ASTM F2020

This practice covers certified, tested, commercial type, EMSS ambulances built on chassis that are suitable for the intended application and meet the requirements herein, it also covers the design, construction, and procurement of emergency medical services systems ambulances. Types: type I-conventional truck, cab-chassis with modular ambulance body, 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 and fire suppression package, type II-standard van, integral cab-body ambulance, type III-cutaway van, cab-chassis with integral or containerized modular body ambulance, and 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. Performance test, vehicle weight test, road test, water spray test, and oxygen system test shall be performed to meet the requirements prescribed.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers certified, tested, commercial type, EMSS ambulances built on chassis that are suitable for the intended application and meet the requirements herein. The ambulances are front or rear wheel driven (4x2) or four wheel driven (4x4) and warranted as specified in 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 emergency medical technician (EMT)/paramedic and two litter patients (one patient located on the primary cot and a secondary patient on a folding litter located on the squad bench) so positioned that the primary patient can be given intensive life-support during transit; equipment and supplies for emergency care at the scene as well as during transport; two-way radio communication; and, when necessary, equipment for light rescue/extrication procedures. The ambulance shall be designed and constructed to afford safety, comfort, and avoid aggravation of the patient's injury or illness.

1.1.2 This standard 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 minimum requirements for design, construction, performance, equipment, testing, and appearance of EMSS ambulances which are authorized to display the "Star of Life" symbol so as to provide a practical degree of standardization. The reasons for such standardization are to provide ambulances that are easily detected, 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 advanced pre-hospital life support providers as set forth in national EMSS standard training 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 illness in a pre-hospital setting, and transporting them, while continuing such life support 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 and transporting 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 standard an authenticated certification and label (see 6.19) that certifies a "Star of Life" ambulance and equipment complying with this standard and applicable amendments (if any) in effect on the date of manufacture (see 7.3). Ambulance vehicles so certified may display the registered "Star of Life" symbol, as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), see Fig 1.

1.3 Classification— "Star of Life" ambulance designs included in this standard may be 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 floor configuration (A for Advanced Life Support or B for Basic Life Support). Such descriptions may be used to define a variety of ambulance designs which are eligible 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 ambulances provide 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).

Configuration A: Elevating cot and squad bench for ALS (See 6.1.5.1 and 6.11.4).
Configuration B: Elevating cot and squad bench for BLS (See 6.1.5.2).

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 and Fire Suppression Package or a combination thereof. (See 6.1.2.1)

^* As specified by purchaser. The configuration shall provide for a neonatal, critical patient transport, configuration A or B with fire suppression package and rescue capability when specified.

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

^**On a Type II, ALS features are limited, (see 9.2.3)
^*Requires conversion of chassis to four wheel drive (4x4), (see 9.2.3).

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).

*As specified by purchaser. The configuration shall provide for a neonatal, critical patient transport, configuration A or B with fire suppression package and rescue capability when specified.

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 and regulations.

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

2. Referenced Documents

B117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
F1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Services
F1328 Guide for Training Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) to Prepare Patients for Medical Transportation
F1517 Guide for Scope of Performance of Emergency Medical Services Ambulance Operations
F1949 Specification for Medical Oxygen Delivery Systems for EMS Ground Vehicles
F920 Specification for Minimum Performance and Safety Requirements for Resuscitators Intended for Use With Humans
F960 Specification for Medical and Surgical Suction and Drainage Systems
MIL-STD-1223 Nontactical Wheeled Vehicles, Painting, Identification Marking and Data Plate Standards
MIL-STD-461 Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment

Standards and Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Cardiac Care



21 CFR 820 Quality System Regulation (QSR) (FDA)
29 CFR 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards
40 CFR 86 Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles and New Motor Vehicle Engines
47 CFR, PART 90 Private and Land Mobile Radio Services; Sub Part B: Public Safety Radio Pool
49 CFR 393 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)
49 CFR 571 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)
AMD Standard 001 Static Load for Ambulance Body Structure Test
AMD Standard 002 Body Door Retention Components Test
AMD Standard 003 Oxygen Tank Retention System Test (Main and Portable Cylinders)
AMD Standard 004 Litter Retention System Test
AMD Standard 005 Ambulance 12 Volt dc Electrical Systems Test
AMD Standard 006 Sound Level Test Code
AMD Standard 007 Carbon Monoxide Levels For Patient Compartment Interiors
AMD Standard 008 Ambulance Patient Compartment Grab Rail (Load Test)
AMD Standard 009 120 VAC Electrical Systems
AMD Standard 010 Water Spray Test
AMD Standard 011 Ambulance Equipment Temperature Test
AMD Standard 012 Temperature Tests
AMD Standard 013 Weight Distribution Test
AMD Standard 014 Cooling System Test
AMD Standard 015 Ambulance Oxygen System Test
Federal Standard No. 297, Rustproofing of Automotive Vehicles
J1054 Warning Lamp, Alternating Flashers
J1127 Battery Cable
J1128 Low Tension Primary Cable
J1292 Automobile, Truck, Truck-Tractor, Trailer, and Motor Coach Wiring
J1318 Strobe Warning Lights
J1349 Engine Power Test Code, Spark Ignition and Diesel
J163 Low Tension Wiring and Cable Terminals and Splice Clips
J2498 Minimum Performance of the Warning Light System Used on Emergency Vehicles
J537 Storage Batteries
J541 Voltage Drop for Starting Motor Circuits
J551 Measurement of Electromagnetic Radiation from Motor Vehicles and Devices
J553 Circuit Breakers
J561 Electrical Terminals, Eyelet and Spade Type
J575 Tests for Motor Vehicle Lighting Devices Components
J576 Plastic Materials, For Use In Optical Parts Such As Lenses and Reflectors of Motor Vehicle Lighting Devices
J578 Color Specification for Electric Signal Lighting Devices
J595 Flashing Warning Lamps for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles
J638 Test Procedure and Ratings for Hot Water Heaters for Motor Vehicles
J639 Safety Practices for Mechanical Vapor Compression Refrigeration Equipment or Systems Used To Cool Passenger Compartment of Motor Vehicles
J682 Rear Wheel Splash and Stone Throw Protection
J683 Tire Chain Clearance
J689 Approach, Departure, and Ramp Breakover Angles
J771 Automotive Printed Circuits
J845 Method for Determining the Flash Energy of a Light
J858 Electrical Terminals, Blade Type
J928 Electrical Terminals, Pin and Receptacle Type
J994 Backup Alarms, Performance Test and Application
L-S-300 Sheeting and Tape, Reflective, Nonexposed Lens, Adhesive Backing
RR-C-901/3 Cylinders Compressed Gas: With Valve or Plug and Cap; ICC3aa

Index Terms

ambulance; emergency; medical; EMS; ambulance; star of life; EMSS; transport; ICS Number Code 43.160

Citing ASTM Standards

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