What is the scope of WC19 and what does it require?
WC19 addresses a number of wheelchair design and performance issues related to protection of forward-facing occupants in frontal crashes. Most importantly, it requires that wheelchairs provide four easily accessible securement or attachment points for anchoring the wheelchair in place, facing forward in the vehicle using an SAE J2249-compliant four-point, strap-type tiedown system. It further requires that an appropriately-sized crash dummy (i.e., anthropomorphic test device or ATD) sit in the wheelchair and that it be dynamically crash tested in a 30-mph frontal impact sled test. However, the standard also addresses several other wheelchair design and performance issues, including requirements that: as of May 2002, a WC19-compliant wheelchair shall provide the wheelchair user with the option of using a wheelchair-anchored pelvic/lap restraint belt, and shall be crash tested with such a belt restraining the lower torso of the ATD, the wheelchair shall be tilt tested for lateral stabili
