RESNA Standards for Wheelchairs

In collaboration with the International Standardization Organization, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) created a set of standards for testing the reliability, strength, durability and safety of both manual and electricity powered wheelchairs. In addition, consistency of the design of wheelchairs is established by these standards including adequate seat dimensions and chair mass.

Determination of Static and Dynamic Stability

• RESNA's first and second wheelchair standards determine the stability of the assistive technology while both standing still and moving. Whirlwind Wheelchair International offers a detailed pictorial of the physical wheelchair tests performed according to these standards. When an angle of instability is determined in either an uphill, downward or a lateral position, the angle is recorded. According to rehabilitation specialist Kimberly Pfaff, a small static angle chair is preferable for a patient with strong upper body strength.

Effectiveness of Brakes

• As implied by the name of the third standard, this test records the angle at which a wheelchair's brakes begin to slip when placed on an incline.

Determination of Energy Consumption of Electric Wheelchairs and Scooters

• This standard tests the capacity of a battery charge on a powered wheelchair.

Dimensions, Mass and Turning Space

• Meeting this standard requires measuring and recording the dimensions of wheelchair in a folded position, weighing a wheelchair and finding the distance it takes for a chair to make a complete 180 degree turn. Pfaff explains that the turning width is used by patients to decide if they can wheel straight through an entryway without turning.

Determination of Maximum Speed, Acceleration and Retardation of Electric Wheelchairs

• This standard requires that motor-powered wheelchairs are both tested for speed and the speed at which the automatic braking system activates.

Seating Dimension

• This standard requires placing a reference loader gauge in the seat of a wheelchair to take 27 measurements of a wheelchair's seat.

Static, Impact and Fatigue Testing

• This standard requires specific tests of structural wheelchair parts for strength, impact resistance and fatigue level. To test strength, loads must be added to a wheelchair. To test impact resistance, wheelchair parts are struck with weighted pendulums. Fatigue standardization tests the strength and durability of the rollers of a wheelchair. The more cycles of tests a chair is subjected to determines its overall durability and strength.

Climatic Tests for Electric Wheelchairs

• This standard tests the effectiveness of an electric wheelchair's power source in extreme heat and cold conditions.

Determination of Obstacle Climbing

• This standard subjects a wheelchair to increasing heights in both forward and backward directions until it can no longer function properly.

Power and Control Systems for Electric Wheelchairs

• The systems powering electric wheelchairs include batteries, wires, wiring labels, connectors, chargers and control hardware. This standard tests each of the individual electrical components for reliability, durability and safety.