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NEXT MEETING
Future meetings are being planned now and the meeting information will be posted soon.
WCS has been meeting on a regular schedule to finalize the proposed revisions to the published standards (WC-1 and WC-2). The next version of WC-1 and WC-2 has just been approved for publication by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Meetings are open to observers; voting on documents requires membership. Each standards committee is required to maintain a balance in membership. Anyone is welcome to join the committee, and we are especially looking for consumers, clinicians, and government representatives. For additional information regarding the committee and upcoming meetings, please contact the WCS Committee Officers.
PUBLIC REVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT
The Wheelchairs committee is out for Public Review with the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) for the revision of their standard RESNA WC-1:2019 - RESNA Standard for Wheelchairs - Volume 1: Requirements and Test Methods for Wheelchairs (Including Scooters) - Section 15, with a comment end date of November 3rd, 2025. This standard specifies the information, documentation, and labeling to be supplied with a wheelchair or provided in the presale specification sheets by the manufacturer. The new revisions apply labeling and air travel configuration card requirements from the RESNA AT-1:2021 Section 4 standard to all new wheelchair models and new deliveries of pre-existing wheelchair models, enabling commercial air carriers to more efficiently and safely prepare, handle, stow, and transport wheelchairs.
Commenting Procedures
To obtain an electronic copy of the draft RESNA WC-1 Section 15 standard and the RESNA Comment Form, please email the RESNA ATSB Standards Secretary at technicalstandards@resna.org.
All public comments on RESNA draft standards must be submitted on the RESNA Comment Form. Any public comments not submitted on the RESNA Comment Form will not be considered. Please return the completed RESNA Comment Form, along with any questions regarding the RESNA WCS Committee or the draft RESNA WC-1 Section 15 Standard, to technicalstandards@resna.org and copy psa@ansi.org.
All public comments must be submitted by November 3, 2025.
Click Here to see the RESNA Policies and Procedures for the Development of RESNA Assistive Technology Standards.
Published in ANSI Standards Action on September 19th, 2025.
Officers
These standards affect wheelchair users, caregivers and organizations representing the technical needs of persons with mobility impairments, Assistive Technology Practitioners and Assistive Technology Suppliers of Wheelchairs and mobility devices, the Food and Drug Administration that manages wheelchairs as medical devices, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Medicare Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) who establish coding guidelines and establish policy for the provision of mobility technologies, manufacturers of wheelchairs, scooters and mobility devices, and researchers, designers and test laboratories of mobility devices.
Work Program
RESNA WC-1 Wheelchairs – Volume 1: Requirements and Test Methods for Wheelchairs (including Scooters)
This standard applies to manual and powered wheelchairs, including scooters, and accessories for wheelchairs and scooters. It specifies vocabulary, disclosure requirements for testing, and test methods and methods of measurement for: static stability; wheelchair and seat dimensions; static, impact and fatigue strength testing; flammability requirements; test dummy specifications; and set-up procedures.
The standard includes the following sections:
- Section 0: Test reports
- Section 1: Determination of static stability
- Section 3: Determination of effectiveness of brakes
- Section 5: Determination of dimensions, mass and maneuvering space
- Section 7: Method of measurement of seating and wheel dimensions
- Section 8: Requirements and test methods for static, impact and fatigue strengths
- Section 11: Test mannequins
- Section 13: Determination of coefficient of friction of test surfaces
- Section 15: Requirements for information disclosure, documentation and labeling
- Section 16: Resistance to ignition of upholstered parts – Requirements and test methods
- Section 20: Determination of the performance of stand-up type wheelchairs
- Section 22: Set-up procedures
- Section 26: Vocabulary
RESNA WC-2 Wheelchairs – Volume 2: Additional Requirements for Wheelchairs (including Scooters) with Electrical Systems
This standard applies to powered wheelchairs, including scooters, and accessories for wheelchairs and scooters. It specifies test methods and requirements for: dynamic stability; brake effectiveness; energy consumption; maximum speed, acceleration and deceleration; obstacle climbing ability; climatic testing; power and control system; and electromagnetic compatibility.
The standard includes the following sections:
- Section 2: Determination of dynamic stability of electrically powered wheelchairs
- Section 4: Energy consumption of electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters for determination of theoretical distance range
- Section 6: Determination of maximum speed of electrically powered wheelchairs
- Section 9: Climatic tests for electrically powered wheelchairs
- Section 10: Determination of obstacle-climbing ability of electrically powered wheelchairs
- Section 14: Power and control systems for electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters – Requirements and test methods
- Section 21: Requirements and test methods for electromagnetic compatibility of electrically powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters
- Section 25: Batteries and chargers for powered wheelchairs
ISO Related Activities
ISO / TC 173 Assistive Products for Persons with Disability / SC 1 Wheelchairs
ISO/TC 173/SC 1/WG 1 Test Methods – Work Program
- ISO 7176-1 Wheelchairs – Part 1: Determination of static stability
- ISO 7176-2 Wheelchairs – Part 2: Determination of dynamic stability of electric wheelchairs
- ISO 7176-3 Wheelchairs – Part 3: Determination of effectiveness of brakes
- ISO 7176-4 Wheelchairs – Part 4: Energy consumption of electric wheelchairs and scooters for determination of theoretical distance range
- ISO 7176-5 Wheelchairs – Part 5: Determination of dimensions, mass and maneuvering space
- ISO 7176-6 Wheelchairs – Part 6: Determination of maximum speed, acceleration and deceleration of electric wheelchairs
- ISO 7176-7 Wheelchairs – Part 7: Measurement of seating and wheel dimensions
- ISO 7176-8 Wheelchairs – Part 8: Requirements and test methods for static, impact and fatigue strengths
- ISO 7176-9 Wheelchairs – Part 9: Climatic tests for electric wheelchairs
- ISO 7176-10 Wheelchairs – Part 10: Determination of obstacle-climbing ability of electric wheelchairs
- ISO 7176-11 Wheelchairs – Part 11: Test dummies
- ISO 7176-13 Wheelchairs – Part 13: Determination of coefficient of friction of test surfaces
- ISO 7176-15 Wheelchairs – Part 15: Requirements for information disclosure, documentation and labeling
- ISO 7176-20 Wheelchairs – Part 20: Determination of the performance of stand-up wheelchairs
- ISO 7176-22 Wheelchairs – Part 22: Set-up procedures
- ISO 7176-26 Wheelchairs – Part 26: Vocabulary
- ISO 7193 Wheelchairs – Maximum overall dimensions
- ISO 13570-1 Technical Report: Guidelines for the application of the ISO 7176 series on wheelchairs
- ISO 13570-2 Technical Report: Wheelchairs – Typical values and recommended limits or dimensions, mass and maneuvering space as determined in ISO 7176-5
ISO/TC 173/SC 1/WG 8 Stair Traversing Devices – Work Program
- ISO 7176-23 Wheelchairs – Part 23: Requirements and test methods for attendant-operated stair-climbing devices
- ISO 7176-24 Wheelchairs – Part 24: Requirements and test methods for user-operated stair-climbing devices
- ISO 7176-28 Wheelchairs- Part 28: Requirements and test methods for stair-climbing devices
ISO/TC 173/SC 1/WG 10 Electro-technical Systems – Work Program
- ISO 7176-14 Wheelchairs – Part 14: Power and control systems for electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters– Requirements and test methods
- ISO 7176-21 Wheelchairs – Part 21: Requirements and test methods for electromagnetic compatibility of electrically powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters, and battery chargers
- ISO 7176-25 Wheelchairs – Part 25: Batteries and chargers for powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters – Requirements and test methods