Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
The specifications in 540 CMR 7.07 are supplemental to
specifications in the chassis and body sections; specially equipped buses
should meet all the requirements of
540 CMR 7.05
and
7.06 in
addition to those listed in 540 CMR 7.07. Because the field of special
transportation is characterized by varied needs for individual cases and by a
rapidly emerging technology for meeting these needs, a flexible, common-sense
approach to the adoption and enforcement of specifications for these vehicles
is prudent.
The following standards address modifications to school buses
that, with standard seating arrangement prior to modification, would
accommodate more than ten people. If, by addition of a power lift, mobile
seating device positions or other modifications, the capacity is reduced so
that a vehicle is classified as Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), rather
than a school bus, under Federal regulations, such vehicle is required to meet
the same standards it would have had to meet prior to modification, and such
MPV's are included in all references to school buses and subject to all
requirements for school buses.
The Registrar will not approve of the structural modification
of a school bus originally meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS) unless the modifications are performed by the original vehicle
manufacturer or its authorized representative.
(1)
General
Requirements.
(a) School buses
designed for transporting students with special transportation needs shall
comply with National Standards and with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
applicable to their GVWR category.
(b) Any school bus to be used for the
transportation of children who are confined to a wheelchair or other mobile
positioning device, or who require life support equipment which prohibits use
of the regular service entrance, shall be equipped with a power lift, unless a
ramp is needed for unusual circumstances related to passenger needs.
(2)
Aisles. All school buses equipped with a power lift
shall provide a 30-inch aisle leading from wheelchair position to at least one
emergency door and the lift area.
(3)
Communications.
All school buses should be equipped with an electronic voice communication
system.
(4)
Glazing. Tinted glazing may be installed in all doors,
windows and windshield consistent with federal, state, and local
regulations.
(5)
Identification. Buses with power lifts used for
transporting physically handicapped students shall display universal
handicapped symbols located below the windowline on the lift door. A second
handicapped placard shall be displayed on the side of the school bus opposite
the lift door not less than five inches in height below the windowline. Such
emblems shall be white on blue background, shall not exceed 12 inches in size,
and shall be of a high intensity reflectorized material meeting U.S. Department
of Transportation FHWA FP-85 Standards.
(6)
Power Lift.
(a) Power lift shall be located on the right
side of the bus body and confined within the bus body when not extended. No
lift shall be installed above the vehicle fuel fill.
(b) Lifting mechanism and platform shall be
able to lift a minimum weight of 800 lbs.. Lift platform shall have minimum 30"
clear usable width, unobstructed by required handrail. The minimum clear length
of the platform between the outer edge barrier and inner edge shall be 40
inches.
(c) When the platform is
stowed, it shall be secured by a method built into the lift system.
(d) Controls shall be provided that enable
the operator to activate the lift mechanism from either inside or outside of
the bus. There shall be a means of preventing the lift platform from falling
while in operation due to a power failure or a single component mechanical
failure.
(e) Power lifts shall be
equipped with a manual backup system for use in the event of a power
failure.
(f) Lift travel shall
allow the lift platform to rest securely on the ground.
(g) Outboard platform edge and sides shall be
designed to restrain wheelchairs or other mobile seating devices from slipping
or rolling off the platform. Platform outer edge barriers shall be able to be
automatically or manually lowered when the platform is at ground level, but
shall not be equipped with any type of latch that could result in a lowered
barrier when the platform is above ground level.
(h) Platform shall be equipped with at least
one handrail, approximately 25 - 34 inches in height and a minimum of 18 inches
in length. The handrail shall be designed to fold when in stowed position so as
not to add to overall lift projection into the vehicle.
(i) A self-adjusting, skid resistant plate
shall be installed on the outer edge of the platform to minimize the incline
from the lift platform to the ground level. This plate, if so designed, may
also suffice as the restraining device described in 540 CMR 7.07(6)(g). The
lift platform must be skid resistant.
(j) A circuit breaker shall be installed
between power source and lift motor if electrical power is used.
(k) Lift design shall prevent excessive
pressure that could damage the lift system when the platform is fully lowered
or raised, or that could jack the vehicle.
(l) The lift mechanism shall be designed to
prevent folding or stowing of the lift when the lift platform is
occupied.
(7)
Ramps. When a power lift system is not adequate to
load and unload students having special and unique needs, a ramp device may be
installed.
(a) If a ramp is used, it shall be
of sufficient strength and rigidity to support the special device, occupant,
and attendant(s). It shall be equipped with a protective flange on each
longitudinal side to keep the special device on the ramp.
(b) The floor of ramp shall be of non-skid
construction.
(c) The ramp shall be
of weight and design, and equipped with handle(s), to permit one person to put
the ramp in place and return it to its storage place.
(8)
Regular Service
Entrance.
(a)
Steps.
1. On
power-lift equipped vehicles, steps shall be the full width of the stepwell,
excluding the thickness of doors in the open position.
2. Steps shall be enclosed to prevent
accumulation of ice and snow.
3.
Steps shall not protrude beyond the side body line.
(b) A grab handle not less than 20 inches in
length shall be provided in an unobstructed location inside the
doorway.
(9)
Restraining Devices. Seat frames may be equipped with
attachments or devices to which belts, restraining harnesses or other devices
may be attached. Attachment framework or anchorage devices, if installed, shall
conform with
49 CFR
571.210.
(10)
Seating
Arrangements. Flexibility in seat spacing to accommodate special
devices shall be permitted to meet passenger requirements. All seating shall be
forward-facing and seat spacing shall be in conformance with FMVSS No. 217 and
FMVSS No. 222.
(11)
Securement System For Mobile Seating Device/Occupant.
(a) For vehicles manufactured on or after
January 15, 1993, the body shall be designed for forward-facing positioning and
securement of mobile seating devices and occupants. Securement system hardware
and attachment points for the forward-facing system shall be in compliance with
FMVSS No. 222.
(b) The mobile
seating device securement system shall utilize four-point tie-downs, with a
minimum of two body floor attachment points located at both the front and the
rear of the space designated for the mobile seating device.
(c) A Type 2 occupant securement system shall
provide for securement of the occupant's pelvic lap area and upper torso
area.
(d) The mobile seating
device/occupant securement system shall be successfully dynamically sled-tested
at a minimum impact speed/force of 30 MPH/20 G's. The dynamic test shall be
performed using system components and hardware (including attachment hardware)
which are identical to the final installation in type, configuration, and
positioning. The body structure at the attachment points may be simulated for
the purpose of the sled test, but the simulated structure used to pass the sled
test may not exceed the strength of the attachment structure to be used in the
final body installation. The mobile seating device used for test purposes shall
be a 150-pound powered wheelchair and the occupant shall be a 50th
percentile male test dummy as specified in
49 CFR
571.208. Measurements shall be made on the
test dummy during the test for head acceleration, upper thorax acceleration,
and upper leg compressive force. These measurements shall not exceed the upper
limits set forth in
49 CFR
571.208, S6.1.2, 6.1.3, and 6.1.4. The test
dummy shall be retained within the securement system throughout the test and
forward excursion shall be such that no portion of the test dummy's head or
knee pivot points passes through a vertical transverse plane intersecting the
forward-most point of the floor space designated for the mobile seating device.
All hardware shall remain positively attached throughout the test and there
shall be no failure of any component. Each mobile seating device belt assembly,
including attachment hardware and anchorages, shall be capable of withstanding
a force of not less than 2,500 lbs. to provide equal mobile seating device
securement when subjected to forces generated by forward, rear or side impact.
The belt materials at each space designated for the mobile
seating device and the occupant restraint system shall be similar in size and
fabric.
(e) Occupant
securement belt assemblies and anchorages shall also be certified to meet the
requirements of
49 CFR
571.209 and
571.210.
(f) The occupant securement system must be
designed to be attached to the bus body either directly or in combination with
the mobile seating device securement system, by a method which prohibits the
transfer of weight or force from the mobile seating device to the occupant in
the event of an impact.
(g) All
securement system attachments or coupling hardware not permanently attached
shall be a "positive latch" type to prohibit accidental
disconnecting.
(h) All attachment
or coupling systems designed to be connected or disconnected frequently shall
be accessible and operable without the use of tools or other mechanical
assistance.
(i) All securement
system hardware and components shall be free of sharp or jagged areas and shall
be of a noncorrosive material or treated to resist corrosion.
(j) The occupant securement system shall be
made of materials which do not stain, soil, or tear an occupant's
clothing.
(k) No mobile seating
device securement system hardware shall be placed so that a mobile seating
device can be placed blocking access to lift door.
(l) The following information shall be
provided with each vehicle equipped with a securement system:
1. Detailed instructions, including a parts
list, regarding installation and use of the system.
2. Detailed instructions, including a
diagram, regarding the proper placement and positioning of the system,
including correct belt angles.
(12)
Special Light.
Lights shall be placed inside the bus to sufficiently illuminate the lift door
area.
(13)
Special
Service Entrance.
(a) Power lift
equipped bodies shall have a special service entrance to accommodate the power
lift.
(b) The special service
entrance and door shall be located on the right side of the bus and shall be
designed so as not to obstruct the regular service entrance.
(c) The opening may extend below the floor
through the bottom of the body skirt. If such an opening is used,
reinforcements shall be installed at the front and rear of the floor opening to
support the floor and give the same strength as other floor openings.
(d) A drip molding shall be installed above
the opening to effectively divert water from the entrance.
(e) Door posts and headers from the entrance
shall be reinforced sufficiently to provide support and strength equivalent to
the areas of the side of the bus not used for special service
entrance.
(14)
Special Service Entrance Doors.
(a) A single door or double doors may be used
for the special service entrance.
(b) All doors shall have positive fastening
devices to hold doors in the open position.
(c) All doors shall be weather
sealed.
(d) When manually-operated
dual doors are provided, the rear door shall have at least a one-point
fastening device to the header. The forward-mounted door shall have at least
three-point fastening devices, one to the header, one to the floor line of the
body, and the one to the rear door. The door and hinge mechanism shall be of a
strength that is equal to or greater than the emergency exit door.
(e) Door materials, panels and structural
strength shall be equivalent to the conventional service and emergency doors.
Color, rub rail extensions, lettering and other exterior features shall match
adjacent sections of the body.
(f)
Each door shall have windows set in rubber compatible within one inch of the
lower line of adjacent sash. Glazing shall be of same type and tinting (if
applicable) as standard fixed glass in other body locations.
(g) Doors shall be equipped with a device
that will activate an audible or flashing visible signal located in the
driver's compartment when a door is not securely closed and ignition is in "on"
position.
(h) A switch shall be
installed so that the lifting mechanism will not operate when the lift platform
door is closed.
(i) Special service
entrance doors shall be equipped with padding at the top edge of the door
opening. The pad shall be at least three inches wide and one inch thick and
extend the full width of the door opening.
(15)
Support Equipment and
Accessories. Portable student equipment or special accessory items
shall be secured at the mounting location to withstand a pulling force of five
times the weight of the item, or shall be retained in an enclosed, latched
compartment. Such special items, if used, shall meet the following
specifications:
(a)
Belt
Cutter. Buses shall contain a belt cutter for use in emergencies,
including evacuations. Belt cutters should be designed to eliminate the
possibility of the operator or others being cut during use, and should be
secured in a safe location such as a first-aid kit.
(b)
Crutches, Walkers, Canes, and
Similar Devices. Any of these items shall be secured as specified
above.
(c)
Medical
Support Equipment. Medical support equipment, including oxygen
bottles, ventilators, and other items, shall be secured as specified in 540 CMR
7.07(15).
