Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Section 171.58 - InteriorThe requirements for the interior of school buses are as follows:
(1) The interior of every school bus shall be free of unnecessary projections likely to cause injury. This standard requires inner lining on ceilings and walls. If the ceiling is constructed so as to contain lapped joints, the forward panel shall be lapped by the rear panel, and exposed edges shall be beaded, hemmed, flanged or otherwise treated to minimize sharp edges.(2) Every school bus shall meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 302, as to the flammability of interior materials. See Appendix A.(3) Book racks or luggage racks are not permitted.(4) Interior radio/stereo speakers shall be of the flush mounted type. Exposed parts shall be treated to minimize sharp edges.(5) The driver's area forward of the foremost padded barriers shall permit the mounting of required safety equipment and vehicle operating equipment.(6) The requirements for air-conditioning units are as follows:(i) Persons installing air-conditioning units in school buses after the vehicle's original manufacture date shall install the equipment in accordance with manufacturer's specification and applicable FMVSS.(ii) Interior ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units, mounted above the seats within the head protection zone or at the rear of the bus, shall be padded with materials meeting FMVSS No. 302 to an extent to insure compliance with the head impact test requirements of FMVSS No. 222. See Appendix A.(iii) This paragraph does not prohibit the installation of air-conditioning units in locations other than those described in subparagraph (ii). Air-conditioning units may be installed in other locations if labeled as described in subparagraph (i).The provisions of this § 171.58 adopted August 19, 1983, effective 8/20/1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective 12/5/1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective 9/14/1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective 5/21/2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039.The provisions of this § 171.58 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4103, 4551-4553 and 6103.