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

M303.2.3 Wheelchair Spaces / Depth of Wheelchair Spaces for front or Rear Entry

• Sub-Committee Recommendation: The Sub-committee and Full Committee have decided not to act on the proposed recommendation by the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and retain the proposed provision as is. Based on recent anthropometric data, NPRM proposes to increase minimum depth dimension from 48 to 58 inches – majority of members have no opinion or anticipation of a situation where requirement is needed.

Exceptions Considered for Wheelchair Spaces on Raised Platforms

M303.2.2 Proposed Exception: The exception to the minimum width in M303.2.2 would apply where ramped surfaces are provided on the opposite sides of the raised platform so that patients using wheelchairs can enter and exit the platform facing the same direction. The exception would permit the width of the wheelchair space between the edge protection to be reduced to 32 inches wide minimum at the platform level. This dimension is based on provisions in the 2004 ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines that allow accessible routes, which normally must be 36 inches wide minimum, to be 32 inches wide minimum for short distances such as at door openings. The exception would require a space 36 inches wide minimum to be provided outside the perimeter of the raised platform and above any edge protection so that patients using a manual wheelchair can extend their arms and elbows when they push on the wheel rims to maneuver onto and off of the platforms.

M303.2.3 Proposed Exception: The exception to the minimum depth in M303.2.3 for wheelchair spaces entered from the front or rear would permit a portion of the 48 inch minimum depth of the wheelchair space that accommodates the wheelchair footrests to extend beyond the raised platform and over any edge protection. For example, the wheelchair footrests would be allowed to extend beyond the depth of the raised platform and over any edge protection on wheelchair weight scales used by patients seated in a wheelchair.

• Sub-Committee Recommendation: Platform size shall be clear width of 32 inches minimum and clear length of 40 inches minimum.

(Figure 1 –Clear Platform showing the measurements of 32” wide x 40” inches length

Rationale: Clear platform size of 32 inchesminimum width x 40 inches minimum length accommodates non-powered and powered wheeled mobility devices including scooters; small and mid-size scooters. May not accommodate some larger roadside scooters with 4-wheeled based. This platform dimension is consistent with the recommendations of the IDeA Center Study recommendations for a minimum flat surface of 40 inches length for platforms accommodating wheeled mobility devices including scooters. This size platform allows for maneuverability on the platform for positioning and takes into consideration the operations of the wheelchair / scooter user to not always have the ability to stop precisely in the middle of the platform.

To have an accurate weight the wheelbase* 4 wheels and 3 wheels for some scooters must be on the platform (and make contact). The foot pedals, footrests, scooter deck and tip wheels can overhang or extend beyond the platform and still get an accurate weight.

*The IDeA Center Study defines wheelchair wheelbase as the distance from the center of the primary drive wheel to the center of the caster measured parallel to the floor.

*The IDeA Center Study defines scooter wheelbase as the distance from the center of the primary drive wheels to the center of the back or front wheels measured parallel to the floor.

*The IDeA Center Study findings indicate that a 36 inch length accommodates standard manual and motorized wheelchairs and most, if not all, bariatric size- extra wide manual chairs

IDeA Center Study at the University of Buffalo, New York): Summary analysis of wheelbase measurements on wheeled mobility devices

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IDeA Center (Buffalo Study) Recommendations for Platform Length:

• a minimum flat surface of 40 in. length for platforms accommodating wheeled mobility devices including scooters
• a minimum flat surface of 33 in. length for platforms accommodating wheeled mobility devices excluding scooters