This European Standard specifies the technical requirements to minimise the hazards listed in Clause 4 which can arise during the commissioning, operation and maintenance of disabled/incapacitated passenger boarding vehicles when used as intended and under the conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer or his authorised representative. It also takes into account some performance requirements recognized as essential by authorities, aircraft and ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers as well as airlines and handling agencies. This European Standard defines specific safety requirements for transporters/boarding vehicles for transporting/boarding incapacitated or disabled passengers as defined under 3.1, hereafter referred to as boarding vehicles. This European Standard applies to pedestrian controlled self-propelled boarding vehicles, self-propelled boarding vehicles with integrated driver's accommodation and towable boarding vehicles, used for moving disabled or incapacitated passengers at an airport between the terminal building and the aircraft ramp and to board and disembark those passengers to and from civil aircraft. This European Standard assumes that a disabled or incapacitated passenger may be accompanied by an attendant and may be seated in a wheelchair or reclining on a stretcher trolley. This European Standard also assumes that the types of wheelchairs which may be employed could be: - Standard type wheelchairs, e. g. in accordance with EN 12183; - Wheelchairs with or without occupant self-restraint system; - Aircraft aisle-width wheelchairs; - Non-standard wheelchairs used at airports; - Non occupant propelled wheelchairs; - Battery powered wheelchairs, e. g. in accordance with EN 12184. NOTE It is assumed that battery powered wheelchairs would not be taken into the cabin of an aircraft. This European Standard does not apply to other forms of aircraft loaders not specifically designed for boarding of incapacitated or disabled passengers, e. g. mobile lounges, boarding bridges or externally mounted pods such as used on helicopters. This standard does not apply to pneumatic systems. This standard does not establish requirements for noise and vibration, which are dealt with in EN 1915-3 and EN 1915-4. This standard does not apply to unmodified automotive parts approved for public vehicles in the E.U. and E.F.T.A., when used on a disabled/incapacitated passenger boarding vehicle for the purpose for which they are designed. This standard does not deal with hazards from other vehicles on the apron. This Part of EN 12312 is not applicable to disabled/incapacitated passenger boarding equipment which was manufactured before the date of publication by CEN of this standard. This part of EN 12312 is intended to be used in conjunction with EN 1915-1, EN 1915-2, EN 1915-3 (for vehicles) and EN 1915-4.