The 60601-2-52 Standard – Does it apply to Patient Stretchers & Trolleys?
What is 60601-2-52?
60601-2-52 is the standard that applies specifically to medical beds and addresses health hazards for manufacturers to ensure their equipment meets the required safety and performance requirements.
The standard provides criteria on numerous safety elements and specifies dimensions for manufacturers to comply with, with the intention of:
- Reducing the risk of entrapment
- Ensuring lateral stability
- Stipulating a safe side rail height
What is the definition of a ‘medical bed’?
As defined within 60601-2-52 section 201.3.212, a ‘medical bed’ is a “device for which the intended use is sleeping/resting that contains a mattress support platform and intended to assist in diagnosis, monitoring, prevention, treatment, alleviation of disease or compensation for an injury or handicap”.
Does a hospital stretcher fall into this category, and if so, should 60601-2-52 also apply to stretchers?
The standard explicitly states in section 201.3.212 Note 2 that excluded under the definition of ‘medical bed’ are “devices for which the intended use is mainly for examination or transportation under medical supervision (e.g. stretcher, examination table).”
So why are we now talking about applying 60601-2-52 to patient stretchers and trolleys?
The industry now more commonly associates 60601-2-52 with patient stretchers as well as beds, which is understandable, due to:
- A lack of a recognised international standard applying specifically to patient stretchers and trolleys*
- A recent National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA/2023/010/MHRA) suggested certain side rail requirements of 60601-2-52 applied to trolleys, as well as beds, in the absence of up-to-date guidance specifically for trolleys.
*British Standard 5402 applies to Patient Trolleys; however, this standard was published in 1976 and is largely regarded as outdated
Our conclusion
Due to the exclusions set out in the 60601-2-52 standard, we can safely say that this standard does not apply to patient stretchers and trolleys.
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