ASTM F 1230 : 1989

1.1 This specification covers minimum performance and safety requirements for EMS ground vehicles used:

1.1.1 In the transportation of the sick and injured to or from an appropriate medical facility while basic or advanced, or both, life support services are being provided,

1.1.2 In the delivery of interhospital critical transport care,

1.1.3 In the delivery of nonemergency, medically required, transport services, and

1.1.4 In the transportation and delivery of personnel and supplies essential for proper care of an emergent patient.

1.2 It includes the performance standards for necessary materials, equipment, and systems to the levels outlined in recognized standards, whether clinical or vehicular.

1.3 The document is divided into two sections. Section A describes those vehicles used primarily for responding to and for transporting and treating the patient while en route to an appropriate medical facility. Section B will be developed at a later date and will describe those vehicles primarily used for transporting the nonemergency patient, for transporting essential personnel or equipment, or both, to and from a location where emergency medical care is required, or for transporting patients in areas not accessible by ambulances described in Section A.

1.4 This document establishes criteria that shall be considered in the performance, specification, purchase and acceptance testing of ground vehicles for EMS use.

1.5 This document does not define the staffing of ground vehicles or the clinical practice of emergency medicine.

1.6 The entire document should be read before ordering an ambulance, in order to be knowledgeable of which equipment is standard, and which options are desired. Due to the variety of ambulance equipment or features, some options may be incompatible with all chassis manufacturers' models. Detailed technical information is available from the chassis manufacturers.

1.7 The sections in this specification appear in the following sequence:

Section Scope 1 Referenced Documents 2 Terminology 3 Materials 4 Requirements 5 General Vehicle Types and Floor Plan 5.1 Vehicle, Components, Equipment, and Accessories 5.2 Vehicle Operation, Performance, and Physical Charac- teristics 5.3 Vehicle Weight Ratings and Payload 5.4 Chassis, Engine, and Components 5.5 Electrical System and Components 5.6 Lighting, Ambulance Exterior and Interior 5.7 Cab-body Driver Compartment and Equipment 5.8 Vehicle Body and Patient Area 5.9 Storage 5.10 Oxygen and Suction Systems and Equipment 5.11 Environmental: Climatic and Noise Parameters 5.12 Communications 5.13 Preparation for Painting, Color, and Markings 5.14 Undercoating 5.15 Corrosionproofing 5.16 Markings, Data Plates, Warranty Notice, etc. 5.17 Documentation 5.18 Predelivery Inspection and Servicing 5.19 Additional Systems, Medical Equipment, Accessories, and Supplies 5.20 Quality Assurance Provisions, Inspection, and Testing 6 Responsibility for Inspection and Tests 6.1 Inspection and Testing 6.2 Certifications 6.3 "Star of Life" Certification Requirements 6.4 Tests 6.5 Appendixes Partial Listing Specialty-Type Ground Vehicles X1 Typical Storage Volumes for Interior Compartments X1.2.1 Typical Extrication Equipment Might Include X1.2.2 Prepurchase Checklist X2 Rationale X3