NFPA (Fire) 1917 Historical

Protect patients and EMS personnel during transport in emergencies. Make sure new ambulances comply with NFPA 1917: Standard for Automotive Ambulances. 

Do your best to ensure new ambulances are safe and reliable for patients and EMS staff with the updated, second edition of NFPA 1917. Modeled after the Federal Specification KKK-A-1822 and NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, this critical Standard defines the minimum requirements for the design, performance, and testing of new automotive ambulances intended for use under emergency conditions to provide medical treatment and transportation of sick or injured people to appropriate medical facilities. 

NFPA 1917 is essential for manufacturers as well as any agency or organization that uses an ambulance to provide pre-hospital medical care. 

In addition to definitions based on current terminology, the Standard presents general requirements for ambulance design and performance, including standalone chapters for ambulance components, chassis, patient compartment, low voltage electrical systems and warning devices, and line voltage electrical systems; with specific provisions for test methods. NFPA 1917 streamlines technical information through easy-to-read charts and graphics, and references NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® (NEC®), NFPA 1901, and NFPA 1906; ASTM, IPC, and SAE publications; ANSI/UL Standards; and other Government publications. 

Changes in the 2016 edition address the needs and demands of today's EMS community.

• The maximum speed of the vehicle is now based on the rating of the vehicle's tires.
• New coverage of different patterns for retro-reflective material, and an increase to the percentage of retro-reflective materials that must be used, help make ambulances more visible at night.
• Updates to the statement of exceptions allow for wider use and adoption by the AHJ.
• New SAE testing standards, including the new coverage of seat and cot/litter retention, help provide a safer working environment for both occupants and EMS personnel.
• New references to several AMD standards are now part of the testing requirements.

Update to the 2016 NFPA 1917 for the most up-to-date information for manufacturers, testing organizations, and state EMS officials who adopt the Standard in their jurisdiction.