prEN 1865-4

• Abstract:

  This document specifies minimum requirements for the design and performance of foldable patient transfer chairs, which are used for the conveyance of patients to and/or from road ambulances. It aims to ensure patient safety and to minimize the physical effort required by staff operating the equipment.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 18-Mar-2025
• ICS: 11.160 - First aid
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 239 - Rescue systems
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 239/WG 1 - Medical vehicles and their equipment - Stretchers and other patient handling equipment
• Current Stage: 4060 - Closure of enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 20-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 30-May-2023
• Completion Date: 20-Aug-2026
• Directive: 2017/745 - Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC
• Mandate: M/575 - Medical devices in support of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in support of Regulation (EU) 2017/746
• Mandate: M/575 Amd 2 - Medical devices in support of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 and in vitro diagnostic medicial devices in support of Regulation (EU) 2017746
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 1865-4:2026 - Patient handling equipment used in ambulances - Part 4: Foldable patient transfer chair

• Referred By: EN ISO 21388-2:2024 - Acoustics - Hearing Aid Fitting Management - Part 2: Tele-services as part of hearing aid fitting management (tHAFM) (ISO 21388-2:2024)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Revises: EN 1865-4:2012 - Patient handling equipment used in road ambulances - Part 4: Foldable patient transfer chair
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

prEN 1865-4 is a CEN draft European Standard for foldable patient transfer chairs used in ambulances. It specifies minimum design and performance requirements for chairs used to convey patients to and from road ambulances, with the aims of patient safety and reducing the physical effort needed from staff.

What does prEN 1865-4 specify?

prEN 1865-4 covers foldable patient transfer chairs for transfer of a patient in a sitting position to a road ambulance. Clause 3.1 makes clear that the chair is for transfer to the ambulance, not for transport of a patient within the ambulance.

The document is organized into Scope, Normative references, Terms and definitions, and Requirements. Clause 4 groups the requirements by topic, and Annex ZA links the standard to EU medical device law.

Annex	What it covers
ZA	Relationship between this European Standard and the General Safety and Performance Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745, plus selected machinery-related requirements

What are the key requirements of prEN 1865-4?

prEN 1865-4 sets practical requirements for safety, handling, strength, restraint, flammability, deformation resistance and locking. In practice, these are the points a designer, manufacturer, test lab or buyer needs to check before accepting the chair.

General safety and handling

Clause 4.1 requires a mechanism to help with ascending and/or descending steps, so staff do not have to carry the patient and chair manually more than necessary. The same clause also requires risk reduction as far as possible during intended use and maintenance, locking handles in the extended position, and the absence of sharp edges or harmful deformation. For users, that means the chair must be safe to handle around patients and rescue staff.

Size, mass and load rating

Clause 4.2 sets the open-position dimensions for the seat and backrest, so the chair has a defined usable geometry. Clause 4.3 limits the mass to not more than 17 kg, which matters because the chair itself must remain manageable for ambulance crews. Clause 4.4 requires a loading capacity of at least 200 kg and says the maximum loading capacity shall be stated on the chair, so procurement and use instructions can match the intended patient load.

Frame and mobility features

Clause 4.5 requires a sturdy, lightweight frame with 2 non-slip lower handles, 2 non-slip upper handles, a footrest, and at least two rear wheels with a minimum diameter of 100 mm. The chair must also be storable in a folded position. In practice, this is the core of the chair’s ergonomics and transportability.

Patient restraint and flammability

Clause 4.6 requires restraint systems that secure the patient while still allowing treatment, and it calls for quick release. Clause 4.7 requires no progressive smouldering or flaming ignition when tested to EN 597-1:2015. That gives buyers a clear safety basis for patient movement control and ignition performance.

Strength under overload and locking

Clause 4.8 requires no remaining deformation of the frame, backrest or lying-sitting area after the overload test. Clause 4.8.2 gives the test setup, including suspension by the handles, a 320 kg load and rolling over realistic surfaces before inspection for damage. Clause 4.9 requires hinges and locks not to open spontaneously or bend, which is critical for safe use on stairs and during transport.

What terms does prEN 1865-4 define?

prEN 1865-4 formally defines foldable patient transfer chair as a device for transferring a patient in a sitting position to the road ambulance, not for transport within the ambulance.

A few other terms used in the document are important for reading the requirements correctly:

• Patient restraint system - the means that holds the patient in place while still allowing treatment.
• Loading capacity - the maximum patient load the chair is intended to carry.
• Backrest - the part supporting the patient’s back, which is included in the size and deformation requirements.
• Lying-sitting area - the patient support area checked for deformation after overload testing.

Who uses prEN 1865-4?

prEN 1865-4 is used by manufacturers of ambulance patient-handling equipment, ambulance service providers, rescue-system designers, test laboratories, and quality or regulatory teams. It is also useful for buyers and procurement staff writing specifications for ambulance equipment, because it gives measurable features and testable safety points.

What changed in prEN 1865-4 from the previous edition?

prEN 1865-4 will supersede EN 1865-4:2012. The foreword states these main changes:

• the main title of the EN 1865 series was changed from “road ambulances” to “ambulances”
• normative references were updated
• the flammability clause title was shortened to “Flammability”
• clause numbering was updated throughout
• Annex ZA was revised from the Medical Device Directive (MDD) to the Medical Device Regulations (MDR)
• mass was raised from 15 kg to 17 kg
• loading capacity was raised from 150 kg to 200 kg
• the word “label” was removed from the loading-capacity requirement, while the intent stayed the same
• the clause on seat and backrest was deleted
• requirements were aligned with other parts of the series
• verification methods were moved into the requirement clauses and combined with the requirements
• the marking clause was deleted

Which standards are used with prEN 1865-4?

Reference	What it contributes
EN 597-1:2015	Test method for smouldering cigarette ignitability used for the flammability requirement
EN ISO 14971:2019	Risk management approach for medical devices, relevant to the safety framing in Annex ZA
prEN 1865-1:2026	General stretcher systems and patient handling equipment for the EN 1865 series
EN 1865-2	Power assisted stretcher
EN 1865-3	Heavy duty stretcher
EN 1865-5	Stretcher support
EN 1865-6	Powered chairs
EN 1865-7	Isolation transport system, listed as preliminary work item under development

What does the prEN 1865-4 document contain?

prEN 1865-4 contains requirement clauses for general safety, dimensions, mass, loading capacity, frame design, restraint systems, flammability, deformation resistance and locking. It also contains a worked verification method in Clause 4.8.2 for overload and deformation checking.

Annex ZA gives the correspondence to Regulation (EU) 2017/745 and shows which clauses address selected General Safety and Performance Requirements. The document therefore supports design reviews, testing, conformity assessment and specification writing for foldable patient transfer chairs used in road ambulance care.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2026
Oprema za ravnanje s pacienti v reševalnih vozilih - 4. del: Zložljiv prenosni stol za
paciente
Patient handling equipment used in ambulances - Part 4: Foldable patient transfer chair
Krankentransportmittel in Rettungsdienstfahrzeugen - Teil 4: Klappbare
Patiententragesessel
Équipements pour le transport de patients dans les ambulances - Partie 4 : Chaise de
transfert mécanique pliante
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 1865-4
ICS:
11.160 Prva pomoč First aid
43.160 Vozila za posebne namene Special purpose vehicles
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2026
ICS 11.160 Will supersede EN 1865-4:2012
English Version
Patient handling equipment used in ambulances - Part 4:
Foldable patient transfer chair
Équipements pour le transport de patients dans les Krankentransportmittel in Rettungsdienstfahrzeugen -
ambulances - Partie 4 : Chaise de transfert pliante Teil 4: Klappbare Patiententragesessel
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 239.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 1865-4:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Requirements . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Dimensions. 5
4.3 Mass . 6
4.4 Loading capacity . 6
4.5 Frame . 6
4.6 Restraint system . 6
4.7 Flammability . 6
4.8 Deformation of the frame and backrest lying-sitting area . 6
4.9 Locking. 6
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the General Safety
and Performance Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 aimed to be covered . 7
Bibliography . 9

European foreword
This document (prEN 1865-4:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 239 “Rescue
systems”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 1865-4:2012.
Compared to EN 1865-4:2012 the following main technical changes were made:
a) Main title of EN 1865 series changed from “Patient handling equipment used in road ambulances” to
“Patient handling equipment used in ambulances”;
b) Normative references updated;
c) Contents updated to change titles of “Flammability – Toxicity of Burning Gasses” to “Flammability”;
d) Clause numbering updated throughout the whole document;
e) Annex ZA revised to show relationship to Medical Device Regulations (MDR) instead of Medical
Device Directive (MDD);
f) Mass (4.3) raised from 15 kg to 17 kg;
g) Loading capacity (4.4) raised from 150 kg to 200 kg;
h) The use of the word label removed, intent of requirement remains unchanged (4.4);
i) Clause on Seat and backrest (4.6) deleted;
j) requirements aligned with other parts of this standard series;
k) Verification methods in Clause 5 moved into Clause 4 requirements that previously referenced them.
In these cases, the requirement and test methods were combined;
l) Clause on “Marking” (5) deleted.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
This document is a part of EN 1865, Patient handling equipment used in ambulances, which consists of the
following parts:
— Part 1: Specification for general stretcher systems and patient handling equipment;
— Part 2: Power assisted stretcher;
— Part 3: Heavy duty stretcher;
— Part 4: Foldable patient transfer chair (this document);
— Part 5: Stretcher support;
— Part 6: Powered chairs;
— Part 7: Isolation transport system (preliminary work item under development).
1 Scope
This document specifies minimum requirements for the design and performance of foldable patient
transfer chairs, which are used for the conveyance of patients to and/or from road ambulances. It aims
to ensure patient safety and to minimize the physical effort required by staff operating the equipment.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 597-1:2015, Furniture — Assessment of the ignitability of mattresses and upholstered bed bases — Part
1: Ignition source smouldering cigarette
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
3.1
foldable patient transfer ch
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