ANSI/RESNA WC-18 / SAE J2249 - Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems for Use in Motor Vehicles

WC-18 is currently under development and will be a revised and updated version of SAE J2249, Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems for Use in Motor Vehicles. The standard will be published as part of the American National Standards Institute/ Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) Wheelchair Standards/ Volume 4: Wheelchairs and Transportation. For the latest information on the progress of this development consult the RESNA Technical Standards Board webpage.

Rationale for standard

For people with disabilities who are unable to transfer from their wheelchairs when traveling in motor vehicles, the wheelchair must serve as the vehicle seat. This usually means that the occupant restraint system installed by the vehicle manufacturer cannot be used to provide protection in a crash. In addition, the wheelchair must be secured to the vehicle so that it does not impose forces on its occupant and/or become a hazard to other vehicle occupants in a collision or sudden vehicle maneuver. Providing effective crash protection for the wheelchair-seated occupant therefore requires that after-market equipment be used to provide effective wheelchair securement and occupant restraint.

It is the goal of this standard to encourage the design, testing, installation, and use of wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint systems (WTORS) that will provide effective wheelchair securement and occupant restraint for forward-facing occupants in frontal collisions, comparable to that provided by equipment installed by the vehicle manufacturer that must comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The primary purpose is to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries to wheelchair-seated occupants involved in a frontal vehicle crashes. However, it is anticipated that use of equipment that complies with this standard will also result in increased driver and passenger safety and security during normal travel.

The provisions of this standard are based on the premise that WTORS manufacturers are generally not able to control the end use of their products. The standard therefore requires the evaluation of WTORS that are intended for general use in all types and sizes of motor vehicles by conducting a nominally worst-case 48-kph, 20-g frontal sled impact test using an 85-kg surrogate wheelchair and a midsize adult male anthropomorphic test device (crash dummy) to dynamically load the wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system. For vehicles with a gross vehicle weight greater than 5000 kg, it may be appropriate to qualify WTORS using a lower crash severity than is required by this standard because of the reduced likelihood of heavier vehicles being involved in severe impacts. Also, in large fixed-route transit vehicles, the use of rearward-facing wheelchair  passenger stations may be a reasonable solution to provide safe transportation for wheelchair users in a manner that is more acceptable to the operational needs of the transportation system. Requirements for WTORS intended for exclusive use in larger low-g and ultra-low-g vehicles may be dealt with in a future standard.

Scope of Standard

This standard applies to WTORS comprised of a system or device for wheelchair tiedown and system of belts for restraining the wheelchair-seated occupant. It specifies design requirements, performance requirements, and associated test methods for WTORS, requirements for manufacturer's instructions to installers and users, and requirements for product marking and labeling. This standard places particular emphasis on design and performance requirements for WTORS in a 48-kph, 20-g frontal impact. It also specifies test procedures and performance requirements for webbing slippage at adjustment devices of strap-type wheelchair tiedowns, and for partial but ineffective engagement of wheelchair tiedowns and tiedown components that may be perceived to be effectively engaged. An annex includes additional recommendations for WTORS that will enhance the design, performance, installation, and use of WTORS, but which are not, at this time, required for compliance with this recommended practice.

This standard applies to WTORS used with forward-facing wheelchair-seated children and adults, to passengers and drivers of personally licensed motor vehicles, and to passengers of motor vehicles used in public and school transportation. Some of the requirements and test methods apply only to WTORS that use specific types of wheelchair securement systems, such as four-point strap-type tiedowns or docking-type tiedowns. In particular, one annex provides specifications for universal docking interface geometry on wheelchairs, which docking tiedown devices must engage with if they are intended to secure a wide range of wheelchairs in public transit vehicles. However, the standard as a whole applies to all WTORS with all types of wheelchair tiedown systems and devices that are intended for use with forward-facing wheelchair-seated occupants.

Last updated: August 11, 2008