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

5.4 Transfer Supports.

5.4.1 Transfer Support Location for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. Transfer supports should be required on both sides of the transfer surface and be movable or removable so they can be out of the way during transfer.

5.4.1.1 Transfer Support Location for Stretchers. The transfer surface for stretchers should be oriented along the long side of the surface.

5.4.1.2 Transfer and Positioning Support Location for Imaging Equipment. Transfer supports should be provided for imaging equipment with transfer surfaces with depths of less than or equal to 24 inches. Positioning supports should be provided for imaging equipment with transfer surfaces with depths greater than 24 inches. The transfer supports or positioning supports should be located opposite the transfer side.

5.4.2 Transfer Support Length for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The transfer support should be a minimum length of 15 inches positioned so that the transfer support overlaps the minimum depth of the transfer surface by 80%.

5.4.2.1 Transfer Support Length for Stretchers. Transfer supports on stretchers should be a minimum of 15 inches long.

5.4.2.2 Transfer and Positioning Support Length for Imaging Equipment with Transfer Surfaces. Transfer supports for imaging equipment should be 28 inches minimum in length and positioning supports shall be 12 to 16 inches minimum in length.

5.4.3 Transfer Support Height for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. Transfer supports should be positioned 6 inches minimum and 19 inches maximum above the transfer surface.

5.4.3.1 Positioning Support Height for Imaging Equipment. Positioning supports should be positioned 3 to 6 inches above the transfer surface.

5.4.4 Transfer Support Distance From Transfer Surface for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The transfer support should be located a maximum distance of 1½ inches from the transfer surface.

5.4.4.1 Transfer Support Distance from Transfer Surface for Stretchers. Transfer supports should be located along the long side of the transfer surface on the opposite side of the transfer. The horizontal distance from the transfer surface should be no more than 3 inches from the edge of the patient support surface.

5.4.4.2 Transfer Support Distance from Transfer Surface for Imaging Equipment. Supports (transfer or positioning) should be located 1 ½ inches maximum from the transfer surface. The distance may extend up to 3 inches where the support must fold, collapse, come off, or articulate.

5.4.5 Transfer Support Position for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The transfer gripping surface should be located within the minimum and maximum heights.

5.4.5.1 Transfer and Positioning Support Position for Imaging Equipment. The transfer or positioning support should be oriented horizontally on imaging equipment with transfer surfaces.

5.4.6 Transfer Support Gripping Surface Cross Section for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The gripping surface cross section should comply with the provisions for gripping surface cross section configurations contained in the 2010 Standards.

5.4.7 Transfer Support Gripping Surface Clearance for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. There should be a 1½ inches minimum clearance around the gripping of transfer supports as proposed by the Access Board.

5.4.8 Transfer Support Gripping Surface Hazard for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The gripping surfaces of the transfer support must be free of sharp or abrasive elements and have rounded edges.

5.4.9 Interruptions Along Transfer Support Gripping for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The bottom of the transfer support shall have no obstruction affecting more than 20% of its length.

5.4.10 Transfer Support Fittings for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The transfer supports shall not rotate when locked in place for patient transfer or use.

5.4.11 Transfer Support Structural Strength for Equipment Used in a Supine, Prone, Side-Lying, or Seated Position. The transfer supports and connections must contain the strength to resist vertical and horizontal forces of 250 pounds at locations determined by the intended use of the equipment.