KKK-A-1822 Specs Update

Nearly every aspect of our lives these days is governed by standards and specifications, from food and clothing to medicine and vehicles. Emergency services providers are probably most familiar with the Federal Spec KKK-A-1822 for ambulances.

The federal specifications for the Star-of-Life Ambulance, which include minimum requirements and optional equipment, are revised every five years. The current revision is E, with preparations well under way for Revision F. In the interim between revisions, change notices are issued to the specifications, according to John McDonald of the U.S. General Services Administration in Arlington, VA.

“As needed, we do a change notice,” says McDonald. “At the end of the five-year period, all of the change notices get rolled into the next revision. We have already issued two change notices to the current KKK E standard and are working with the AMD (Ambulance Manufacturers Division of the National Truck Equipment Association) people on preparing for Revision F. Right now, the minimum vehicle requirements and optional equipment are intermingled, and some people find that confusing, so we’ll probably separate those in Revision F to include minimum requirements in the first part of the document, and options will be reflected in the latter part.”

The change notices, which take effect when issued, cover a wide range of topics, says McDonald. For example: Change Notice 1 covers temperature conditions; ambulance width; payload allowance; utility power connector; electrical 115-volt AC receptacles; ambulance emergency lighting; outside rearview mirrors; antenna, cable and mounting; general body construction; intercom; batteries and warranty extension.

Change Notice 2 covers salt spray resistance; electrical generating system; patient compartment illumination; ammeter; color, paint and finish; and workmanship.

“The changes are made based on requests from end-users, manufacturers and the government,” says McDonald. In mid-April, GSA opened a public comment period on its website to give anyone who was interested an opportunity to read the ambulance standards and both change notices, and submit comments.

“We keep an action log of all the issues that people submit to us, and then either accept, accept in principle or reject the change request,” says McDonald. “All suggested changes are reviewed by a technical committee to make sure they’re valid, not unlike the procedure that most of the other standards-making bodies use.”

While the current comment period will closed on May 25, visitors to the website can view each standard item. Go to the “Draft Vehicle Standards/Comment Collector” link on GSA Automotive’s website at: www.gsa.gov/automotive.

—MN