School Bus Specifications - Texas Department of Public Safety

SPECIALLY EQUIPPED SCHOOL BUSESWhen so specified in the Invitation for Bids to include a wheelchair lift, (See Section F, Option72) the 14 - 90 passenger school buses shall be equipped with a wheelchair lift meeting thefollowing requirements. All parts which are not specifically mentioned that are necessary forthe unit to be complete and ready for operation, or which are normally furnished as standardequipment, shall be furnished by the successful bidder. All school buses equipped with a liftshall provide a minimum thirty (30) inch aisle leading from any wheelchair mobility aid positionto at least one (1) emergency door. A wheelchair securement position shall never be locatedadjacent to the lift door. All parts shall conform in strength, quality, and workmanship toindustry standards meeting FMVSS 403 and installed according to FMVSS 404. The wheelchairlift furnished for Option 72 shall: be operated by a twelve (12) volt DC electric-hydraulic,electro-mechanical system or a combination there of. The lifting mechanism and platform shallbe capable of operating effectively with a wheelchair and occupant mass of at least eighthundred (800) pounds. The vertical lift travel of the platform shall be appropriate for the schoolbus type and exceed the bus floor to ground distance by a minimum of six (6) inches to allowfor un-level loading conditions. The lift shall be self contained, mounted directly to the existingbus body floor and the existing body floor shall be able to pass a static load test of three (3)times the lifting capacity of the lift. The lift shall be grounded to the bus chassis with a cable ofsuitable gauge to ensure positive grounding of the lift.DOORS, SPECIAL SERVICEOne (1) or two (2) special side doors with permanently closed laminated safety glass windowsin each door shall be provided as follows:Design: The special service door(s) may be the standard double or single swing-out doorsfurnished by the chassis manufacturer on vehicles used for converted van buses or thespecial service doors shall be constructed of zinc-coated steel (G-60) or equivalent meetingASTM A-924/A 924M. Doors may be either standard widths or as required for the liftfurnished. The doors shall extend from the window header to the bottom of the floor line.Doors shall be water and weather tight when closed, with lift in the travel position.Door Holding Device: A means (device) shall be provided to hold the swing-out typedoor(s) in the fully opened position.Drip Rails: Full-length drip rails shall be furnished over the special service doors, which shalldirect water away from the doors.Header Board: The head impact area on the inside at the top of the special service doorshall be protected by an energy absorbing, padded header board, a minimum of three (3)inches wide and a minimum of one (1) inch thick, extending the full width of the door toprevent injury when accidentally impacted.Rub Rails: Exterior side(s) of special service doors shall have two (2) rub rails with endcaps installed at approximately the same level as the side-rub rails. Rub rail installationshall be in accordance with the requirements outlined in "Section C, Rub Rails".Section D-1