Current through Register 1518, March 29, 2024
(1)
Air Cleaner.
(a) The
engine intake air cleaner system shall be furnished and properly installed by
the chassis manufacturer to meet engine manufacturer's
specifications.
(b) The intake air
system for diesel engines may have an air cleaner restriction indicator
properly installed by the chassis manufacturer to meet engine
specifications.
(2)
Axles. The front and rear ends, including suspension
assemblies, shall have a gross axle weight rating, at ground, at least equal to
that portion of the load as would be imposed by the chassis manufacturer's
maximum gross vehicle weight rating.
(3)
Brakes. A
braking system, including service brake and parking brake, that meets the
following standards shall be provided.
(a)
Buses using air or vacuum in the operation of the brake system shall be
equipped with warning signals, readily audible and visible to the driver, that
will give a continuous warning when the air pressure available in the system
for braking is 60 psi (pounds per square inch) or less or the vacuum in the
system available for braking is eight inches of mercury or less. An illuminated
gauge that will indicate to the driver the air pressure in pounds per square
inch or the inches of mercury vacuum available for the operation of the brakes
shall be provided.
(b)
Vacuum-assist brake systems shall have a reservoir used exclusively for brakes
that shall be adequate to ensure loss in vacuum at full stroke applicable of
not more than 30% with the engine not running. Brake systems on gas-powered
engines shall include suitable and convenient connection for the installation
of a separate vacuum reservoir.
(c)
Any brake system dry reservoir shall be so safeguarded by a check valve or
equivalent device that, in the event of failure or leakage in its connection to
the source of compressed air or vacuum, the stored dry air or vacuum shall not
be depleted by the leakage or failure.
(d) Buses using a hydraulic-assist brake
system shall be equipped with warning signals, readily audible and visible to
the driver, that will provide continuous warning in the event of a loss of
fluid flow from primary source or loss of electric source powering the back-up
system.
(e) The brake lines and the
hydraulic-assist lines shall be protected from excessive heat and vibration and
be so installed as to prevent chafing.
(f) All brake systems shall be designed to
permit visual inspection of brake lining wear without removal of any chassis
components.
(4)
Front Bumper.
(a)
School buses shall be equipped with a front bumper. The front bumper shall be
furnished by the chassis manufacturer for all school bus types unless there is
a specific agreement between the chassis manufacturer and the body
manufacturer.
(b) The front bumper
shall be of pressed steel channel or equivalent material (except Type A buses
having a GVWR of 12,500 lbs. or less which may be OEM supplied) at least
3/16 inch thick and not less
than eight inches wide (high). It shall extend beyond the forward-most part of
the body, grille, hood, and fenders and shall extend to the outer edges of the
fenders at the bumper's top line.
(c) The front bumper, except breakaway bumper
ends, shall be of sufficient strength to permit pushing a vehicle of equal
gross vehicle weight (GVW) without permanent distortion to the bumper, chassis,
or body.
(d) Tow eyes or hooks may
be furnished. Tow eyes or hooks if provided, shall be attached so as not to
project beyond the front bumper. Tow eyes or hooks attached to the frame
chassis shall be furnished by the chassis manufacturer. This installation shall
be in accordance with the chassis manufacturer's standards.
(e) The bumper shall be designed or
reinforced so that it will not deform when the bus is lifted by a chain that is
passed under the bumper (or through the bumper if holes are provided for this
purpose) and attached to both tow eyes. For the purpose of meeting this
specification, the bus shall be empty and positioned on a level, hard surface
and both tow eyes shall share the load equally.
(f) An energy absorbing front bumper may be
used providing its design shall incorporate a self-restoring energy absorbing
system of sufficient strength to:
1. push
another vehicle of similar GVW without permanent distortion to the bumper,
chassis, or body; and
2. withstand
repeated impacts without damage to the bumper, chassis, or body according to
the following FMVSS performance standards:
a.
7.5 MPH fixed barrier impact (FMVSS cart and barrier test);
b. 4.0 MPH corner impact at 30 E (49 CFR 581
).
3. The manufacturer of
the energy absorbing system shall provide evidence from an approved test
facility (capable of performing the above FMVSS tests) that its product
conforms to the above standard.
(5)
Rear Bumper. The
rear bumper shall be made of pressed steel channel or equivalent material at
least 3/16 inch thick and
eight inches wide (high), and of sufficient strength to permit pushing by
another vehicle without permanent distortion.
(a) The bumper shall be wrapped around the
back corners of the bus, and shall extend forward at least 12 inches, measured
from the rear-most point of the body at the floor line;
(b) The bumper shall be attached to the
chassis frame as to be easily removed, and to discourage the hitching of rides,
and shall be braced to develop the full strength of the bumper section from
rear or side impact;
(c) The bumper
shall extend at least one inch beyond the rear-most part of body surface
measured at the floor line;
(d) The
bumper provided by the chassis manufacturer may be used on Type A
vehicles;
(e) An energy-absorbing
rear bumper may be used, providing its design shall incorporate a
self-restoring energy absorbing bumper system of sufficient strength to:
1. permit pushing by another vehicle without
permanent distortion to the bumper, chassis, or body;
2. withstand repeated impacts without damage
to the bumper, chassis, or body according to the following FMVSS performance
standards;
a. 2.0 MPH fixed barrier impact
(FMVSS cart and barrier test)
b.
4.0 MPH corner impact at 30 E (49 CFR 581)
c. 5.0 MPH center impact (49 CFR 581
)
3. The manufacturer of
the energy-absorbing system shall provide evidence from an approved test
facility (capable of performing the above FMVSS test) that its product conforms
to the above standard.
(6)
Certification.
Upon request, a chassis manufacturer will certify to the Registrar that its
product meets Massachusetts minimum standards on items not covered by
certification issued under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety
Act.
(7)
Drive
Shaft. The drive shaft shall be protected by a metal guard or
guards around each section to reduce the possibility of it whipping through the
floor or dropping to the ground if broken.
(8)
Exhaust System.
The exhaust system, including the exhaust manifold, gaskets, pipes and
mufflers, shall be secure, tight and free from exhaust leaks. The exhaust pipe
will exit flush with bumper and left side will exit flush with outside of the
bus body.
(a) The exhaust pipe, muffler and
tailpipe shall be outside the bus body compartment and attached to the
chassis.
(b) The tailpipe shall be
constructed of a corrosion-resistant tubing material at least equal in strength
and durability to 16-gauge steel tubing and shall extend to, but not beyond,
the perimeter of the body or bumper.
(c) The tailpipe shall extend beyond the rear
axle and at least five inches beyond the chassis frame. It may be mounted
outside of the chassis frame rail at end point, or may extend to the left side
of the bus, behind the driver's compartment, outboard of the chassis
centerline. It shall terminate from the chassis centerline as follows:
|
Type A vehicles |
-
|
Manufacturer's standard
|
|
Type B, C, and D vehicles |
-
|
48.5 inches
|
(d) On
Type C and D buses, no exhaust pipe shall exit beneath an emergency exit or
fuel fill.
(e) The exhaust system
on a gas-powered chassis shall be properly insulated from fuel tank connections
by a metal shield securely attached at each point where it is 12 inches or less
from tank or tank connections.
(f)
The muffler shall be constructed of corrosion-resistant material.
(g) The exhaust system may be routed to the
left of the right frame rail to allow for the installation of a lift on the
right side of the vehicle.
(9)
Frame.
(a) The frame (or equivalent) shall be of
such design and strength characteristics as to correspond at least to standard
practices for trucks of the same general load characteristics which are used
for highway service.
(b) Any
secondary manufacturer that modifies the original chassis frame shall guarantee
the performance of workmanship and materials resulting from such
modification.
(c) Frames shall not
be modified for the purpose of extending the wheelbase.
(d) Holes in top or bottom flanges or side
units of frame, and welding to frame shall not be permitted except as provided
or accepted by the chassis manufacturer.
(e) Frame length shall be established in
accordance with the design criteria for the complete vehicle.
(10)
Fuel
Tank.
(a) Fuel tank (or tanks)
having a minimum 30-gallon capacity shall be provided by the chassis
manufacturer. The tank shall be filled and vented to the outside of the body
and the fuel filler should be placed in a location where accidental fuel
spillage will not drip or drain on any part of the exhaust system.
(b) Fuel lines shall be mounted to the
chassis frame in such a manner that the frame provides the maximum possible
protection from damage.
(c) The
fuel system shall comply with FMVSS No. 301.
(d) Fuel tank(s) may be mounted between the
chassis frame rails or outboard of the frame rails on either the left or right
side of the vehicle.
(e) The actual
draw capacity of each fuel tank shall be a minimum of 83% of the tank
capacity.
(f) Installation of
alternative fuel systems, including fuel tanks and piping from the tank to the
engine, shall comply with all applicable fire codes in effect on the date of
manufacture of the bus.
(11)
Horn. Buses
shall be equipped with a horn or horns of standard make, each horn capable of
producing complex sound in bands of audio frequencies between 250 and 2,000
cycles per second and tested per Society of Automotive Engineers Standard
J377.
(12)
Instruments
and Instrument Panel and Ignition Lock. Chassis shall be equipped
with the following instruments and gauges or warning lights:
(a) Speedometer.
(b) Odometer which will give accrued mileage,
including tenths of miles.
(c)
Voltmeter. Ammeter with graduated charge and discharge with ammeter and its
wiring compatible with generating capabilities is permitted instead of
voltmeter or warning light.
(d)
Oil-pressure gauge and/or warning light.
(e) Water temperature gauge and/or warning
light.
(f) Fuel gauge.
(g) High beam headlamp indicator.
(h) Brake indicator gauge (vacuum or air).
Light indicator instead of gauge is permitted on a vehicle equipped with
hydraulic-over-hydraulic brake system. If ABS equipped, must have indicator
light.
(i) Turn signal
indicator.
(j) Glow-plug indicator
light where appropriate.
(k)
Ignition lock, key or device to prevent starting of the engine by an
unauthorized person.
(l) All
instruments shall be easily accessible for maintenance and repair.
(m) Instruments and gauges shall be mounted
on the instrument panel in such a manner that each is clearly visible to the
driver while in a normal seated position, in accordance with School Bus
Manufacturers Institute School Bus Design Objectives, January, 1985.
(n) Instrument panel shall have lamps of
sufficient candlepower to illuminate all instruments and gauges and shift
selector indicator for automatic transmission.
(o) Vehicles with an automatic transmission
shall be equipped with a neutral safety switch to prevent starting in any gear
other than park or neutral. For vehicles with a standard transmission clutch,
pedal must be depressed to start vehicle.
(13)
Openings. All
openings in the floorboard and the firewall between the chassis and the
passenger-carrying compartment, such as for gearshift selector and parking
brake lever, shall be sealed.
(14)
Shock Absorbers. Buses shall be equipped with front
and rear double-action shock absorbers compatible with manufacturer's rated
axle capacity at each wheel location.
(15)
Springs.
Capacity of springs or suspension assemblies shall be commensurate with chassis
manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating.
(16)
Steering Gear.
The steering gear shall be approved by the chassis manufacturer and designed to
assure safe and accurate performance when the vehicle is operated with maximum
load and at maximum speed.
(a) Steering
mechanism must be accessible to accomplish any required external
adjustments.
(b) No changes shall
be made in the steering apparatus unless approved by the chassis
manufacturer.
(c) There shall be
clearance of at least two inches between steering wheel and cowl instrument
panel, windshield or any other surface.
(d) Power steering is required and shall be
of the integral type with integral valves.
(e) The steering system shall be designed to
provide means for lubrication of all wear-points that are not permanently
lubricated.
(17)
Tires. All tires must have a minimum tread depth of
4/32 inch. Reject all tires
with less than 4/32 inch
tread depth when measured at any point in a major tread groove.
(18)
Undercoating. A
chassis manufacturer shall coat the undersides of front fenders with
rustproofing compound. The compound manufacturer must issue to the chassis
manufacturer a notarized certification that the compound meets or exceeds all
performance and qualitative requirements of Federal Specification TT-C 520b,
paragraph 3.4 (General Services Administration) using modified test.
(19)
Weight
Distribution. Weight distribution of a fully loaded bus on a level
surface shall be within the manufacturer's front gross axle weight rating and
rear gross axle weight rating.
(20)
Wiring. All wiring shall comply with applicable
recommended practices of the Society of Automotive
Engineers.
