These standards had their inception in March of 1982 when the ANSI/RESNA Standards Subcommittee on Wheelchairs began creating standards in the United States as a result of awareness of International Standards Organization activities related to wheelchairs. Eighteen standards were originally developed by the 26 member committee which was composed of a variety of people including rehabilitation engineers, wheelchair manufacturers, governmental representatives (VA and Food and Drug Administration), and wheelchair users and prescribers. The subcommittee completed the development of these standards in 1990. The subcommittee grouped the standards into two volumes in 1998, adding three new sections and revising the originals.
RESNA WCS/Volumes1 and 2 consist of the following sections under the general title wheelchairs.
Volume 1: Requirements and Test Methods for Wheelchairs (including scooters)
Section 1: Determination of static stability
Section 5: Determination of dimensions, mass and maneuvering space
Section 7: Method of measurement of seating and wheel dimensions
Section 8: Requirements and test methods for static, impact and fatigue strengths
Section 11: Test dummies
Section 13: Determination of coefficient of friction of test surfaces
Section 15: Requirements for information disclosure documentation and labeling
Section 16: Resistance to ignition of upholstered parts— requirements and test methods
Section 20: Determination of the performance of stand up type wheelchairs
Section 22: Set-up procedures
Section 26: Vocabulary
Volume 2: Additional Requirements for Wheelchairs (including Scooters) with Electrical systems
Section 2: Determination of dynamic stability of electric wheelchairs
Section 3: Determination of effectiveness of brakes
Section 4: Energy consumption of electric wheelchairs and scooters for determination of theoretical distance range
Section 6: Determination of maximum speed, acceleration and deceleration of electric wheelchairs
Section 9: Climatic tests for electric wheelchairs
Section 10: Determination of obstacle-climbing ability of electrically powered wheelchairs Section 14: Power and control systems for electrical wheelchairs—requirements and test methods
Section 21: Requirements and test methods for electromagnetic compatibility of electrically powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters
