What is a Type A ambulance according to the EN 1789 standard?
The EN 1789 (2020 + A1 2024) standard, published by the European Committee for Standardization and adopted in Poland as PN-EN 1789, defines three categories of road ambulances. Each of them corresponds to a different functional scope — it is not solely about the equipment, but about what the vehicle is actually intended for and how it must perform under real-world conditions.
Type A is a patient transport ambulance. Its task is the safe transport of a person in a stable condition or requiring basic monitoring — without the need for advanced treatment during the ride. This is the fundamental difference compared to types B and C, which are designed for intervention and mobile intensive care.
This does not mean that type A is a vehicle stripped of medical equipment. The EN 1789 standard specifies minimum requirements for the medical compartment, securing systems, lighting, and oxygen installation — regardless of the category. The difference lies in the scope of these requirements and what medical procedures are meant to be possible during transport.
| EN 1789 Type | Purpose | Polish operational equivalent |
| Type A | Transport of patients in a stable condition | Transport ambulance (T) |
| Type B | Emergency ambulance — basic treatment and monitoring | Basic EMS Team (P) |
| Type C | Mobile intensive care unit (MICU) | Specialist EMS Team (S) |
In the private medical transport segment and among organizations carrying out regular patient transfers, the demand for type A is the widest. Its application is broad, but it has clear boundaries — and understanding them directly translates into purchasing decisions.
Type A1 and Type A2 — a distinction that matters when purchasing
The EN 1789 standard distinguishes two subtypes within type A. The difference between them is technically simple, but practically significant when defining the vehicle requirements.
Type A1 — single patient transport
A1 is an ambulance adapted for the transport of a single patient on a stretcher. This is the most common variant used in private medical transport, serving dialysis, oncology, and geriatric patients. The medical compartment is organized around a single stretcher space, offering full lateral and head-side access to the patient.
Type A2 — transport of multiple patients simultaneously
A2 allows for the transport of more than one patient at the same time. This variant is used less frequently, but has specific applications — group transport from a hospital after outpatient procedures, supporting mass casualty incidents, or collective transfers within long-term care structures.
The A2 configuration requires a different layout of the stretcher securing system, a different division of space within the medical compartment, and adapting the oxygen supply system to multiple service points. This translates directly into different requirements when ordering the vehicle.
KG Special Performance groups A1 and A2 under the common category of type A. In practice, requests for proposals almost always specify the number of stretcher positions as an element of the technical specification, rather than the normative category. The configuration of a specific vehicle is determined individually at the medical conversion design stage.
Type A Ambulance in the Polish PRM system — the T ambulance
Legal framework
The State Emergency Medical Services operate on the basis of the Act of September 8, 2006, on the State Emergency Medical Services. The Act defines the types of emergency medical service teams and sets out minimum requirements regarding personnel composition and equipment. Medical transport as a category is regulated partly by the PRM, and partly by regulations concerning medical activity and contracting with the National Health Fund.
The T ambulance — how it differs from P and S
In Polish operational nomenclature, a transport ambulance is the T ambulance. It is operated by a crew consisting of a driver holding a KPP certificate and a paramedic or an orderly with a KPP certificate. The T team does not perform emergency medical procedures within the scope reserved for the Emergency Medical Service Team — its task is the safe transport and supervision of a patient in a condition that does not require intervention.
| Designation | Name | Crew | Function |
| T | Transport ambulance | Driver (KPP) + paramedic or orderly (KPP) | Scheduled transport, basic supervision |
| P | Basic EMS Team | Driver + 2 paramedics or EMS nurses | Emergency rescue, basic treatment |
| S | Specialist EMS Team | Driver + EMS physician + 2 paramedics or EMS nurses | Intensive care, advanced interventions |
Private medical transport — a separate category
A significant portion of type A ambulances in Poland operates outside the PRM structures, within private medical transport companies. They contract services with the National Health Fund or provide commercial transport directly to patients, clinics, and hospitals. In this segment, the requirements for vehicle equipment vary depending on the business profile and the type of patients served — which is why defining requirements correctly prior to purchase is particularly important here.
Ideal applications for a Type A ambulance
The decision to purchase a type A ambulance should stem from an analysis of the specific tasks the vehicle is intended to perform. Below is an overview of scenarios where type A proves itself in practice — as well as those where a higher type should be considered.
Transport of dialysis and oncology patients
Patients requiring regular commutes to dialysis, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy make up the single largest group of T ambulance users. The rides are scheduled, the route is known, and the condition of the patient is stable. What is primarily required is the ability to safely position the patient on a stretcher or in a seated position and ensure comfort throughout the entire journey.
Scheduled inter-hospital transfers
Inter-hospital transfer of a stable patient — from a regional hospital to a specialist center, from a ward to rehabilitation, from an admissions department to planned hospitalization — is a standard task for a type A ambulance. Key equipment includes a reliable stretcher securing system, access to oxygen, and the ability to monitor basic vital signs during the ride.
Geriatric transport and long-term care
For long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and palliative care centers, a transport ambulance is the basic means of moving residents. Crucial factors here include ease of loading and unloading, the ergonomics of the medical compartment when working with people of limited mobility, and being equipped with seats for patients who do not require a recumbent position.
Humanitarian and mission transport
Humanitarian and mission organizations operating in developing countries or post-crisis zones frequently choose type A ambulances as their first investment in a medical fleet. Simple operation, lower crew qualification requirements, and flexible equipment options advocate for type A when human and budgetary resources are limited. An extensive service network for the base vehicle is a separate logistical argument under such conditions.
Corporate transport and occupational medicine
Enterprises with their own medical service — large manufacturing plants, ports, airports, industrial facilities — maintain an ambulance on-site as part of their occupational healthcare system. Type A is sufficient to transport a person to a hospital or medical care point following a traumatic event, provided the incident does not require immediate intervention by a qualified paramedic.
When Type A is not enough
A type A ambulance is not the right choice under the following conditions —
- transport takes place under conditions of uncertainty regarding the current clinical state of the patient;
- the patient requires advanced monitoring or drug administration during the ride;
- there is a risk of sudden deterioration and a need for emergency intervention en route;
- the entity commissioning the transport is a PRM system unit carrying out emergency rescue tasks.
In such cases, a type B or C ambulance with an appropriate crew composition is required.
Volkswagen Crafter or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as a base for a Type A ambulance
KG Special Performance builds type A ambulances on two base vehicles — the Volkswagen Crafter and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Both platforms are widely used by ambulance manufacturers across Europe. Choosing between them is not a matter of brand preference — it is a technical and logistical decision with tangible consequences throughout the entire operational lifecycle of the vehicle.
Medical compartment width
The Volkswagen Crafter offers a medical compartment interior width of 1,870 mm. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — approximately 1,787 mm. A difference of 83 mm may seem small, but in a medical compartment where staff work in direct contact with a recumbent patient on a stretcher, this space has ergonomic significance. For an A1 ambulance designed to serve one person on a stretcher, a wider compartment facilitates the work of the paramedic on both sides of the stretcher and access to equipment.
Service network
Mercedes-Benz possesses an extensive global service network for commercial vehicles. This is an argument of particular importance to operators active in multiple countries or humanitarian organizations working outside Poland — the availability of authorized service and parts in the region of operation directly affects the operational readiness of the ambulance.
The Volkswagen Crafter has its own service network in Poland and Europe, although its geographical reach outside the European Union is narrower.
Payload capacity and drivetrain options
Both vehicles have similar payload parameters in their base versions. Conversion into an ambulance — medical conversion, equipment, installations — significantly reduces the available payload. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is available in front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. The FWD version provides an approximately 50 kg higher payload compared to the RWD version — a difference that can be significant for the weight balance of the vehicle in a heavily equipped A2 ambulance. Detailed post-conversion data depend on the specific conversion specification and are available upon inquiry to KG Special Performance.
| Criterion | VW Crafter | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter |
| Medical compartment width | 1,870 mm | ~1,787 mm |
| Width advantage | +83 mm | — |
| Global service network | limited outside the EU | extensive |
| FWD option | — | available |
| 2024 Update | — | new driver assistance systems |
The final decision depends on the operational profile of the ordering party — the area of operation, space requirements in the medical compartment, and local availability of service. KG Special Performance offers both variants and helps select the base vehicle to match the specifics of the order.
Type A ambulances determine the continuity of the medical transport system — not in emergencies, but in daily, scheduled runs, without which long-term care and scheduled hospital treatment could not function. The choice between type A1 and A2, as well as between the Crafter and Sprinter base, depends on the specific operational profile, rather than brand preferences.
FAQ
Yes. EN 1789 (2024 edition) is a European standard adopted in Poland as PN-EN 1789 and serves as the benchmark for technical requirements regarding road ambulances. KG Special Performance ambulances hold EN 1789 and ISO 9001 certification, as well as European Union type approval. CE marking confirming the compliance of integrated medical systems is part of the documentation supplied with the vehicle.
A1 is adapted for transporting one patient on a stretcher; A2 enables the transport of a larger number of patients simultaneously. When purchasing, defining the target number of stretcher positions and the task profile is crucial — this dictates the layout of the medical compartment, the securing system, and the configuration of the oxygen installation. KG Special Performance designs both variants to individual order.
Functionally yes, but within different classification systems. EN 1789 is a European technical standard that classifies a vehicle by function and equipment. The T designation originates from the Polish PRM system and describes the operational composition of the crew and the scope of tasks performed. A Type A according to EN 1789 corresponds to a T ambulance in the PRM system, but these two designations are not legally identical and derive from separate legal acts.
When transport involves a risk of sudden deterioration of the condition of the patient, the need for advanced monitoring, or drug administration during the ride — a Type B ambulance is required. Type C is used where transport is equivalent to mobile intensive care, with a physician on board and full equipment for critical interventions. In case of doubt regarding the clinical qualification of the patient, the higher ambulance type should always be selected.
Yes. Type A does not exclude being equipped with diagnostic and monitoring equipment. KG Special Performance offers in its catalog, among others, the Masimo Rad-G pulse oximeter, the Schiller Defigard Touch 7 defibrillator, and the Weinmann Emergency Accuvac Lite suction unit. The selection of equipment depends on the specific nature of the tasks and the requirements of the ordering party.
