Cal. Code Regs. tit. 13 § 1273

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 1273 - School Bus Bodies

School buses shall comply with the following requirements:

(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.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 13, § 1273

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.