36 CFR Part 1195 Proposed Accessibility Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment NPRM - Preamble

Clearance Around Base (M301.4.2 and M302.4.2)

Clearance around the base of the equipment allows the legs of a portable floor lift to straddle the base. This option accommodates equipment with solid base enclosures that sit on or close to a floor. M301.4.2 and M302.4.2 would require the base of the equipment to provide a clearance 6 inches high minimum measured from the floor and 36 inches deep minimum measured from the edge of the examination surface. The width of the base permitted within this clearance would be 26 inches wide maximum at the edge of the examination surface and is permitted to increase at a rate of 1 inch in width for each 3 inches in depth. The permitted rate of increase in width can be distributed to each side of the base.

Question 26. Comments are requested on the following questions regarding the proposed dimensions for clearance around the base of the equipment to allow the use of portable floor lifts:

a) Are the proposed dimensions sufficient to accommodate the various portable floor lifts used in health care facilities?

b) Do the proposed dimensions exclude certain types of lifts?

c) Should the clearance around the base be configured differently to allow additional flexibility for the use of portable floor lifts and, if so, how should it be configured?