The document provides an overview and summary of the key points of the BS EN 60601-2-52-2010 Standard for medical beds. It outlines some of the major changes and requirements in the new standard, including new long-term testing for siderails, increased mattress gap testing, minimum height ranges for beds, and electrical and safety requirements. The standard aims to improve safety and performance of medical beds used in healthcare settings.
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Carebase free bed standard guide BS EN 60601-2-52
1. BS EN 60601-2-52-2010
Part 2-52: Particular requirements for basic safety and
essential performance of medical beds
A review and explanation of the new
Standard for healthcare beds
2. INTRODUCTION
Carebase are a supplier of healthcare beds and have been providing a
a range of beds into the community sector for 15 years.
We are the UK partner to Hermann Bock GmbH ,who are one of the
leading manufacturers of electric height adjustable beds.
With the ratification of the BS EN 60601-2-52-2010 Standard,
Carebase feel it is critically important that our customers and
potential customers are fully informed and aware of the implications
of the new Standard. We are therefore offering this guide free to any
persons involved in purchasing or specifying healthcare beds.
The object of this particular standard is to establish particular basic
safety and essential performance requirements for medical beds.
This particular standard is the realization of much work in aligning
IEC 60601-2-38, EN 1970, and the third edition of IEC 60601-1.
It represents the current thinking in basic safety and essential
performance of a medical bed as used to alleviate illness of patients
and disability of disabled persons. It takes account of international
incidence reporting of accidents occurring in the environment of the
bed.
This guide is not meant to be a replacement for the full Standard
documentation which can be purchased from an official source such
as the BSI (link at the back of the guide)
It aims to highlight the key points in the Standard and where
particular attention is required.
THE STANDARD
3. FACT
The HSE has made a number of successful prosecutions of health
care providers in relation to bed and siderail incidents. This has
resulted in substantial fines of upto 贈250,000 and serious reputa-
tional damage.
AREAS COVERED
Testing
Areas of use
Siderails
Mattress
Hoist clearance
Marking & Identification
Safe working load and maximum patient weight
Stability
Ergonomic
Operating speed and time
Emission and Noise
Labelling
Note:
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity
from legal obligations.
4. KEY POINTS
The dimensional requirements of this particular standard are
based on anthropometric data based on patients ranging in
physical size from a 146 cm tall female to a 185 cm tall male.
The siderail height should be at least 22cm above the mattress
height.
Introduction of a new long-term siderail test with 30.000 cycle.
Introduction of a new long-term test with 3.000 cycles with 10 kg
There should be a minimum tensile strength for the siderail to
withstand a force of 500N.
Fall tests with the operating unit are to be carried out with no
fault after 1,000 falls from a height of 0.5 m
Mattress gaps should be less than 12cm when pressure is applied
at the edge of the mattress.
The adjustable height range of the bed should be a minimum of
40cm to 80cm.
Every bed should come with the suppliers confirmation of
compliance with the Standard, preferably independently tested
by a body such as BSI or TUV.
The NEW Standard is in force from 1st April 2013 and all beds sold
subsequently should comply from that date.
Beds sold prior to 1st April 2013 that met the existing Standard,
EN1970, up until that date, may continue to be used unless the
Standards body deems the risk level unacceptable.
5. TESTING EQUIPMENT USED - CONE TOOL
The Standard specifies the eaxct dimensiosn of testing equipment.
This should not generally be required by end users or purchasers.
Carebase provide a full specific audit usintg the correct testing
equipment, alternatively we can supply a simple tool for testing the
measurements.
6. 1. Intensive care in a hospital, where 24hr medical supervision and
constant surveillance is necessary. The provision of a life-support
system/device is important in order to maintain the patient卒s vital
functions.
2. Acute care in a hospital or other medical institution, where
medical supervision and surveillance are necessary. Mostly where
medical devices that support the maintenance and enhancement
of the patient卒s conditions are provided.
3. Long term care. Medical supervision and surveillance is
necessary. This includes nursing care homes, rehabilitation centres
and elderly homes.
4. Care at home. Where a medical device for the relief of an injury or
disability is used.
5. Ambulant care which is offered under medical supervision in
a hospital or other medical institution. A medical device for the
patient卒s needs with diseases, injury or disability is provided for
treatment, diagnosis and supervision.
AREAS OF USE
7. A suggested height adjustment range of at least 40cm-80cm for the
mattress platform itself. This is part of the Standard for Application
area 4 - domestic use.
When determining the adjustable height range of the bed,
consideration should be given to regional anthropometrics for both
caregiver and/or operator and/or patient/resident.
Attention should be paid to:
patient/resident falling from the bed, where a low height minimizes
injuries;
ease of patient/resident entry and egress;
transfers to and from a wheelchair;
caregivers and/or operators safe working height in order to
minimize back problems.
ERGONOMIC
8. 1. Introduction of a new long-term test with 30.000 cycles (up and
down) followed by a static load in order to evaluate the robustness and
reliability of the side rails.
2. Introduction of a new long-term test with 3.000 cycles with 10 kg
applied load in the longitudinal and transverse direction in order to
simulate the shaking and bounce on the side rails by a patient.
3. Increase of the pressure test from 5kg to 25 kg in order to test the gaps
of the side rails.
4. Due to an increase in the numbers of incidents the measurements of
the gaps for the side rails have been changed. The essentials are:
Distance head part side rail always < 60mm C1
Distance between rails < 120mm A1
Distance foot part side rail either < 60mm or > 318mm
Distance between splitted side rails (middle gap) either <60 mm or
318mm C2
The investigations of incidents with entrapment in full-length side
rails that fulfil the standard EN 1970 or IEC 60601-2-38 regarding the
measurement A , show that seven incidents were registered. Four of
these incidents occurred between the lower bar and the mattress
support platform , the other three occurred between the upper (or
middle) bar and the lower bar of the siderail.
IMPORTANT NOTE - USE FOR CHILDREN
The Standard is designed for beds for individuals upto 145cm or 12
years.
The UK Medical Devices body has recommended that siderails used for
childrens beds have a gap of 60mm and not 120mm.
This follows specific incidents including a fatality and a considerable
number of reports of entrapment.
Carebase offer specially designed siderails for use with children.
SIDERAILS
9. Key
1 Area of TOOL representing neck diameter (60 mm).
2 Area of TOOL representing chest breadth (318 mm).
3 Area of TOOL representing head breadth (120 mm).
4 MATTRESS SUPPORT PLATFORM
5 HEAD BOARD
6 FOOT BOARD
7 Mattress
8 SIDE RAIL
Example of MEDICAL BED with segmented or split SIDE RAIL
Example of MEDICAL BED with single piece SIDE RAIL
10. Entrapment test. The large end of the cone tool shall not sink below
the mattress surface by 50 % or more of its 120 mm diameter.
The requirement for siderail height to be at least 22cm above the
mattress support platform in at least 50 % of the length of the
mattress support platform.
Medical beds designed to have replacement mattresses shall be
marked with a warning and a risk assessment for such mattresses
should be carried out if the 22cm is not reached.
MATTRESS
There should be at least 15cm clearance for the use of mobile hoists
HOIST CLEARANCE
Locations identified as trapping zones fingers should have distances
between moving parts which shall always be either less than 8 mm
or more than 25 mm.
GAPS
11. The manufacturers identification must be on the bed and the
removable parts.
The medical bed shall be marked with the name or trademark and
address of the manufacturer and the means to allow traceability.
MARKING & IDENTIFICATION
There is a new test for end to end stability. The bed and bed lift
shall be capable of withstanding a uniformly distributed static load
equal to two times the safe working load or 4 000 N, whichever
is greater, in the most disadvantageous position on the mattress
support platform in a horizontal position.
STABILITY
SAFE WORKING LOAD & MAXIMUM PATIENT
WEIGHT
The medical bed shall be marked with the corresponding maximum
patient weight and safe working load of the bed. The minimum
SWF is 1700N.
The bed should be able to be moved with reasonable force and
over thresholds without any instability or damage.
MOVEMENT FOR TRANSPORT
12. There are a number of electrical safety elements to the Standard.
Power cables should have a length (min 2.5 m) and strain relief.
The power cord shall have a moulded-on plug or other means to
withstand the ingress of water during the cleaning process for
which the bed is intended.
The bed shall be equipped with a means to keep the power supply
cord clear of any moving bed part or mechanism, when the bed is
in use, transport or not in use to avoid a damage of the power cord.
The power cord shall be adequately protected against damage from
contact with moving part(s) or from friction at sharp corners and
edges within the bed.
The ingress of water protection on motors on beds should be at
least to IP4 level.
Specific tests are required for beds described as machine washable.
ELECTRIC REQUIREMENTS
A lifting pole should be able to withstand a test of at least 750N
ACCESSORIES
Handset test - a new fall test with the operating unit should be
carried out with no fault after 1,000 falls from a height of 0.5 m.
HANDSET TEST
13. The use of third party siderails or mattresses ill-suited to the bed. It
is difficult to ensure compliance when different beds and siderails
are used.
The use of alternating mattresses. These often cause the height of
the mattress to be above the 22cm required. Additional siderails
may be required and a risk assessment should be carried out.
The use of ill-fitting mattresses that leave a gap between siderails
and the bed platform.
Low beds that do NOT comply with the 80cm height level.
The desire to have a bed with a low entry point has resulted in
the supply of beds that do not come upto 80cm which is the
requirement of the standard for domestic use and a strong
recommendation in other application areas.
Note the 80cm relates to the mattress platform height not including
the mattress.
Siderails that are not designed for the bed and may leave unsafe
gaps.
Siderails raised at one end only. This will potentially alter the
strength of the siderail and will not meet the standard in reference
to the height.
Beds are not marked with the manufacturers details to hide
the source of supply. This means that the required element of
traceability in the Standard is not met.
COMMON AREAS CAUSING NON COMPLIANCE
14. Specific issues relating to children and those below 145cm height.
The use of standard adult beds for children will automatically mean
that the siderail gaps will be incorrect. There have been a number
of notices from the MHRA regarding this issue. There is a case of a
fatality at an NHS hospital with a young adolescent whose head
became trapped between adult siderails.
The use ofcotinserts that do not meet the tensile strength
requirement of the Standard. Some suppliers will offer inserts that are
not sufficiently secured to the side of the bed or do not provide the
stability and tensile strength required in the Standard.
Legal advice and Health & Safety advice to Carebase suggest that
the Standard should be applied to healthcare beds for children in all
respects other than where different anthromorphic data suggests
otherwise - i.e with siderail gaps.
SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATING TO CHILDREN
15. CONCLUSION
Carry out assessments with actual product to be used
Take account of each situation and specific requirements
Risk assess carefully
Comply with all relevant sections of the Standards
Ensure suppliers have proper independent certification
Involve all stakeholders as far as possible
Document the process of product selection and risk assessment
thoroughly
Given the level of risks that the can exist around the bed, it is vital that
any purchaser ensures that product that they buy complies with the
new Standard and that they have evidence of compliance.
** DONT TAKE A RISK - MEET THE STANDARD **
All Carebase Bock beds and cots meet the new Standard and are
tested by TUV, the highly respected German Standards Institute.
We are able to provide a certificate of compliance with every bed
purchased.
16. Links
BSI http://www.bsigroup.co.uk
TUV http://www.tuv.com
MHRA http://www.mhra.gov.uk
NSPA http://www.npsa.nhs.uk
HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk
For further information about the Standard, further copies
or any other Carebase products please contact us.
Tel: 01609 785360
web: www.carebase.net
email: info@carebase.net