View Rule

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board or Board) issued a final rule establishing Accessibility Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment in January 2017.  The Standards set forth minimum technical criteria to ensure that medical diagnostic equipment used by health care providers (such as examination tables, weight scales, and imaging equipment) are accessible to individuals with disabilities.  One of the areas covered by these Standards is the adjustability of transfer surfaces for certain types of diagnostic equipment, including provisions for high, low, and intermediate transfer heights.  The low transfer height was temporarily set as a range (i.e., 17-19 inches) with an accompanying 5-year sunset period, during which time it was expected that the Board would promulgate a final, single specification for the low transfer height position.  In February 2022, the Board published a direct final rule which extended this sunset date for an additional three years.  The Board intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to finalize the low transfer height provision in 2022.