Requirements For A Wheelchair Project

The global population of people aged 80 or older has increased over the past few decades. In 2017, the United Nations estimated that 137 million people were in this age group, with projections that this number will triple by 2050. To ensure a safe and accessible life, the wheelchair is among the most in-demand products. Each country has specific bodies that establish design standards and regulate the products offered in the market, though the effectiveness of these bodies may vary. The Brazilian market is among the top five countries globally in demand for this apparatus. The study reviews the standards, laws, and regulations applied abroad, emphasizing the design and its methodology. In the literature review, among several approaches, the “Barrier-free Project” approach was developed to prevent barriers from existing in the design of equipment, buildings, and urban areas. The basis of philosophy, architecture, and universal urbanism is the possibility of adapting products and spaces to serve people with different capabilities and skills without needing specific adaptation. The cost of the product was also considered to meet the technical requirements of the product. This paper presents the standards impacting wheelchair design, focusing on international requirements and regulations while proposing requirements to reduce costs and enhance aesthetic appeal. Some requirements are classified as mandatory, while others are considered essential to make the product more attractive and competitive.