Section 575 IAC 1-5.5-4 - Wheelchair and occupant restraint systemsAuthority: IC 20-27-3-4
Affected: IC 20-27
Sec. 4.
(a) A strap-type wheelchair securement system must be provided that meets the following requirements:(1) Anchors to the floor of the bus at four (4) or more places.(2) Attaches to the wheelchair at a minimum of two (2) front and two (2) rear securement points.(3) Complies with Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice J-2249.(4) A wheelchair that weighs two hundred (200) pounds or greater, transported on a school bus, ten thousand (10,000) pounds or less in gross vehicle weight, must be secured with more than two (2) rear tiedown straps.(5) A wheelchair that weighs two hundred fifty (250) pounds or greater, transported on a school bus exceeding ten thousand (10,000) pounds in gross vehicle weight, must be secured with more than two (2) rear tiedown straps.(b) An occupant restraint system must be provided for each wheelchair occupant that complies with Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice J-2249 such that it meets the following requirements:(1) Includes upper and lower torso restraints.(2) Has been tested at thirty (30) miles per hour and twenty (20) G frontal impact conditions which have been verified by the manufacturer of the occupant restraint system.(3) If the occupant restraining devices are incorporated in the wheelchair restraining devices, the load imposed on the anchorage system is the sum of the loads specified for the wheelchair restraint devices and the occupant restraint system.(4) Has a lap belt attached to the wheelchair or tiedown system at an angle of forty-five (45) degrees or greater to the horizontal.(5) Has a shoulder belt attached to the tiedown strap at or below the hip point of the occupant, or has a shoulder belt attached to the lap belt.(6) Has the upper end of the shoulder belt attached to the vehicle at or above the height of the occupant's shoulder.(7) Does not transfer occupant forces to the wheelchair.(c) Static load tests must be as follows: (1) Conducted with appropriate size washers and steel plating or with actual tiedown/restraint washers and backing plates on the underside of sheet metal floors to adequately distribute the applied loads.(2) Verified by the school bus manufacturer or other engineering test facility.State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-5.5-4; filed May 24, 1990, 4:20 p.m.: 13 IR 1856; errata, 13 IR 2005; filed May 21, 1992, 5:00 p.m.: 15 IR 2221; filed Mar 9, 2000, 7:45 a.m.: 23 IR 1649; readopted filed Aug 18, 2006, 10:12 a.m.: 20060830-IR-575060138RFA; readopted filed Jun 19, 2007, 10:10 a.m.: 20070704-IR-575070225RFA; errata filed Jul 6, 2007, 10:04 a.m.: 20070725-IR-575070225ACA; readopted filed Nov 12, 2013, 11:21 a.m.: 20131211-IR-575130420RFAReadopted filed 9/3/2019, 10:44 a.m.: 20191002-IR-575190335RFA