Section Saf-C 1308.24 - Seats and Crash Barriers(a) For the purposes of this section, "flip seat" means a cushion seat that is designed to automatically return to a vertical position when unoccupied, similar to a theater seat.(b) For the purposes of this section, "jump seat" means a seat that is designed to fold down to provide supplemental seating on a school bus.(c) All seats and crash barriers shall meet or exceed the requirements of FMVSS 222 as was in effect on the date of manufacture for the school bus.(d) No seat shall be less than 15 inches in depth.(e) All seats shall face forward and be of equal quality, design and safety as the original manufacturer's specifications, except as may be provided for wheelchairs.(f) The seat, seat back cushion and crash barrier shall be covered with a material equal in tensile strength, tear strength, seam strength, adhesion strength, resistance to abrasion, resistance to cold and flex separation as originally installed by the manufacturer.(g) All seats, including driver seat cushions, shall have seat coverings of fire resistant material.(h) No school bus shall be equipped with jump seats, vertical seats or portable seats.(i) The use of a flip seat at any side emergency door location, including aisle width to the side door, shall meet or exceed the requirements of FMVSS 222 as was in effect on the date of manufacture for the school bus.(j) Each flip seat shall:(1) Be free of sharp projections on the underside of the seat bottom;(2) Be padded or contoured on the underside of the seat bottom, in order to reduce the possibility of injury or snagged clothing; and(3) Be constructed in such a manner as to prevent any limbs of passengers from becoming entrapped between the seat back and the seat cushion when in an upright position.(k) All seats and cushions shall be securely fastened with bolts, rivets or clamps to any portion of the school bus which support them.(l) No seat on the right side of a school bus shall be placed in a location that obstructs the driver's view, except in a multipurpose passenger vehicle.(m) The crash barrier on the right side of a school bus shall be placed in a location that does not obstruct the driver's view and shall not be further forward than the rear of the driver's seat when the seat is adjusted to its rearmost position, and shall not obstruct the 12 inch aisle.(n) Each driver's seat shall: (1) Be rigidly positioned;(2) Have self contained vertical adjustment of a minimum of 3 inches;(3) Have forward and backward adjustment of a minimum of 4 inches, without the use of separate tools or devices; and(4) Have a crash barrier behind the driver's seat which does not interfere with forward and backward adjustment of the driver's seat.N.H. Admin. Code § Saf-C 1308.24
#8248, eff 1-4-05 (from Saf-C 1307.22 )
Ss by #10439, eff 10/11/2013 (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Saf-C 1300).