What is ISO 16840-12 about?

ISO 16840 series has been prepared for wheelchair seating. ISO 16840-12 is one of a series of documents focuses on envelopment and immersion characterization of seat cushions. ISO 16840-12 specifies apparatus, test methods, and disclosure requirements for characterization of wheelchair seat cushion immersion and envelopment properties using indenters instrumented with pressure sensors.

ISO 16840-12 includes a method that is specific to 220 mm and 255 mm indenters. Dimensions are provided for 380 mm indenter to allow for the extension of the method to larger patient simulation.

Note: ISO 16840-12 does not provide information specific to cushion performance for a particular individual user, nor is it intended to characterize envelopment or immersion under higher loading conditions, nor to assess the weight capacity of a cushion.

Who is ISO 16840-12 for?

ISO 16840-12 on wheelchair seating is useful for-

Manufacturers of wheelchairs and wheelchair materials
Manufacturers of wheelchair seat cushions
Engineers and developers of wheelchairs design
Test laboratories for wheelchairs assessment

Why should you use ISO 16840-12?

Seating systems are groups of components that make contact with your body while you're sitting in your custom wheelchair to support you. The cushion, back support, and postural supports are among the individually prescribed components.

ISO 16840-12 expands to the characterization of products intended to manage tissue integrity and provides a standardized indenter for other wheelchair seating tests.

ISO 16840-12 is useful for you to meet the test requirements for apparatus, test methods, and disclosure requirements for wheelchair seat cushion immersion and envelopment which will improve the quality and help the patients to seat comfortably for a longer time.

Following ISO 16840-12 design guidelines, you can create standardize approach to design high-quality seat cushions. Also, you can demonstrate the reliability of seat cushions and build trust in their use throughout the supply chain.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS ISO 16840-12:2021 supersedes ISO 16840-12:2015, which has been withdrawn. BS ISO 16840-12:2021 has some technical changes with respect to ISO 16840-12:2015, these include:

Clarification of technical ambiguities
The removal of a gel cap to protect the pressure sensors
Removal of former Annex A (which addressed method adaptations for cushions that utilize offloading)
Addition of a new giving guidance on the estimation of uncertainty

BS ISO 16840-12:2021

Wheelchair seating - Envelopment and immersion characterization of seat cushions using a dual semispherical indenter

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Dec 2021