Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.4.10 Transfer Support Fittings Recommendations for M301 and M302

Description: To ensure safe and effective transfers, transfer supports must not rotate within their fittings during use. The proposed provision uses technical criteria in the 2010 Standards for grab bars.

NPRM Proposed Provision: M305.2.3 Fittings. Transfer supports shall not rotate within their fittings.

The Committee recommends transfer supports not rotate when locked in place for patient transfer or use.

Rationale for the recommendation

Transfer supports that move when locked for use would create an unacceptable risk for patients relying on stable support. When the transfer supports latch into a locked position, the transfer supports must meet the required load conditions without movement.

To be useful, transfer supports will be of varying configuration and designs. Some may be removable, some foldable or articulating. In these cases, it is advantageous to allow the supports to perform needed movement but they should not do so when locked at loads below those prescribed in M305.2.2.