Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Engine Compartment.
The engine compartment shall be sealed from the passenger space, to prevent
entrance of exhaust gases, and insulated with fireproofing or other materials
to prevent the floor from overheating and the passengers from being injured.
All closures between the engine compartment and the bus body shall be fitted
with gastight gaskets, and pedal openings shall be closed by bellows, or
self-closing gastight boots or gaskets.
(b) Construction. A Type 1 school bus
manufactured on and after January 1, 1957, and a Type 2 school bus manufactured
on and after July 1, 1970, shall comply with the following additional
requirements:
(1) Floors. Floors in Type 1
school buses constructed after January 1, 1957, shall be at least 14-gage steel
or equivalent or 5-ply, 5/8 in. laminated wood, marine type, and constructed
and maintained to prevent entrance of exhaust gases. Floors in Type 2 buses
constructed on and after July 1, 1970, shall be strong enough to support loads
and constructed and maintained to prevent entrance of exhaust gases.
(2) Body. The bus body shall be reasonably
dustproof and watertight and construction (except of the floor) shall be of
prime commercial quality steel or other material with strength at least
equivalent to all steel as certified to the department by the bus body
manufacturer. If nonmetallic materials are used, they also shall meet the
flammability specifications for interior materials in FMVSS 302. In addition,
the bus body (including roof bows, body posts, and floor) shall:
(A) Be of sufficient strength to support the
entire weight of the fully loaded vehicle on its top or side if
overturned.
(B) Have sufficient
strainers in the roof structure and corners to provide adequate safety and to
resist damage on impact.
(C) As
evidence that Type 1 school bus bodies manufactured prior to April 1, 1977,
meet these standards, the manufacturer shall furnish to the department for each
current body model certification that the bus body meets the "Static Load Test
Code for School Bus Body Structure" as issued by the School Bus Body
Manufacturers Association.
(3) Inside Height. In a Type 1 school bus
manufactured on or after January 1, 1965, the inside body height, measured at
the centerline from the back of the door opening to the back of the next to the
last row of seats, shall be a minimum of 70 in.
(4) Interior. The interior of school buses
shall meet the following requirements:
(A) The
ceiling shall be free of all projections likely to cause injury to a
pupil.
(B) Except as otherwise
provided, the ceiling over any aisle shall not have any projection that
protrudes more than 3/4 inch or that reduces the minimum inside height
requirements.
(C) Ceilings may have
projections over the aisle for air conditioners provided that no portion of the
projection is more than 35 inches from an emergency exit and no portion
projects below the top of the emergency exit opening.
(D) Type 1 school bus ceilings shall not have
any projection over any seat where the minimum distance from the highest point
of the seat cushion to the projection is less than 40 inches.
(E) No ceiling projection over any seat shall
project lower than the top of any window.
(F) The interior walls on Type 1 school buses
and Type 2 school buses manufactured on or after July 1, 1970, shall be lined.
Hoses, tubing, and piping installed on interior walls for air conditioning or
heating shall be equipped with protective covering designed to prevent puncture
or injury.
(G) Materials used on
the interiors of school buses manufactured on or after September 1, 1972, shall
comply with the specifications of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302 in
effect at the time of manufacture. Any material used in refurbishing bus
interiors shall be fire resistant and shall comply with the standards in effect
for new vehicles at the time of installation.
(5) Modifications. No person shall render
inoperative, in whole or in part, any device or element of design or equipment
of a school bus in compliance with FMVSS 220.
1. Amendment
of subsection (b)(5) and new subsection (b)(6) filed 4-3-80; designated
effective 7-1-80 (Register 80, No. 14).
2. Amendment of subsection
(b)(1) filed 4-2-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No.
14).
3. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 6-11-81; effective
thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 24).
Note: Authority cited and Reference: Section 34508,
Vehicle Code.
