards
Defence Standards are revised when necessary by the issue either of
amendments or of revised editions. It is important that users of Defence
Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest
amendments or editions. Information on all Defence Standards is contained
in Def Stan 00-00 (Part 3) Section 4, Index of Standards for Defence
Procurement - Defence Standards Index published annually and supplemented
periodically by Standards in Defence News. Any person who, when making use
of a Defence Standard encounters an inaccuracy or ambiguity is requested to
notify the Directorate of Standardization without delay in order that the
matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

92/60027
 DEF STAN 00-25 (PART 1)/ISSUE 2
HUMAN FACTOR FOR DESIGNERS OF EQUIPMENT
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
AMENDMENT 1 (Corrections)

1. Page 3, Clause 4.2

Delete: A2324
Substitute: A3234
2. Page 4, Clause 4.2 (Contd)
Delete: in toto
Substitute: MOD - Services Sound and Vision Corporation
Chalfont Grove
Gerrards Cross
Bucks SL9 8TN
Non-MOD - Videotel Marine International Ltd
Ramillies House
1-2 Ramillies Street
London W1V 1DF
(for hire or sale)
3. Make a note of this amendment on the amendment record.

19 April 1988
D/D Stan 328/1/1 Ministry of Defence
Directorate of Standardization
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
GLASGOW G2 8EX

WP D/stns