ISO 17966-2016 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 17966:2016 — Assistive products for personal hygiene that support users — Requirements and test methods. This International Standard specifies safety and performance requirements and associated test methods for assistive products intended to support users during personal hygiene activities (toileting, bathing, showering), and addresses aspects of normal use, foreseeable misuse and the work environment and safety of assistants.

Abstract

ISO 17966:2016 sets out requirements and test methods for a range of assistive products for personal hygiene that support users, including commode chairs and toilets with built‑in raising/height‑adjustable mechanisms. It specifies measurement methods for forces needed to operate controls, stability and friction considerations (e.g., slippery surfaces), and safety/performance criteria that apply during normal use and foreseeable misuse; it also notes related exclusions (for example, bathtub hoists covered by ISO 10535).

General information

• Status: Published; under review/to be revised (stage 90.92).
• Publication date: January 2016 (edition 1).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 11.180.01 (Aids for disabled and handicapped persons — general); 11.180.99 (other standards related to aids for disabled people).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2016).
• Number of pages: 95 (ISO bibliographic record).

Scope

This standard applies to assistive products for personal hygiene that are intended by the manufacturer to alleviate or compensate for disability and that support the user in toileting, bathing and showering tasks. It covers mobile and static products such as commode chairs and toilets with built‑in raising/height‑adjustable mechanisms, addresses safe mounting in buildings and fixed installations where relevant, and excludes items covered by other standards (for example, bathtub hoists covered by ISO 10535). The standard includes requirements for normal use, foreseeable misuse and failure, and test methods for verifying performance and safety.

Key topics and requirements

• Safety and performance requirements for assistive personal‑hygiene products (durability, stability, structural strength).
• Test methods for measuring forces required to operate controls and limits for such operating forces.
• Requirements addressing normal use, foreseeable misuse and failure modes.
• Consideration of slip, friction and stability on wet or soapy surfaces relevant to bathing and showering products.
• Guidance on safe mounting and integration with building fixtures where applicable (fixed installations).
• Cross‑references and exclusions to related standards (e.g., ISO 10535 for bath hoists).

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers and designers of assistive hygiene products, testing and conformity assessment laboratories, procurement officers in healthcare and social services, clinicians and occupational therapists advising on assistive devices, and regulators seeking harmonized safety/performance criteria. The standard supports product selection, design verification, and procurement specifications.

Related standards

Key related standards include ISO 9999 (classification and terminology for assistive products for persons with disability) and ISO 10535 (hoists for the transfer of disabled persons — safety requirements and test methods); ISO/TC 173 is the responsible technical committee. The ISO record also indicates an ISO/FDIS for related toileting/bathing/showering work under development.

Keywords

assistive products, personal hygiene, toileting, bathing, commode chairs, toilets with raising mechanism, test methods, operating force, stability, ISO 17966:2016, assistive devices, ISO/TC 173.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 17966:2016 is an International Standard that specifies requirements and test methods for assistive products that support users during personal hygiene activities (toileting, bathing, showering).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers safety and performance requirements, methods to measure forces for controls, stability and friction considerations on wet surfaces, and test methods to verify those requirements for products such as commode chairs and toilets with built‑in raising/height adjustment. It also identifies related exclusions (e.g., bathtub hoists covered by ISO 10535).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, product designers, test labs, healthcare procurement teams, occupational therapists, and regulators use the standard for design, testing, procurement and conformance assessment of assistive personal‑hygiene products.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 17966:2016 was published in January 2016 (Edition 1). According to the ISO record it is published but listed for review/to be revised (stage 90.92) and work on related FDIS items has been indicated; users should check ISO/TC 173 outputs or national standards bodies for any amendments or newer editions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It sits within the family of assistive‑product standards maintained by ISO/TC 173 and is cross‑referenced from classification standards such as ISO 9999; related standards (e.g., ISO 10535) cover specific device types and may be referenced or excluded as applicable.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Assistive products, personal hygiene, commode, toilet raiser, bathing, showering, test methods, operating force, stability, safety, ISO 17966.