scope:

The purpose of this Standard is to provide guidance to assist clinicians and wheelchair users in interpreting the increased information that will appear in manufacturers' literature as a result of testing in compliance with this Standard.

Although many of the newer wheelchair control systems allow adjustments to this feature, it is valuable to have information by which the maximum values can be compared between wheelchairs.

Maximum speeds, both forward and reverse, are determined by entering the test course at full speed when the wheelchair is no longer accelerating.

The time to travel between two known marks is carefully measured. Repeated runs in both directions permit calculations of the average maximum speed.

The results of these tests are recorded in accordance with the test report requirements.

This Standard specifies test methods for determining the maximum speed, acceleration, and retardation of electric wheelchairs.

In this Standard, shall indicates a mandatory requirement; should indicates a recommendation, ie, that which is advised but not mandatory.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include mandatory or alternative requirements. The purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material that is not properly a part of the Standard. Notes to figures and tables are considered to be part of the figure or table and are written as mandatory requirements.