AS/NZS 3696.8:1998

1 - AS/NZS 3696.8:1998 WHEELCHAIRS - REQUIREMENTS AND TEST METHODS FOR STATIC, IMPACT AND FATIGUE STRENGTHS
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
7 - 1 Scope
7 - 2 Normative references
8 - 3 Definitions
8 - 3.1 maximum user mass:
8 - 3.2 specification sheets:
8 - 3.3 footpiece(s):
8 - 3.4 negative camber:
8 - 3.5 test dummy back:
8 - 4 Requirements
8 - 4.1 Strength requirements
9 - 4.2 Disclosure requirements
9 - 5 Test apparatus
9 - 5.1 Loading device:
9 - 5.2 Concave loading pad:
9 - 5.3 Convex loading pad:
10 - 5.4 Horizontal test plane:
10 - 5.5 Backrest impact test pendulum:
10 - 5.6 Handrim impact test pendulum:
11 - 5.7 Castor and footrest impact test pendulum,
12 - 5.8 Test dummies
13 - 5.9 Two-drum test machine,
13 - 5.10 Drop test machine:
13 - 5.11 A means
13 - 5.12 A means
15 - 5.13 Means to measure the angle
15 - 5.14 A means to secure the test dummy
15 - 5.15 A means to measure the current
15 - 6 Preparation of test wheelchair
15 - 6.1 Equipping the wheelchair
16 - 6.2 Inflation of pneumatic tyres
16 - 6.3 Adjustments
17 - 6.4 Test dummies
18 - 6.5 Records
18 - 7 Sequence of tests
18 - 7.1 Static strength tests
18 - 7.2 Impact strength tests
18 - 7.3 Two-drum fatigue test
18 - 7.4 Kerb drop fatigue test
18 - 8 Test methods for static strength
18 - 8.1 Principle
18 - 8.2 Wheelchair preparation
19 - 8.3 Selection of loading pad
19 - 8.4 Armrests: resistance to downward forces - Test method
20 - 8.5 Footrests: resistance to downward forces - Test method
22 - 8.6 Tipping levers - Test method
24 - 8.7 Handgrips - Test method
26 - 8.8 Armrests: resistance to upward forces - Test method
28 - 8.9 Footrests: resistance to upward forces - Test method
30 - 8.10 Push handles: resistance to upward load - Test method
30 - 8.11 Records
32 - 9 Test methods for impact strength
32 - 9.1 Principle
32 - 9.2 Wheelchair preparation
32 - 9.3 Backrest: resistance to impact - Test method
33 - 9.4 Handrim: resistance to impact - Test method
34 - 9.5 Castors: resistance to impact - Test method
36 - 9.6 Footrests: resistance to impact - Test method
36 - 9.6.1 General
36 - 9.6.2 Preparation
36 - 9.6.3 Lateral impact
37 - 9.6.4 Longitudinal impact
37 - 9.7 Front structure: resistance to impact - Test method
38 - 9.7.1 Preparation
38 - 9.7.2 Frontal impact
38 - 9.7.3 Offset impact
38 - 9.8 Records
40 - 10 Fatigue tests - Test method
40 - 10.1 Principle
40 - 10.2 Preparation of test wheelchair for fatigue tests
40 - 10.3 Restraints of test dummy
42 - 10.4 Two-drum test
42 - 10.4.1 Test machine settings
42 - 10.4.2 Manual wheelchair tests
42 - 10.4.3 Preliminary current measurement for electric wheelchairs
42 - 10.4.4 Electrical wheelchair tests
43 - 10.5 Drop test
44 - 10.6 Records
44 - 11 Evaluation of test results
44 - 12 Test report
46 - Annex A - Principles applied to derive static test loads
46 - A.1 Principle
46 - A.2 Armrest downward load
47 - A.3 Footrest downward load
47 - A.4 Tipping lever downward load
49 - A.5 Handgrip loads
50 - A.6 Armrests upward load
51 - A.7 Footrest upward load
52 - A.8 Push handle upward load
54 - Annex B - Design considerations
54 - B.1 General
54 - B.2 Removable armrests and footrests
54 - B.3 Resistance to being dropped
54 - B.4 Resistance to impact of seating systems
55 - Annex C - Derivation of pendulum swing angle for castor and footrest impact tests
55 - C.1 Philosophy
55 - C.2 Calculations
58 - Annex D - Derivation of pendulum centre of percussion
58 - D.1 Principle
58 - D.2 Nomenclature
58 - D.3 Calculations
60 - Annex E - Tracking characteristics of wheelchairs
60 - E.1 Principle
60 - E.2 Proposal 1
61 - E.3 Proposal 2
61 - E.4 Proposal 3
63 - APPENDIX ZZ - VARIATION TO ISO/FDIS 7176-8:1997 FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Specifies strength requirements for wheelchairs including scooters intended for users whose mass does not exceed 100 kg. This Standard is technically equivalent to and has been reproduced from ISO/FDIS 7176-8:1997.

This part of ISO 7176 specifies requirements for static, impact and fatigue strength of wheelchairs including scooters intended for users whose mass does not exceed 100 kg. It specifies the test methods for determining whether the requirements have been met. It also specifies requirements for disclosure of the test results.The test methods may also be used to verify manufacturers' claims that a product exceeds the minimum requirements of this part of ISO 7176. A reference configuration is specified for adjustable wheelchairs and scooters to enable test results to be used for the comparison of performance. It applies to occupant- and attendant-propelled manual wheelchairs and electrically powered wheelchairs intended to provide indoor and outdoor mobility for people with disabilities. For electrically powered wheelchairs, it applies to those with a maximum speed of not more than 15 km/h where not more than two wheels are driven and which have three or more wheels located on two parallel, transverse axes.NOTE 1 This part of ISO 7176 does not apply to wheelchairs where the wheels lie on more than two axes (e.g. in 'diamond' configuration).NOTE 2 Clauses of this part of ISO 7176 may be used as a basis for developing requirements and test methods for wheelchairs not covered by this part of ISO 7176.The application of this part of ISO 7176 is limited to wheelchairs with a maximum occupant mass of 100 kg because this is the maximum mass of test dummy available in ISO 7176-11. Further work is needed to investigate the effects of the lifestyle of people with larger body masses.NOTE 3 For the purposes of this part of ISO 7176, "wheelchair(s)" is used as an abbreviation for manual wheelchair(s) or electrically powered wheelchair(s), including scooter(s), to which the requirements and test methods are applied.

First published in Australia as AS 3698.8(Int)-1991.
Withdrawn 1995.
First published in New Zealand as NZS 5226:1987.
AS 3696.8(Int)-1991 and NZS 5226:1987 jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 3696.8:1998.