ASTM F2020 PDF

Standard Practice for Design, Construction, and Procurement of Emergency Medical Services Systems (EMSS) Ambulances (Withdrawn 2018)

ASTM F2020 – Standard Practice for Design, Construction, and Procurement of Emergency Medical Services Systems (EMSS) Ambulances (Withdrawn 2018)

1.1 This practice covers certified, tested, commercial type, EMSS ambulances built on chassis that are suitable for the intendedapplication and meet the requirements herein. The ambulances are front orrear wheel driven (4×2) or four wheel driven (4×4) and warranted as specifiedin Section 9.

1.1.1 Definition of Ambulance – An ambulance is a vehicle for emergency medical care which provides: a driver’s compartment; a patient compartment to accommodate an emergencymedical technician (EMT)/paramedic and two litter patients (one patient locatedon the primary cot and a secondary patient on a folding litter located onthe squad bench) so positioned that the primary patient can be given intensivelife-support during transit; equipment and supplies for emergency care atthe scene as well as during transport; two-way radio communication; and, whennecessary, equipment for light rescue/extrication procedures. The ambulanceshall be designed and constructed to afford safety, comfort, and avoid aggravationof the patient’s injury or illness.

1.1.2 This practice may be used to procure an ambulance and the applicable additional systems and equipment.

1.1.3 Purchasers should follow the ordering data in 9.2 to aid them with the preparation of their procurement specification, requisition, and contract. The purpose of this practice is to describe minimumrequirements for design, construction, performance, equipment, testing, andappearance of EMSS ambulances that are authorized to display the “Starof Life“ symbol so as to provide a practical degree of standardization.The reasons for such standardization are to provide ambulances that are easilydetected, nationally recognizable, properly constructed, easily maintained,and, when appropriately equipped, will enable Emergency Medical Technicians(EMTs) to safely and reliably perform their functions as basic and advancedprehospital life support providers as set forth in national EMSS standardtraining guidelines. These functions include:

1.1.3.1 Responding to, providing appropriate basic or advanced life support, on-site, to persons reported experiencing acute injury or illnessin a pre-hospital setting, and transporting them, while continuing such lifesupport care, to an appropriate medical facility for definitive care.

1.1.3.2 Providing interhospital critical transport care.

1.1.3.3 Transporting essential personnel and equipment to and from the site of a multiple medical emergency or a triage site andtransporting appropriately triaged patients to designated medical facilities.

1.1.3.4 Other functions deemed appropriate by EMSS ambulance service managers and approved by designated EMSS medical directors.

1.2 “Star of Life“ Certification – Ambulance manufacturer/contractor shall furnish the purchaser(s) citing this practice an authenticated certification and label(see 6.19) that certifies a “Star of Life“ ambulance and equipmentcomplying with this practice and applicable amendments (if any) in effecton the date of manufacture (see 7.3). Ambulance vehicles socertified may display the registered “Star of Life“ symbol, asdefined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), see Fig. 1.

1.3 Classification – “Star of Life“ ambulance designs included in this practice maybe described in terms of their body type (I, II, or III), class of drive (“1“for two rear wheel drive or “2“ for four wheel drive), and floorconfiguration (A for Advanced Life Support or B for Basic Life Support). Suchdescriptions may be used to define a variety of ambulance designs which areeligible for certification as “Star of Life“ ambulances. (To specify,see 9.2.2 and 9.2.3).

Note 1 – For optional advanced life support (ALS) applications, users should consider specifying a modular (Type I or III) ambulance. Modular ambulancesprovide additional space and compartmentation for cardiac monitors, drug cases,and so forth. The basic life support (BLS) configuration is standard on all types.

1.3.1 Type I – Conventional truck, cab-chassis with modular ambulance body (see Fig. 2).

1.3.1.1 Type I–AD (Additional Duty–with increased GVWR, storage, and payload capacity) – A or B or Neonatal, Critical Patient Transport, or A or B with Rescue andFire Suppression Package (see 6.1.2.1).

1.3.2 Type II – Standard van, integral cab-body ambulance (see 6.1.3 and Fig. 3).

1.3.3 Type III – Cutaway van, cab-chassis with integral or containerized modular body ambulance (see 6.1.4 and Fig. 4).

1.3.3.1 Type III – AD (Additional Duty–with increased GVWR, storage, and payload capacity) A or B or neonatal, critical patient transport, or A or B with rescue, or fire suppression package, or both (see 6.1.4.1).

1.4 Order of Precedence – In the event of a conflict between the text of this practice and the references cited herein, the text of this practice shall take precedence,except where required by law including Federal, State, and local laws andregulations.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibilityof the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practicesand determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

FIG. 1“Star of Life Symbol“

FIG. 2Type I Ambulance

FIG. 3Type II Ambulance

FIG. 4Type III Ambulance